S9S ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chaf.X. 
thirty soldiers, and some supernumeraries, consisting of 
" mounted police " without their horses, constables, &c. 
It was rumoured that Captain Pearson and some of 
his passengers had reported us at the Bay of Islands as 
** a turbulent set of rebels, who were establishing a 
" republic at Port Nicholson," and that the thirty 
soldiers had been sent to quell the rebellion ! It was 
added, that the invading force had held no communi- 
eation with the shore, the prudent Colonial Secretary 
having probably deemed it advisable to reconnoitre 
before landing on the insurgent shore. 
Merry and loud were the jokes that rang through 
the tents up the Hutt, whither I carried the news. 
Bombastes Furioso, Tom Thumb, and Jack the Giant- 
killer, were quoted and parodied, and some hours' 
amusement was derived from this ludicrous mistake 
of the Government as to our hostility, and the over- 
whelming force which they had sent to exterminate 
us. All, however, were delighted to know that we 
were at length recognized and claimed by our natural 
protectors ; and the relief from all possible insecurity 
which seemed to be assured liy the event, hel})ed not a 
little to maintain the cheerful good-humour which 
laughed at the " questionable shape " in which the 
event came. 
The first measure of the Royalist forces was to send 
a man on shore the next morning to pull down all the 
New Zealand flags which he might find hoisted. This 
was probably an experimental measure only ; .is a 
single constable performed the task very early, almost 
before anybody was up. The man who performed this 
bold deed at Pitotie assumed, while he did it, the most 
ridiculous appearance of authority. He had been one 
of our early immigrants, brought out, 1 think, in the 
Aurora. He was usually styled "Captain" Cole, and 
