Unsuitability of Wellington and Nelson for permanent settlement; their prejudiced newpapers linked to the banks; cogent reasons for his measures to ensure peace with Maoris after Wairau; deterioration of relations in the north, threats to Auckland, hostilities in the Bay of Islands; FitzRoy overwhelmed by the difficulties of his position, the malice of his enemies and his distance from England, could see no short-term improvements. The inevitable British compromises and his more cunning successor avoided the implications of his pessimism but history has upheld the justice of his views on Maori issues"--Bagnall 1978.