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we beg, therefore, respectfully to request that you -will be pleased to recommend our case to the consideration of the Officer administering the Government in New Zealand. We are, Sir, Your most obedient humble servants, (R. W. PATTEN, \ WILLIAM SCOTT, (Signed) 1 F. J. ENGLISH, I J. C. JAMES, V. HENRY F. BROOK. ■Stephen Carkeek, Esq., Collector H. M. Customs, Wellington. COPY OF THE COLLECTOR'S REPLY. Custom House, Wellington, 19th September, 1855. Gentlemen, Having taken your letter of the 17th inst. into consideration, I have determined at once to relieve you from the grievances under which you state you have for some time been labouring, although until the perusal of your communication I was not aware that they existed. I have, therefore, caused the usual pay abstract to be made out for your salaries up to this date, which will terminate your services in this Department. I am, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, (Signed) S. CARKEEK, Collector. TO HIS EXCELLENCY COLONEL THOMAS GORE BROWNE, C.8., GOVERNOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. The Memorial of Henry Frederick Brook, Frederick John English, and William Scott, of Wellington, in the Province of Wellington, settlers, and John Charles James, also of Wellington, Custom House Officers, Sheweth, 1 hat in the month of December, 1854, your Memorialists were appointed Tidewaiters in Her Majesty s Customs at the Port ot Wellington, under the system established by Sir George Grey, (the late Governor-in-Chief of New Zealand) wbich came into operation on the Ist of October, 1853. That your Memorialists continued to perform their duties up to the 19th September last, their annual salary being Eighty Pounds, with an additional sum of Two Shillings and Sixpence per diem when boarded on vessels, or engaged to assist in extra work in the long room. That during the whole period of their employment in the Customs Department no charge of neglect of duty, or on any other ground, was preferred against your Memorialists; but their duties ere discharged, as far as they are aware, to the entire satisfaction of the Collector and Tide Surveyor. ,ii on ' "th September last your Memorialists, in conjunction with the other Tidewaiters, addressed a letter to the Collector, of which the following is a copy :— ♦