Mr. MacKlane, Sir, Having been most barbarously ill-treated, and my life threatened, by one Samuel Harrington, in almost shocking manner, and sent away without my wages, I, under these circumstances, beg your attention to the relation of facts which was the cause. Having engaged with Harrington, a whaler, in Hawke's Bay, to steer "Luna" during the Summer season; when about the 11th. October, he ordered the boat to be launched for the purpose of getting some rum from Waikokopu; some time after we arrived there he was so intoxicated about 12 o'clock at night he came down to the boat swearing in a most awful manner, and enquiring where Hooper, another whaler, was. The answer was,- lying on the grass where drunken people in general lay. He ordered us to launch the boat, which we did. When a short distance on the water, he got up, as one deprived of all reason, and seized a boat spade, used to cut up the whale's blubber, and a most deadly instrument. I used all the means to persuade him from so wicked an act as he was then threatening to do to us; there being one European and five natives beside myself, we could have bound him; but in the scuffle, might have capsized the boat. But after a while and much trouble, we got home. The next morning, being Thursday, and he raving like a madman, took up an axe, and threatening to kill all around, struck one of the natives on the back, but did not do him much hurt, the native running at the time, and he after him. Presently he threw down the axe, and took a tomahawk; and with the usual oaths, swore to kill any man who should oppose him. We did all we could as far as our duty ran, to keep him from knowing that all our wages depended upon his honesty; and being now to the amount of from £21 to £30, and upwards; so that it appears that he did not wish to pay us, by his behaviour; for he even set fire to the house that the natives lived in, belonging to his boat. The various acts of cruelty and threatening, with the discharge of us without our wages, demands your attention and protection. Humbly trusting your interference, I await your direction, I also beg to refer to your notice that there are four or five very serious cases, which requires your presence, (Signed) Joseph Mason Letter from Joseph Mason, to Mr. MacKlane, dated (no date), but received 3rd. December 1851.