 By December, although it was still yet to attract 20 paid-up shareholders, the company decided to buy the barque "Tory" for £5250 from Joseph Somes, a wealthy shipowner and member of the committee.Within the British Government, meanwhile, concern had grown about the welfare of Maori and increasing lawlessness among the 2000 British subjects in New Zealand, who were concentrated in the Bay of Islands.Because of the population of British subjects there, officials believed colonisation was now inevitable and at the end of 1838 the decision was made to appoint a Consul as a prelude to the declaration of British sovereignty over New Zealand.