42 i ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAIH). Chap. XVI. 
much entreaty, persuaded by Mr. Clarke junior to ac- 
company him, and the other natives were prevailed upon 
to suffer him to go to the Police Court. Three wit- 
nesses proved the identity of the prisoner, and he him- 
self confessed having struck the woman several times, 
and that he stole the print and ill-treated the con- 
stable. 
Mr. Clarke junior treated the offence as of a very 
light character, and told the Chief Police INIagistrate 
" that it was a very trifling affair ;" but the constable 
who had suffered, surprised at his remarks, stated that 
" he had been nearly killed in the affray." 
Major Richmond, after hearing the case, told the 
aggressor he might go, but if ever he did anything of 
the kind again, he would be punished for it. The de- 
cision excited considerable surprise in the minds of 
those present ; many of whom loudly vented their feel- 
ings against Mr. Clarke junior as he quitted the 
office. Mrs. Cameron had sustained considerable injury 
in her head from the effect of the blows she received on 
the above occasion. But, wonderful to relate, the set- 
tlers still forbore. 
About this time, numerous cases occurred of in- 
creasing insolence and outrageous conduct on the part 
of the natives. Up the Hutt, and in other quarters, 
many insfcmces occurred; but they did not apjjear 
in the Police Court, as it had become a bye-word that 
there was law against the Whites and none against 
the Mauri. It is painful to think, that although the 
settlers still respected an authority so inadequately ad- 
ministered, many feelings of private revenge and animo- 
sity have been treasured up at this time, through the 
tottil inaction of the public institution which should over- 
come such feelings by awarding its impartial penalties 
to all wrong deeds. 
