The Government was well satisfied to ignore New Zealand.

But adventurous English spirits were not The islands ceased to be inaccessible when Sydney became an English port, from which ships could with a fair wind make the Bay of Islands in eight or ten days.

In the seas round New Zealand were found the whale and the fur-seal.

The Maoris might be cannibals, but they were eager to trade.

In their forests grew trees capable of supplying first-class masts and spars.