handicap, and, as a matter of fact, Mr. H. S. Selfe, in his pamphlet defending the Association from the inevitable criticism, says that the attendance at committee meetings was scanty and irregular. The bulk of the work fell on a few, the Chairman (Lord Lyttelton), Mr. Henry Sewell, and later Mr. H. S. Selfe, all of whom were inspired by the enthusiasm of Mr. Godley.
The attitude of the Home Government towards the new Association may be gathered from Earl Grey’s despatch, No. 27, to Governor Grey, dated Downing Street, June 29, 1848. “From the character of those who have formed the Association, and from the advantage which their undertaking, if it prosper, might be expected to confer both upon New Zealand and this country, I take a great interest in the success of their enterprise. The Association has now adopted a course which seems to me perfectly prudent and reasonable, namely, that of despatching a confidential agent to ascertain what lands are available, and select a site for the projected settlement. Captain Thomas, who was acquainted with the colony before” (he had gone as a settler to Wellington in the “Adelaide” in 1840, and had done some surveying work for the Otago settlement) “has been chosen for that purpose.”
Earl Grey went on to bespeak from the authorities every assistance for the agent of the Association. Enclosed in his despatch were copies of letters exchanged between Lord Lyttelton and Earl Grey, between the New Zealand Company and the Association. The despatch and the correspondence are too lengthy to reproduce here, but there are some points in the correspondence which must be mentioned in order to preserve the continuity of the story.
The suggestions that the Association should be granted a charter of incorporation, and that Canterbury should be constituted a separate province, subject to the approval of the Governor, were sympathetically received
