id him at Newark. The encounter
supplied a good story, and its manner was Sir George Grey in a
characteristic mood. This was how he gravely met Mr. Mundella's gentle
overture, 'Now, won't you withdraw from the contest?'

'Yes, I quite see the difficulty. You want somebody to assist Cardwell.
However well your suggestion might obviate the difficulty, I have an
alternative which I think would equally suit. I had a military training,
I did very creditably as a student at Sandhurst, I served with the
colours, and I attained the rank of captain. I shall be glad to show you
my papers, proving my knowledge of military affairs; and altogether, if
your War Minister requires somebody to prompt him, I don't see why I
should not fill the place as satisfactory as another. 'Oh,' exclaimed Mr.
Mundella, 'there's no use in coming to you with anything, for you always
make a joke of it.' So they parted, and laughing, over the years, at the
incident, Sir George said: 'You know Mundella was a capital fellow, of
sterling ability and many qualities, but I'm afraid he was never a
humorist.'

Sir George was not to be member for Newark, since, in the long run, to
save the loss of a Liberal seat, he retired. His committee put it to him
that this was the rule of the road, and he felt it no sacrifice to quit
the field. The tribes had to be, pacified, but how different the methods
in primitive and civilised society! Two tribes fell out during his first
Governorship of New Zealand, and they must settle their difference by
combat. Sir George deprecated such things, as not being conducive to the
welfare of the Colony. No sooner did he hear of the duel, than he ordered
a warship to up-steam and carry him to the spot. He was put ashore, when
the day was breaking, at a point still sixteen miles from the combatants.
He obtained a, horse for himself, another for an orderly, and the pair
were given rein.

'I believe,' he told, 'that our first mounts proved not very good, only,
at a farm on the way, we were able to replace them with better. Our ride
was across rough country, innocent of roads, but we reached our
destination just as the campaign opened for the day. I waited a minute to
master the state of parties, then galloped straight between them, and
called out "Stop! Stop!" Amazed at my appearance, they just shouted along
their ranks "Te Kuwana"--the Maori effort to say "The Governor."

'As I had ridden into the fusilade, a chief was shot in the neck,