HISTORICAL REVIEW OF NEW ZEALAND. 



1031 



and, as compensation for Heke's wrong-doing, offered to surrender some land or other 

 property. The Governor would accept only ten old muskets, and even these he returned, 

 while in compliance with the compact he ordered the withdrawal of the troops. In order 

 to still further allay discontent, the Legislative Council in October arrived at the deter- 

 mination to permit the natives to sell land direct to settlers. Meanwhile, Heke all this 

 time had been lying at Kaikohe a passive spectator of events. Resenting the engage- 

 ment of the chiefs to keep him in order, and emboldened by the concessions that his 



demonstration of force 

 had wrung from the 

 Authorities, he made 

 up his mind to again 

 hew down the flag- 

 staff. Accordingly he 

 repaired with his 

 followers to Korora- 

 reka early in January, 

 cut down the flag-staff 

 by night, and after 

 sending word to the 

 magistrate that he 

 would return in two 

 months to destroy the 

 Gaol and the Custom 



House, and to send away the officers of the Government, he retired again to Kaikohe. 

 A proclamation was at once issued offering a reward of one hundred pounds for the apprehen- 

 sion of Heke, and Heke retaliated by offering a similar sum for Governor Fitzroy's head. 

 In February, //.J/..9. Hazard was dispatched to Kororareka with a musket-proof 

 block-house to be erected at the flag-staff, and fifty men of the Ninety-sixth Regiment 

 under two officers to garrison the small fortress. This time the new flag-staff was 

 sheathed with iron, a stockade was constructed, some light guns were mounted, and the 

 settlers were armed and drilled. Everything now presaged a stern conflict. A force of 

 twenty soldiers, under Ensign Campbell, guarded the British flag. Commander Robert- 

 son, with forty Marines, was in charge of a gun commanding Matauhi Bay ; half-way 

 between the summit of the Hill and the beach stood the stockade, with two guns in 

 front, and Mr. Polack's house on the beach was garrisoned with soldiers, Marines and 

 settlers. . Nor was Heke idle. He had emissaries travelling through the country as far 

 north as Mangonui, and as far south as Whangarei, inciting the natives to rise. The 

 chief Kawiti joined him with a large body of armed men, and other accessions followed. 

 Early in March, Heke and Kawiti moved with their forces to the neighbourhood of 

 Kororareka, and some acts of horse-stealing on their part led to an exchange of shots 

 with the troops. Lieutenant Philpott of the Royal Navy was captured, but after being 

 detained some time, and having one of his pistols taken from him, he was released and 

 advised to be more careful of himself in future. 



On the night of the loth of March, Heke marched his forces towards Kororareka, 



MANGONUI. 



