The Defendant in this case is a son of Te Hapuku, and bears a notoriously bad character, so much that no person who knows him would believe him on his oath in a case where he had any interest in telling a falsehood. At the request of Mr. Canning I applied to Te Hapuku and used every argument in my power to induce him to give up the colt, but without effect. His statement is that the mare was a very early foal of one year, and the colt a late one of the year following, and that it was born when the mother was about 18 months old, a thing generally admitted by breeders of horses, to he impossible. From what Te Hapuku has said to me, I think he believes the colt to be really his property; but at the same time I feel sure that his son is well aware that it cannot be so. I do not think there is now any probability of the horse being given up; and it is almost superfluous to say that there are no means of compelling the natives to abide by the Decision of the Court; whilst the chances of their doing so voluntarily have been removed by injudicious taunts and threats which have been used by some of the settlers. As to the horse having been the bona fide property of the late Mr. de Pelichet, and having been sold by his Executors to Mr. Canning, there can be no manner of doubt. (Signed) G.S. Cooper J.P. Napier April 20th. 1857.