The Maoris had chants about it, and in their legends it was described as “Bed-fellow of earth-shaking thunder.”  ’Very well, Sir John Gorst replied to their grand title by another in Maori, signifying:  “The Lonely Sparrow on the House Top.”  This, of course, was suggested by the Scriptures, and its force of contrast at once tickled the Maori sense of humour.  Sir John Gorst’s satire was so keen that they could not, themselves, help laughing over the fun which “The Lonely Sparrow on the House Top” made of “The Giant Eagle Flying Aloft.”  It went on for several numbers, perhaps half-a-dozen, when the Maoris informed Sir John that he must stop his paper, or they would throw his printing materials into the river.

’The conductors of “The Giant Eagle Flying Aloft” had the view, if I am not mistaken, that “The Lonely Sparrow on the House Top” did not fight with adequate dignity.  It was too anxious to make merriment of its adversary, so causing the latter to appear ridiculous to many Maoris.  Sir John Gorst paid no heed to the threats against him, and next, there arrived a band of Maoris who uprooted his printing machinery.  He happened to be from home at the time, and when he returned it was to find this disorder, and the Maoris in possession.  ’The scheme thus to dispossess him and the “Lonely Sparrow on the House Top,” had been headed by the chief Rewi.  It was Rewi who flung, from a besieged pa, the defiant message that the Maoris would never surrender, that they would fight “For ever, For ever, For ever!” I am inclined to believe that he put himself at the head of the raid upon Sir John Gorst, in order to be able to protect him from any hurt,’

Be that as it might, Rewi and the raiders were determined that Sir John Gorst should depart the ‘king country.’  They pronounced this verdict upon him with every ceremony, and his answer was equally determined.  It was:  ’Nothing but a direct order from Sir George Grey shall induce me to leave my post.’  At that, Rewi granted time for a reference to the Governor, who instructed Sir John Gorst to withdraw.  Had it been otherwise; or had the order lagged, Sir John would most likely have shared the fate of ’The Lonely Sparrow on the House Top!’ The sword proved mightier than the pen in that duel.

And despite Sir George Grey’s efforts, the sword was again to be drawn over a wide area of New Zealand.  A particular land dispute, which meant cleavage with the confederated Maoris, had been gnawing its way along.  Sir George investigated it, reached the decision that the Maori claim was just, and made up his mind to rescind the purchase.  He was not autocrat now, as he had been before, the New Zealand constitution which he had drafted, being in operation.  Things had to move by routine, there was muddling somewhere, and in the middle of it all, the Maoris waylaid a small party of soldiers.