CiTAP. XVI. DISTURBANCES AT NELSON. 429 
return, I found that serious news had come in from 
Nelson by a whale-boat sent on purpose. 
The natives were making active use of Mr. Short- 
land's proclamation at various places. At Motueka, Mr. 
Tuckett described himself as having been protected by 
the resident natives from threats against his life by 
some strangers of the Kawia tribe. 
Several settlers had received distinct warnings at 
about the same time from different natives, that an 
attack was very likely to be made upon the settle- 
ment. 
The White labourers, whom I have already de- 
scribed as being in excess at Nelson, and employed 
in large numbers by the Company on the roads, had 
acquired the habit of very slack work. Upon a gager 
and inspector being appointed to report upon how 
much less they did than they ought, they assaulted 
these officers and their time-keepers with stones, put 
one of them into a ditch, and seemed likely to proceed 
to further extremities. 
Upon the first receipt of these reports. Sir Everard 
says, " I was requested to detach a portion of the 
" troops under my command to Nelson, not to repel 
" any attack expected from the native population, but 
" to restrain and bring to order about 300 English 
" labourers, which the New Zealand Company had 
" employed on their works. Such a request, I con- 
" sidered required no answer. Having now recovered, 
" and from all I could learn from the most sound au- 
" thorities that there was nothing to be apprehended, 
" I had made up my mind to return to Sydney. 
" Major Richmond had requested me to wait the 
" arrival of Mr. Clarke, the Sub-Protector of Abo- 
" rigines, who could give me the last and best ac- 
" count, as he was to visit all Xhe, jms. He, on his 
