Crown solicitor to colonial secretary.

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday and beg to state for the information of His Excellency, that I had no means in my power of taking any measures for securing the evidence of witness in the case of the brig Elizabeth at New Zealand.

I forwarded the Depositions that were taken to the Principal Superintendent of Police for the purpose of obtaining further evidence, but that Gentleman returned them to me, on the ground of his want of jurisdiction, which he in the first instance doubted and therefore forwarded the Depositions to the Government instead of sending them to the Attorney General's office, which is the usual mode, and considering that my letter to you of 7th February last substantiated what he was previously in doubt about he was fearful of proceeding any further.