H.—29a

10

E. Eiddell and W. Morris, and from twelve to twenty Natives ; that I informed him of what I had heard as the expressed statement of himself, and that in reply he said he had never made any charges against me ; that he had been told that I had used his money, and that ho would not get it again ; that he was very sore that he had already lost £100, and now it was told to him that it was all gone. In reply I informed him that I had used a portion of his money, and for what purpose ; that it was optional with him to accompany me and E. Eiddell to town, and receive his money ; that if he had anything to say that he could not have a better opportunity, inasmuch as there was no longer a risk of misunderstanding in the presence of so many witnesses. I then told him a second time what I had done with some of his money, and what I still proposed to do with the entire sum of £342 ; and in the presence of the above witnesses, and with the concurrence and full knowledge of the Natives present, he acquiesced in what I proposed. I gave him until this Monday morning to write a letter (in reply to one received) to Mr. McLean. On this Monday morning he handed me the letter, and again begged me to understand that he " had never made a charge, but that what he had said had been dragged out of him." My character requires no clearing. What I have done, I have done in broad daylight; that (sic) no man is scathless against such insidious and underhand attacks as in the present case ; that (sic) I have done as well or better for Ihaka's interest than any one else could or would have done; and that, better still, Ihaka himself is perfectly content and satisfied that I have done so. In reference to the portion of your letter relating to the suspension of my duties as interpreter, I beg to reply that I had previously tendered my resignation, on which subject I shall have the honor to write officially, so soon as I receive an answer to my present letter. I have, &c, C. H. Brown, Esq., E.M., Wairoa. G-. T. B: Worgan.

Enclosure 5 in No. 16. Mr. C. H. Brown to Mr. Gr. B. Worgan. Sir,— Wairoa, 20th September, 1864. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of September 19th, which I have forwarded to the Civil Commissioner for his consideration. I hare, &c, C. Hunter Brown.

Enclosure 6 in No. 16. Copy of covering Letter to Civil Commissioner, accompanying Mr. "Worgan's Letter of 19th September, forwarded to Civil Commissioner. Sir,— "Wairoa, 20th September, 1864. On September 19th I wrote briefly to Mr. Gr. T. 13. Worgan, according to your instructions, acquainting him with your decision that he should be suspended until such time as he should have cleared himself from certain charges made against him by Ihaka Whanga, with which charges Mr. "Worgan had been made acquainted through me. To-day I have received the answer, which I have the honor to forward for your consideration. Eeferring to my letter of September 15th on this subject, I beg to point out that in the enclosed letter Mr. Worgan contradicts point blank his first assertion to me that he had lodged Ihaka'B money for six months at the bank, and also his assertion made to Ihaka in the Maori letter enclosed in mine of September 15th —to wit, that Ihaka's money was safely lodged. Also, I beg to state that Mr. Lyndon, of the New Zealand Bank, positively contradicts Mr. Worgan's assertion that Mr. Lyndon and he together calculated the interest on £342 for six months at 4 per cent, to amount to £7 15s. (about £1 too much). Lastly, Mr. Worgan has admitted to Ihaka that he has used this money without Ihaka's knowledge. He has admitted to me that, as Ihaka asserts, Mr. Worgan lodged the money in his own name, without Ihaka's knowledge. I presume it is in a purely physical sense that Mr. Worgan claims to have done " this in broad daylight," banks, indeed, being seldom open after dark. Mr. Worgan has convicted himself in telling lies. He has tampered with another man's money. I beg to recommend that he be dismissed, and that I have authority to look for another interpreter. I have answered Mr. Worgan's letter by writing to him that I have forwarded his letter to you. I have, &c, C. Hunter Brown.

Enclosure 7 in No. 16. Mr. G. H. Brown to the Civil Commissioner. Wairoa, 28th September, 1864. # •••••• In the matter of his £342 wrongfully " converted" by Mr. Worgan, Ihaka tells me that Mr. Worgan and Mr. Eiddell, on their visit to him on September 17th, persuaded him to lend that money to Messrs. Riddell Brothers (whose note of hand he now holds as sole security) till February 11th, 1865, at the rate of 20 per cent, interest. Mr. Morris tells me that it was explained to him very fully and clearly in my presence. That now Messrs. Biddell would spend the remainder of his money now kept fast in the bank for him. Ihaka was very gloomy, silent, and disgusted, but does seem to have