THE DEPOSITION OF MR. SAMUEL BUTLER.

Mr. Samuel Butler deposeth, that on October 27th, 1823, that his father and mother and Mr. James Shepherd came to the Tee, the station under his care and charge; that the object of his father's coming, and bringing Mr. Shepherd with him, was to pay for the land chosen for the station.

That when they arrived, having been several hours upon the water, and come fourteen miles in a heavy sea, he took them into his house (or rush hut), when Mrs. Butler, Jnr., set such refreshment before them as she had.

Afterwards, the chief Tarayha and his son, not being at the station but were gone to the brig “Dragon” to sell hogs for muskets and powder that his father, Mr. James Shepherd, and himself, went about the estate, making some observations as they passed along, and thus continued until dinner was ready, which was about two o'clock or something later; that they all dined together in his hut, after which, they again took a walk, and waited for the chief until about five o'clock in the evening, but they did not return. Having therefore, in conjunction with his father and Mr. Shepherd, set apart the trade to be given for the land, and having made every other necessary arrangements, he prepared his boat as fast as possible, in order to take his mother and Mr. Shepherd to the Kiddee Kiddee, and in order to speak to Mr. Marsden about what had passed between Mr. Marsden and his father in the morning, and which had given his father much anxiety of mind, and to convince Mr. Marsden of the falsehood of those reports

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Further, that as the chiefs were gone to the “Dragon,” and uncertain when they might return, his father, who was to be left to finish the business in hand, determined to go to the vessel after the chief, and accordingly manned his boat and we set off together, and kept in company for some miles, as we had to pass the vessel on our way to Kiddee Kiddee.

Mr. Samuel Butler further declares that he was in his father's company the whole time from the arrival at his station; that he neither ate nor drank but in his presence, and that his father was perfectly sober when he left to go on board the “Dragon;” that he had made every inquiry about his return, and both the native servants, as well as Mrs. Butler, declared to him that his father returned in the same sober state as when I left him.