492 ADVENTUllE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chav. XVIU. 
" the natives a true version of the business ; and al- 
" though those at the Fipitea pa, where the prisoner 
" was taken from, are rather sulky, yet I do not appre- 
" hend any mischief, more especially as E Punt, the 
" nearest relative of the prisoner, says he shall not 
" interfere, and will be angry with any native that does. 
" This, it is believed, will be a wholesome check to the 
*' natives in these districts, who have, since their un- 
" fortunate success at the Wairau, assumed a different 
" bearing, and are certainly not inclined to yield obedi- 
*' ence to our laws, which before they never disputed. 
" With great esteem, &c. 
(Signed) " M. Richmond. 
" His Excellency Willoughby Shortland, Esq. 
"&c. &c. &c." 
This narrative, correct in the main circumstances, 
contains some misrepresentations, and omits some im- 
portant collateral facts. 
I was again an attendant at the Police Court ; 
although I felt unwilling to take part in a show of 
authority which was only now necessary because it had 
been so long delayed or trifled with. I therefore ab- 
stained from taking my place on the bench, and 
remained a silent spectator. 
It was painful to a real well-wisher of the native 
race to behold the prisoner, guarded on either side by 
a grenadier with his firelock and bayonet, and glancing 
angrily upon the crowd of anxious townspeople who 
thronged the Court. The troops were ready to turn out 
at a moment's notice ; and the Commanding Officer 
was anxiously looking towards the pa about fifty yards 
ofti as though he expected a sudden rescue, while the 
Ensign, also on duty, was watching the proceedings 
