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Historical Records of New Zealand

Governor Darling to Earl Bathurst.(No. 41.)

Governor Darling to Earl Bathurst.(No. 41.)

Government House, 13th March, 1827.

My Lord,—

I do myself the honor to transmit to your Lordship copy of a petition from Mr. Robert Duke, master of the ship Sisters, by whom the brig Wellington, which had been piratically seized by the prisoners of the Crown in their passage to Norfolk Island, was recaptured, praying for remuneration on the part of himself, the owners, and crew of the said ship in consequence of the loss which they sustained in being prevented from prosecuting the object of their voyage.

Being myself unable to determine what would be a reasonable allowance in such a case, I availed myself of the presence of the Honble. Captain Rous and Captain Wetherall, of His Majesty’s Navy, and requested they would meet Mr. Jones, a respectable merchant of Sydney who is engaged in the whale fishery, and consider the remuneration to which the persons concerned in the Sisters might be entitled.

I have now the honor to forward a copy of the report of these gentlemen, by which it will be seen they are of opinion that £1,800 will be a sufficient remuneration for the time lost by the Sisters, and for the salvage of the hull and cargo of the brig Wellington, to which they may be considered asking a claim.

I have informed Captain Duke that, instead of settling his claim here, I should refer the report and his petition for Your Lordship’s consideration, in order that such remuneration as might be determined on should be paid to the owners at Home.

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I beg leave to add that, having represented that he required an advance of £300 to provide the necessary supplies for his voyage, I have authorized that sum to be issued on account of his claim, and I have further directed him to be supplied with 524 Ibs, of gunpowder and three musquets to replace the issue of those articles to the natives at New Zealand as rewards for apprehending and delivering up the pirates who had absconded.

I have, &c.,

R. Darling.

The Right Honble. the Earl Bathurst, K.G.