254 ADVENTXTKE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. X. 
scribed as most satisfactory. Everybody spoke in 
ecstasies of the country and climate. 
But the natives had given considerable trouble, and 
had only been checked by very decisive measures. 
A large number of natives who had been made 
slaves by the TVaikato conquerors of Taranaki, but 
manumitted since the conversion of their masters to 
Christianity, had returned to their ancient dwellings 
since the establishment of a White population on the 
nearly deserted site. They, of course, found them- 
selves without utu; not having been parties to the sale, 
and being disqualified, according to invariable native 
custom, by the very fact of their captivity from any 
claims to land or payment for it. Although the Native 
Reserves, whether as located by them or let to \A^hite 
people in order to produce a revenue for their support, 
were ample for a much larger population than had in- 
habited Tarayiaki even in its most populous days, yet 
as no officer of Government made any use whatever of 
the Reserves, and the Company had neither the right 
nor the inclination to meddle with them, the emanci- 
pists found themselves also without potato-grounds. 
Having applied to the Company's Agent, but in vain, 
for utn, some of them had recourse to violence. They 
entered a section belonging to a very peaceable settler 
named Pearce, burnt down his cottage, and destroyed 
some raupo for thatching. They then proceeded to 
the next section, where some brothers, named Bayly, 
had put up their tent, and were commencing their 
farming operations. They were very furious, bran- 
dishing tomahawks, &c., and attempted to tear down 
the tent; but the Baylys, very resolute and strong 
men, resisted, and a sort of scuffle or wrestling-match 
ensued between one of the brothers, who is a famous 
West-country wrestler, and a native, who acted as 
