Chap. XVI. MR. CLARKE'S OFFICIAL REPORT. 415 
" The parties engaged in this rash and inhuman 
*' affray have inflicted a deadly wound on the interests of 
" the colony, by means of the unfortunate impression with 
" regard to native character which this circumstance, even 
" after the fullest explanation, will create. They have 
" also occasioned a breach of that confidence hitherto 
" existing, which must prove alike injurious to both 
" parties, and which time only will repair ; and while I 
" entertain the fullest confidence in the integrity of the 
" natives, and am under no apprehension of any undue 
" advantage being taken by them of their late success, I 
" at the same time experience the greatest apprehension 
" of danger from a number of our own countrymen, who, 
" I fear, are using every possible means to widen the 
" breach for the unworthy purpose of taking possession 
" of the coveted lands, and throwing the onus of the 
" aggression on Her Majesty's Government. 
" I am borne out in these remarks, I conceive, by 
" the general tenor of the proceedings of the disappointed 
" settlers in all the Company's settlements, as exhibited 
" in the police reports, and other occasional matter con- 
" tained in the Southern papers, but more especially by 
" the sentiments of the resident Protector,* expressed to 
" me in his private communication ; an extract of which 
" is herewith enclosed for the perusal of his Excellency, 
" as fully in accordance with my own views upon this 
" subject. 
" The only step which I could suggest to Her Ma- 
"jesty's Government in the present painful dilemma in 
" which they are placed by this disastrous occurrence, is 
" to avow, in the strongest terms, their disapproval of 
" the conduct adopted by the Nelson settlers, and the 
" deep horror entertained by Her Majesty's Govern- 
* His own son, who had acted and written in the same spirit as 
himself. 
