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ther extension had been firmly declined).
I then called His Excellency's attention categorically to my complaints. I said the people who were erecting the matsheds had been threatened and were obliged to cease working, and that this inflammatory placard handed to him was being extensively posted. I had no wish to use language that was not of the most friendly character but I felt it my duty to call upon him to take without delay the necessary steps first to have the placards removed and the person who wrote them brought to justice. Second to supply ample protection for the parties working on the matsheds, third to supply similar protection to parties surveying roads that we proposed to make for the benefit of the people. He said I will send a telegram to the San-On Magistrate to do what you ask. I said I must demand something more definite from Your Excellency, as for the San-On Magistrate I can expect no help from him. I am informed by Mr. Stewart Lockhart, our Commissioner for delimitation, that he has been only a hindrance and thrown difficulties in the way of the delimitation on every occasion. I must beg that Your Excellency will yourself give the necessary orders, and I must also beg that I be informed that they have been obeyed by Tuesday next otherwise I will proceed to hoist the British flag and take over the territory on Wednesday. At present I do not propose to do so until the 17th instant when the matsheds will
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