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Mr. Watson told Sir G. Grey that he had no animosity towards the Commissioner, so Sir George Grey suggested they should shake hands and make it up, upon which Mr. Watson said, “Bedad, your Excellency, I’d sooner not,” and he did not. Manners were then very primitive. On this visit of Sir George’s he had come in unexpectedly one night, having walked from Pigeon Bay. He went to bed at Bruce’s Hotel, and Mr. Bruce thought this a fitting time to push some claims of his own; so he walked into Sir George’s room, sat coolly down on the side of the bed, and poured his troubles into His Excellency’s ears—one does not know with what success.

Out of these disputes respecting land arose a duel. It took place between Mr C. B. Robinson, the first Resident Magistrate, whose second was Mr. Cooper, now Collector of Customs at Timaru, and Captain Muter, whose second was the late Mr. Crosbie Ward. It was fought in a bush track in Holmes’ Bay. Pistols were the weapons used. At the first shot Mr. Robinson fired in the air, but Captain Muter aimed at his opponent, though he did not hit him. Captain Muter was anxious for a second shot, but Mr. Robinson declared that if so, he would certainly do his best to shoot his adversary. The seconds then interfered, being of opinion that wounded honor was fully satisfied, and the affair was brought to an end. Captain, now Colonel Muter, left Akaroa soon after and rejoined his regiment, and much distinguished himself during the Indian Mutiny. The vessel in which he went Home from India was burnt at anchor, after her arrival in British waters, and in this fire Colonel Muter lost considerably. He afterwards edited an Anglo-Indian paper. While on the subject of duelling, one may mention that a bloodless one was fought at the Head of the Bay in 1863. The weapons in this case were also pistols, and the