D.—No. 1a

To Mr. Bateman : Mr. Wing's son acted in my absence. Mr. Wing wrote a note for me to convey to the Superintendent, asking leave for Mr. Wing's son to act in my absence. The Superintendent gave me a sealed letter to Mr. Wing in reply. I don't know the contents of that letter. I thought the Station was quite safe in the hands of Mr. Wing's son, as he had acted as Signal-man previously. I think he was quite competent to act as Signal-man. I never heard any complaint against him. My only reason for leaving, was that I considered £7 a month too little to support my wife and family. I had no other reason for leaving. I was in the situation seven years. No accident occurred in my time. To CJuiirman; The new Signals were not in use when I left. The old Signals were in verybad order ; they were all tattered ; I had to patch them almost every day. There were no danger Signals arranged between me and the Pilot. I could not have told him if a vessel was in danger outside when he was coming down the harbour. We had not Marvatt's Signals. To Mr. King : My name is Evaus. I have been a sailor twelve years. I served my time in a coasting vessel off Wales. I arrived in this Colony about ten years ago. I was never "accustomed to act as Signal-man until I went to the Manukau. I was at sea all the time from leaving home until I went to the Manukan. I was Coxswain in the boat with Captain Lewis, and appointed Signalman after he left. I complained to Mr. Wing that the Signals were in bad order. I thought there was a necessity for having Signals in the event of Mr. Wing's absence, and I told him so several times. There was no arrangement between the Harbor Master and me in case any vessel was in danger. I used to get all the pilotage fees of the vessels I piloted. Mr. Wing's son had charge of the Pilot Station when I left. 6 My pay averaged between £10 and £11 per month when I had the pilotage, including salary. I don't remember having ever made any complaint to Captain Wing, or any other person connected with the Government. After I went to Otago, I got Mr. Graham to write that I would not return to the situation, for I was not contented with the low rate of wages I had been getting. I never received any answer to that letter. I never received any notification that I was not to go back, nor heard of any one being appointed in my place. I never gave any intimation when I left that I would not return again. I thought my services were not again required. To Chairman: I have been on the South Head of the Manukau one hundred times. If I had to plant a Flagstaff at the Manukau Heads, I would plant it on the South Head, because its signals would be much better seen than they are at present in consequence of a much higher hill bein<* at the back of the present Signal Station. To Mr. Rattray: The life boat was never used in my time. No accident occurred during the time I was there. I think the Head is too far distant from the boat. To Clhairman : I have often had great difficulty in getting to Signal Station during high tides, often up to the middle in water. To Mr. Bateman : I never heard any complaint of incompetency against young Mr. Wine. I think him quite competent Witness stated, in reply to Captain Wing, that he had never made any arrangement with any one about receiving the fourteen days' pay. Mr. Evans was thanked for his attendance and withdrew. On motion of Mr. King, ordered that in consequence of the absence of the Chairman, it is desirable to adjourn until Captain Wing reports himself to Mr. O'Rorke, which he was requested to do on the earliest possible occasion.

No. 12. ME. JOHN WILLIAMSON TO THE HONORABLE THE COLONIAL SECBETAET. Auckland, September 10th, 1863. telRj-— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 504 ultimo, covering copies of correspondence, and to beg that you will accept my thanks for forwarding the documents to me. A copy of the Manukau Pilot's letter to the Superintendent, of date 8th February, 1863, was forwarded to me at that time by his Honor, when I requested that Captain Wing's statement,' relating to the alleged neglect on the part of the late Provincial Government in failing to supply the necessary requirements of the Pilot Station, might be submitted to enquiry by the Provincial Council then in Session. , A Select Committee of the Council was, as I was informed, appointed to enquire into the circumstances connected with the wreck of H.M.S. " Orpheus," but failed to make a report inconsequence of the non-Attendance of the Pilot of Manukau, Captain Wing, at any of the meetings to which he was summoned.

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