4119 ' ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALANI»» Chap. XVI. 
to the public that we were ready thus to authorize 
them. 
But Major Richmond, who had been again courte- 
ously placed in the chair, refused to put the resolution 
when he had heard it read, again pleading his instruc- 
tions ; and, after a long space of courteous remonstrance 
on our part, one of our members moved that he should 
leave the chair, and that Captain Daniell should take 
it. Major Richmond took his hat, and bowed and 
smiled himself out of the room. Throughout the 
proceedings, his total nonchalance and want of sympathy 
for the settlers had been most apparent. We then 
passed our resolutions, and were preparing to publish 
them, when we received an official remonstrance from 
Major Richmond against our doings. He not only 
pleaded his instructions, as though they had anything 
to do with our conduct, but strongly asserted that 
the proposed course was calculated to arouse " alarm 
" and excitement among the natives." This had been 
his main argument at our meetings also. 
We, however, considered that a knowledge by the 
natives of our perfect ability to protect ourselves would 
tend in the very opposite direction ; and that no course 
could so effectually allay excitement in all quarters. 
E Aku and the other Otaki natives had expressed 
some curiosity to see the drilling, and only considered 
it as rather a new toy. Wahine iti was nmch dis- 
appointed when he found that there was to be no 
more. 
But two of our number having waited upon Major 
Richmond to discuss the matter, we became convinced 
that that officer would })ersist in dispersing the volun- 
teers, even if drilled under our authority. He refused 
to answer the question made to him, as to whether he 
would feel justified in ordering the troops to disperse 
