Page:Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury 1915.pdf/117

 the water, where he was in imminent danger of either being drowned or shot. Mr. Armstrong put off in his dinghy, and, ignoring a flag signal for his recall from a superior officer, succeeded in saving the life of the settler. Because of this breach of discipline, and, notwithstanding the heroism of his action, he was actually placed under arrest to await court-martial; but the people in the neighbourhood so vigorously manifested their indignation that he had to be released. He then took his vessel to Wellington, and resigned his command. After this he purchased a small schooner, with which he traded on the coast purchasing all sorts of produce from the Maoris. For example, he commonly procured pigs from them, and, killing and singeing those on the beach, cut them up and salted them on board the schooner, and sold the bacon in Wellington. Mr. Armstrong was the first to import from America such useful articles of woodware as buckets, chums, and numerous dairy and other implements. These he sold up and down the coast to settlers; but, finding himself possessed of a number which he had not disposed of, he opened a store in Akaroa, and, giving up the sea, set about selling the