INDEPENDENCE AND SYMPHONIES

James Busby

The United Tribes of New Zealand declared their independence on 28^th October 1835 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand. In 1836, the British Crown under King William IV recognized the United Tribes and its flag. British Resident James Busby's efforts were entirely too successful – as the islands settled down, the British began to consider an outright annexation. In February 1840, a number of chiefs of the United Tribes convened at Waitangi to sign the Treaty of Waitang.

The Treaty established a British Governor of New Zealand, recognised Māori ownership of their lands and other properties, and gave the Māori the rights of British subjects. The English and Māori versions of the Treaty differed significantly, so there is no consensus as to exactly what was agreed to. From the British point of view, the Treaty gave Britain sovereignty over New Zealand, and gave the Governor the right to govern the country. Māori believed they ceded to the Crown a right of governance in return for protection, without giving up their authority to manage their own affairs. How naïve was that?

A Declaration of
 The Independence 
of
 New Zealand

1. We, the hereditary chiefs and heads of the tribes of the Northern parts of New Zealand, being assembled at Waitangi, in the Bay of Islands, on the 28th day of October, 1835, declare the Independence of our country, which is hereby constituted and declared to be an Independent State, under the designation of the United Tribes of New Zealand.

2. All sovereign power and authority within the territories of the United Tribes of New Zealand is hereby declared to reside entirely and exclusively in the hereditary chiefs and heads of tribes in their collective capacity, who also declare that they will not permit any legislative authority separate from themselves in their collective capacity to exist, nor any function of government to be exercised within the said territories, unless by persons appointed by them, and acting under the authority of laws regularly enacted by them in Congress assembled.

3. The hereditary chiefs and heads of tribes agree to meet in Congress at Waitangi in the autumn of each year, for the purpose of framing laws for the dispensation of justice, the preservation of peace and good order, and the regulation of trade; and they cordially invite the Southern tribes to lay aside their private animosities and to consult the safety and welfare of our common country, by joining the Confederation of the United Tribes.

4. They also agree to send a copy of this Declaration to his Majesty the King of England, to thank him for his acknowledgment of their flag; and in return for the friendship and protection they have shown, and are prepared to show, to such of his subjects as have settled in their country, or resorted to its shores for the purposes of trade, they entreat that he will continue to be the parent of their infant State, and that he will become its Protector from all attempts upon its independence.

Agreed to unanimously on this 28th day of October, 1835, in the presence of His Britannic Majesty's Resident. (Here follows the signatures or marks of thirty-five Hereditary chiefs or Heads of tribes, which form a fair representation of the tribes of New Zealand from the North Cape to the latitude of the River Thames).

English witnesses (signed)
Henry Williams, Missionary, C.M.S.; George Clarke, C.M.S.; James C. Clendon, Merchant; Gilbert Mair, Merchant. 
I certify that the above is correct copy of the Declaration of the Chiefs, according to the translation of Missionaries who have resided ten years and upwards in the country; and it is transmitted to his Most Gracious Majesty the King of England, at the unanimous request of the chiefs. 
(signed) 


JAMES BUSBY, British Resident at New Zealand

On the 28^th October 1893, Thaikovsky’s Symphony No: 6 in B Minor, Pathétique receives its première performance in St Petertsburg, only nine days before the composer's death.

Herewith a version from Moscow and one from Vienna. Take your pick.

Another musical event occurred on the 28^th October 1915. Richard Strauss conducted the first performance of his tone poem Eine Alpensinfonie in Berlin. Herewith another Viennese effort.