D—No. 16

Mr. Holden's statement to me was as nearly as possible identical with that contained in his Memorial addressed to the Government, dated September 30th 1861; from which I infer, either that the facts were as represented by him, or that he is possessed of an unusually tenacious memory. I did not think it necessary to commit his verbal depositions to writing, but accepted his formal declaration (according to Act) that the statement contained iv his Memorial is true. The document in your possession thus obtains increased authority. I consider the statement of the native woman, his wife, (forwarded herewith) to be of importance, as positively contradicting an assertion which I had heard made—that she had left her husband willingly. I was told by Holden that she had been previously examined by the Resident Magistrate at the Keri Keri, but have not seen the evidence. It would be advisable to compare the woman's second statement to me, with the first, in order to ascertain how far they agree. Holden does not attempt to maintain that he has been blameless throughout,—his words to me were these :—"lf I have been wrong let me be punished for it : but I will never rest till I have got back my child." I would most strongly urge upon the Government the necessity of showing firmness in this affair, and of taking this favourable opportunity of vindicating the pakeha from the aggressions of natives in that district, which, since the removal of the troops from the VVahapu, have been frequent, and as far as my knowledge extends almost entirely uncontrolled. Allow me to request to be informed whether (as I have been told) the Government liaa received any official statement to the effect that the native woman has not boen legally married to Holden—this being in fact the turning point of the questiou so far as the interference of the Government 13 concerned. Also, in the event of such statement having been made, whether the error has since been oorrected. I have &c, Hugh Carleton, M.G.A. The Hon. The Minister for Native Affairs.

Enclosure No. 1 in No. 8. Alfred James Holden, examined : The nature of a Declaration explained to him, I, Alfred James Holden, solemnly and sincerely declare, that the Memorial addressed by me to the New Zealand Government, dated 30th September 18G1, is substantially correct. It is possible that there may be trifling errors in dates, as it is hard for me, travelling from one place to another, to bear them all exactly in memory, but I believe them to be right. I have not a copy of the Memorial before me, but I declare that I put down everything as carefully as I could. The Memorial is correct as far as lays in my power to remember everything. And I make this Declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the provisions of an Act made and passed in the sth and 6th years of King- William the Fourth, intituled "An Act to repeal an Act of the present Session of Parliament intituled 'An Act for the more effectual abolition of Oaths and Affirmations taken and made in various departments of the state, and to substitute Declarations in lieu thereof, and for the more entire suppression of voluntary and extra-judcial Oaths and Affidavits and to make other provisions for the abolition of unnecessary Oaths.' " Alfred James Holden, Declared before me Oct. 25th, 1861. Hugh Carleton. A woman named Keri witnessed the transaction at my house when my wife was taken away. She is of the Ngatirangi and resided at Ohaeawai. I produce the bill sent in.

Ohetopa, 14 o nga ra, 1859. Ekoro, —E Takena. Tena ko koe. He kupu taku ki a koe mo taku poaka i nama atu c Herini, ko taea te wahine tokotoru nga tamariki. Ko nga taimaha tenei ote poaka—l2B pauna, c toru pene me te hepene mo te pauna. £1 17s. 4d. Na Opari raua ko Henaie Ngakapa, Kia Takena.

[Translation.^ October 14th, 1859. Friend Duncan, — Salutations to you. I have a word to say to you about my pig which James got upon, credit. (The name of) the woman (or wife) is Taia, and there are three children. This is the weight of the pig—one hundred and twenty eight pounds, at 3^d. per pound. Total—£l 17s. 4d. From Pori, and Henake Ngakapa.

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ABDUCTION OF THE WIFE AND CHILD