Chap. X. PROCLAMATION OF BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY. 299 
had, I am inclined to believe, once been something in 
an East Indiaman. On hearing of the arrival of Cap- 
tain Hobson as Lieutenant-Governor, he had managed 
to get a passage in some craft to the Bay of Islands. 
He had succeeded in getting appointed Chief Constable 
for Port Nicholson, and had accompanied Lieutenant 
Shortland, not a little elated with his official dignity. 
Although I have often since observed the remarkable 
pomposity which a Government official of every class 
assumes in a colony, I never saw a more complete in- 
stance than Constable Cole. 
As he strode up to the flag-staff near Colonel 
Wakefield's house, on which a rather ragged New Zea- 
land flag was hung, he threw disdainful and yet cau- 
tious glances around him. When he saw that there 
were only two or three people in their night-caps peep- 
ing from their doors and windows to know who had 
been boating so early on such a cold morning, he 
plucked up spirits, and seemed to reflect that he had 
to represent the dignity of the British Crown. His 
funny little head arranged itself quite straight in a 
most appropriate military stock ; his ungainly figure 
and gait became almost martial ; he frowned sternly, 
as though to awe the rebels ; and advanced straight 
upon the flag- staff with as much resolution as though 
he had been taking Ciudad Rodrigo by storm. He 
had some little trouble in undoing the string, and it 
would not run very freely through the hole at the top 
of the staff; but at length he accomplished his gallant 
undertaking, and proceeded with a flourish to extend 
the sovereignty of England over the flags which 
adorned the snoring grog-shops along the beach. 
It was not till the 4th that Lieutenant Shortland dis- 
embarked at Thorndon, to hoist the Union jack and read 
the proclamations of the sovereignty of the Queen of Eng- 
