I te tau 1865, ko Roberts te perehitini o te Fenian Society, he whakahaere mana whenua Irish e mohiotia ana mo ana whakaekenga i nga turanga o Ingarangi i Kanata. I uru ia ki te whakaekenga ki Kanata
i te tau 1866, nā reira i hopukina ai e te Kāwanatanga.