To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 50, 20 September 1845, Page 2

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator.

Sir, — We find in the last number of your journal, an affidavit signed William Fell, and sworn before Mr. St Hill ; also a declaration by William Thompson, forwarded from the East Coast, both of which statements have been occasioned by the loss of the American brig Falco, of which a circumstantial account appeared in your paper of the previous week. The object of these statements apparently is, to vindicate a party of whites living on the coast from the charges of having acted in a manner to prevent the Falco from being again got afloat, and of robbing the cargo and materials of the ship ; and at the same time an attempt is made to shew that the Captain occasioned the loss of the vessel, and that he and the American Consul evinced most unjustifiable disregard for the Mail bags, which it is stated were in consequence lost. We have received a letter under date 18th August from the American Consul. It does not give us any detailed particulars relative to the Falco getting ashore, but it expresses the strongest indignation at the conduct of a party of whites, and of them the following are named as having gone to Port Nicholson, George Thoms,

William Wright, James Brown, and William Fell; the last named is the person who has sworn the affidavit before Mr. St. Hill, already alluded to in this letter, and the others are named by Fell as persons who acted with him under the sanction and at the request of the Captain of the Falco. Here is a great contradiction, and it is hardly probable the Consul, in writing us, should have made so great a mistake as to use language expressing the utmost anger, instead of that which should, according to Fell, have expressed praise and approbation. Mr. Williams in his letter stales, "I have been compelled to call for native protection, and these tribes have come to protect me against the aggressions of Europeans." Again Mr. Williams states that, "at the request of Mr. Perry the natives took from them (the Europeans) part of their plunder." " The white men threatened to attack the house four nights since, a native informed of them, and the natives now come freely to protect me." Further on in his letter Mr. Williams states, "the Falco could have been got afloat with little or no damage in four or five days, for about £150, but she is completely broken up, and consequently condemned." These extracts make it very evident that Mr. Williams attributes his misfortunes wholly to the conduct of the whites. In reference to the loss of the mail bags being stated to be an object of perfect indifference to Mr. Williams, we will merely appeal to the opinion formed of that gentleman while here whether such is likely to provp a fact until a full statement of the matter shall have been furnished by the Consul, which we have no doubt will be forthcoming at no distant day. As the agents of Mr. Williams, we have to request you to give this communication a place in your columns. We are, Sir, Your obedient servants, James Smith & Co. Wellington, September 17, 1845.