Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/350

 294 gross's TSEATMEKT 17M King, in his capacity as Lieutenant-Governor of Norfolk Disputes. Island, gave o£Pence to Grose in three ways — ^First, his depar- ture from the island on a trip to New Zealand without having obtained leave from head-quarters ; second, the appointment of Captain Nepean to the command during his absence ; and third, the course he pursued in suppressing a mutiny of the soldiers who formed the garrison. Taking the subjects in order, we have first of all King's unauthorised departure. He left Norfolk Island for an im- portant purpose, as it seemed to him — ^namely, to retnm two £Sr**"** ^^^ Zealand natives to their homes. He was not absent for more than ten days, and affairs, during his absence, were in competent hands. It did not occur to him to ask permission from the Lieutenant-Governor of New South wnvej'B Wales, under whose authority he was. Had King waited thSf homes, f^r permission to leave the island he would have been unable to accompany the New Zealanders to their homes. Possibly he had in his mind the course taken by Phillip, who left Sydney to return to England without having received formal authority to do so.* But the two cases are not parallel. When Phillip left New South Wales there was a Lieutenant-Governor, whose Commission authorised him to take charge of the colony, in the absence or death of the Governor ; at Norfolk Island there was no one to take the place of the Lieutenant-Governor, by virtue of any Order or Commission; and without the permission of Grose, King was not at liberty to leave his post. <J^^- The natives of New Zealand had been captured, under Se^*were*^^ instructions received from the Secretary of State, for the captured, purpose of affording information to the convicts and settlers at Norfolk Island concerning the manufacture of cordage and clothing from the flax-plant. At first the captives were sullen and dejected, and refused to communicate what England without permission, but he excused himself on the ground of neoeflflity.
 * Groie also gare up the G-OTemment of Kew South Wal« and sat sail for