“Bill Sikes.”

Arrived at Otago Harbour, Symonds and Clarke found the Maoris ready to sell, but in a very bad temper. Here is Clarke's description of Tuckett: “The irrepressible Tuckett, known familiarly in our expedition as Bill Sikes, who had learnt nothing by his escape from the Wairau massacre, would insist upon cutting his survey lines over anything that came in his way, and took not the least notice of the remonstrances of the Maoris. The Government and Colonel Wakefield together had to make him stop, and until he did so, Mr. Symonds refused to begin any negotiations. So the gentleman was not in very good humour when we arrived.”

They pulled up to the site of Port Chalmers, where there was a little forest of white pine, swarming with pigeons, which they shot from the door of the tent.

As the Maoris wanted the party to cross the harbour and inspect the boundaries of the proposed reserve at the Heads, they did so, and having ascended a hill called Ohinetu, Tuhawaiki asked the party to sit down while he addressed them.