As he merely hit the shadow, not the substance, the would-be assassin was not punished, but the better disposed Maoris gave a piece of land as compensation--not to the injured Busby, but to his Government.
It has been well said of Mr.Busby that "his office resembled a didactic dispatch; it sounded well, and it did nothing else." Nevertheless, New Zealand was in a state such that, from time to time, even the English Government had to do something, so urgent was the need for action.

After despatching their man-of-war without guns, they next year sent a man-of-war with guns.

Nor did the captain of the _Alligator_ confine himself to the harmless nonsense of saluting national flags.

In 1834 the brig _Harriet_ was wrecked on the coast of Taranaki.

Her master, Guard, an ex-convict, made his way to Sydney, asserting that the Maoris had flocked down after the wreck, and attacked and plundered the crew; had killed some, and held Guard's wife and children in captivity.