F—No. 1

REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE PETITION OF C. DAVIS <fe F. & L. YATES, REPORT.

TnE Select Committee on the matters involved in the Petition of Charles Davis and Frederick and Leopold Yates, Report— That the main ground of complaint alleged in the Petition has not been established. It appears from the letters appeuded hereto that the removal of the two latter Petitioners and other persons from Kavvhia was undertake n at their own request and with their full concurrence ; and that the Government exhibited great promptitude and care in providing the means for their removal, for which Mr. McLean received a letter of thanks from Messrs. Yates and others. Your Committee cannot help expressing great regret that under the circumstances the Petitioners Messrs. Yates (who must have had full cognizance of the merits of the case) should have so far trifled with this Honorable House as to bring the matter under its notice and to base grave complaints against the Government thereon, a proceeding your Committee consider open to the gravest censure and which they trust will not be repeated. Your Committee have no reason to believe that Mr. Davis, one of the Petitioners, is open to the above censure, he being a resident in A uckl»nd and having apparently no personal knowledge of the facts alleged by Messrs. Yates. William Fox, Chairman. House of Representatives, 2nd October, 1860.

MESSRS. DAVIS AND CO. AND HOPKINS, TO ME. M f LEAN. Kaglan, May 2nd, 1860. Deae Sir, — In consequenae of the present unsafe state of Kawhia, we humbly avail ourselves of the offer of Government for the conveyance of ourselves and property to Manukau from Kawhia. All parties not having availed themselves of leaving Kawhia in vessels previously chartered by Government are to be privileged of proceeding per vessel about to be named. We believe there is now a vessel called the " James," now lying in Kawhia, and we pray that said vessel may be chartered for the above purpose. We may further add that in the event of your granting our prayer, Mr. J. Hopkins and ourselves have agreed that 10 tons space shall be left for the shipment of our property. Awaiting your answer. We remain, &c, (Signed) Davis & Co. Josiaii Hopkins, of Kawhia. To D. McLean, Esq., Secretary Native Department.

MR. M f LEAN, TO MESSRS. DAVIS AND CO. AND HOPKINS. Raglan, 2nd May, 1860. Gentlemen, — In reply to your Letter of this day's date, stating that you consider your residence in Kawhia unsafe, and that you wish to avail yourselves of an opportunity to leave the place, I shall, in compliance with your request make arrangements for the charter of the " James," schooner, to take yourselves and property to Manukau, conditionally of course that any Europeans left behind either by the "Eaven" or " Matilda," shall have a passage by the same opportunity to Manukau. I have, &c, (Signed) D. McLean. Messrs. Davis and Co., and J. Hopkins, Kawhia.

MESSRS. HOPKINS, YATES, AND OTHERS, TO MR. MCLEAN. Kaglan, May 3rd, 1860. Dear Sir, — Previous to our departure for Kawhia we humbly beg leave to tender you our sincere thanks for the very patient and attentive manner iajyhich you listened to our suggestions pending the trying situation we are now placed in ; also for the great interest you have evinced for the preservation of our lives and properties. Trusting in conclusion that we may meet under happier auspices, We beg to subscribe ourselves, &c, (Signed,) J. Hopkins, L. Hunt, F. Yates, L. Yates. To Donald McLean, Esq.