File:Waitangi Grounds (Treaty House & Flagstaff) (16045248795).jpg

Māori began assembling at the Bay of Islands from 4 February. At nine o’clock on the morning of 5 February, which dawned beautifully fine, William Hobson arrived at James Busby’s residence with Captain Joseph Nias. He made his way directly into a meeting with Busby and Williams to examine the latter’s translation of the treaty. At this time waka were converging on Waitangi from all directions. Across the Bay, too, settlers were arriving by boat, and many vessels adorned with the flags of their respective countries stood at anchor.

On the lawn outside Busby’s house, sailors from the HMS Herald had erected a large marquee – perhaps measuring 150 feet by 30 feet – using ships’ spars and sails. As the conference proceeded inside the residence, Māori grouped according to their hapū affiliation sat in discussion. The New South Wales police troopers paraded in full uniform, settlers mingled, and vendors offered the crowd a variety of refreshments including liquor, pies, meat, and bread.

Here there morning took a comical turn. At 10.30 am the French Roman Catholic bishop, Jean Baptiste Pompallier, bedecked in his ecclesiastical robes, swept past guards and into the Treaty house. He was followed by one of his priests, Father Louis-Catherin Servant. This event caused a stir among the watching Māori, and the Church Missionary Society missionaries, who were standing outside.

When Hobson emerged from the house and, arm in arm with Nias, walked behind the troopers to the tent, Pompallier and Servant quickly fell in behind him. Not wanting to be outdone, the missionaries then tried to place themselves in between, but the Bishop kept too close to Hobson, giving the Protestant Missionaries no option but to follow in his wake. "Brethren," said CMS printer William Colenso, "this won't do. We must never consent to this position." "No," replied the Rev. Richard Taylor, "I will never consent to follow Rome." They quietly withdrew from the procession and made their way unofficially towards the marquee.

These pictures of the Waitangi grounds were taken in 1970, and come from the National Publicity Studios collection. The house of James Busby is pictured to the left, while the flagstaff on the right marks the spot of the marquee and first signings. It was built in 1934 and then replaced in 1946.

Archives Reference: AAQT 6539 Box 102/ A92903 & A92905

This record is part of #Waitangi175, celebrating 175 years since the signing of of te Tiriti o Waitangi. You can see other real time tweets on Twitter (twitter.com/ArchivesNZ), or explore the Waitangi 175 album here on Flickr.

Material supplied by Archives New Zealand