[41] Potatáu (i. e. shriek by night) was so far back as 1833, during the bloody contests of the Waikatos against the Taranaki, a renowned warrior and cannibal, who at that period, according to undoubted authority, had with his own hand slain 200 of the foe, and had returned home from the battle-field satiated with human flesh, and rich in slaves. In the evening of his days he was an advocate of peace, and a friend of the whites. When he died, in 1860, his son, second of the name, was declared his successor.
[42] Observations on the State of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of New Zealand. By F. D. Fenton, the compiler of the statistical tables of the native population. Auckland, 1859. "The object of the publication by the Government of this paper is to draw attention to the state of the native population, especially to the decrease in numbers—with a view to invite inquiry as to the cause, and suggestions of a remedy."
[43] Of the enormous waste of human life caused by these wars some idea may be formed from the fact that at the storming and capture of the single páh of Matakitaki on the river Waipa 2000 warriors were killed; a larger amount of killed than that of the English army at Waterloo!
[44] Of the bitter feelings excited by the Maori revolt among the inhabitants of Australia, an idea may be formed from the fact that Dr. Mackay, a well-known personage in political circles at Melbourne, seriously proposed to the Government of Victoria to send a volunteer expeditionary force to the seat of war, to assist in suppressing the rebels. The expenses, which Dr. Mackay estimated at £15,000 to £20,000, were to be repaid by sales of land in the conquered portion. Nay, this learned expounder of the "law" went so far as to pronounce the subjugation of these "savages" as imperatively necessary. The men were to be shipped off to Melbourne, to work as "SLAVES" for seven years; the females to be carried away and disposed of as wives for the Chinese and well-conducted white convicts! Dr. Cairns, Bishop of Melbourne, and other ministers of the gospel, adds this humane philanthropist, to be at liberty to use "all fair means" (!!!) for their conversion.—Compare Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday, July 21st, 1860.
[45] The most important American, Indian, and Australian markets may be reached by screw steamer from Auckland as follows:—
| Miles | Days | |
| New Caledonia | 1250 | 5 |
| Tahiti | 2380 | 9 |
| Sandwich Islands | 4060 | 14 |
| Valparaiso | 5420 | 20 |
| San Francisco | 5950 | 22 |
| Batavia | 4750 | 17 |
| Manila | 4650 | 17 |
| Singapore | 5050 | 18 |
| Calcutta | 6820 | 26 |
| Sydney | 1260 | 5 |
| Melbourne | 1420 | 6 |
| Adelaide | 1780 | 7 |
| Hobart Town | 1250 | 5 |
| Panama | 5320 | 20 |
If the contemplated route viâ Panama be made available (with a coaling station at Gambier Islands), some 3500 miles or 14 days' sail would be saved, so that New Zealand would be reached in from 41 to 48 days, and Sydney and Melbourne in about 53 and 54 days respectively.
[46] According to Dr. Thomson's meteorological observations, the following are the averages for the town of Auckland (36° 50′ S.), temperature 59 1⁄2° Fahr.; rain-fall 45 1⁄2 inches; days on which rain falls 160; barometer 29.95 inches.
[47] Not less interesting are the returns as to the number of soldiers attacked with consumption and who died of it at the various garrisons, which are as follows: Of 1000 soldiers there were
| Attacked | Died | |
| In New Zealand | 60 | 2.7 |
| At Cape of Good Hope | 98 | 3 |
| In Australia | 133 | 5.8 |
| At Malta | 120 | 6 |
| In Canada | 148 | 6.7 |
| In Great Britain | 148 | 8 |