Wangua, Table Cape, New Zealand, August 21, 1845.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 49, 13 September 1845, Page 3

Wangua, Table Cape, New Zealand, August 21, 1845.

This is to certify to all whom it may concern, that the rumour with respect to the white men being the first to commit robberies on board the brig Falco when she came on shore at this place, is totally false, and that this is a true report of the whole matter as far as I know. On Saturday afternoon, 26th July, 2 p.m., a light breeze set in from the NE., and on Sunday morning, at 11 a.m., it began to freshen, and kept increasing during the day, with a heavy sea running into the bay, signals from the shore were made for the brig to get under weigh and proceed to sea, which she ought to have done by 8 a.m., and might have done up to 12 noon, every one on shore was surprised to see her laying there, when theie was every appearance of a heavy blow from the NE., and had been threatening and coming on gradually from Saturday afternoon; and when I, William Thompson, went on board the wreck on Monday morning at 10 a.m., I inquired if any lives were lost, they told me no ; I asked why they lay at their anchors when they might have got under weigh, and proceeded to sea, when the crew generally, but one man in particular, I believe Croft by name, who had had charge of the vessel on this coast, told me that he and others advised him to get under weigh, and wanted to heave short and lower sails, but were told by the officers that she would ride it out, the Captain told me that she had rode it out at Swan River, and also at Port Nicholson, and he thought she would have rode it out here. I asked him if he had a mail on board, he said yes, and told me where to find it ; I went and found it below, and hand°d it to him, and they threw it down the hold amongst the casks and cargo, and said, let it stay there for awhile; I and other white men went on shore, and about an hour after I saw the natives bringing things out of the brig; I got a native to guide me through the surf, and went on board and asked the Captain the reason he was sending the things on shore, he told me he was not — that the natives were taking them without his consent; I went down the hold, and saw that the English mail I had handed up when I was on board before was scattered all over the hold ; the mail might have been saved, I and others having offered to take it on shore to a white man's house, where their «wn things were taken to before the mail, was thought of. I have since then had an opportu nity of speaking to Mr. Williams the Consul, and asked him why the mail was not taken care of before plates and dishes, knives and forks, bedding, clothes, &c. : he told me a mail was of no consequence on board an American vessel. I said, what ! not an English mail ? He said, No, no mail. I have no hesitation in saying, that there was sufficient warning of the weather, and the vessel might have put to sea with safety. his William Thompson X mark. Witnesses to Signatures — A. Henrici, Thos. M'Namara, Wm. Munro.