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Historical Records of New Zealand

Keedee Keedee, in Bay of Iselands, New Zealand, April 11th, 1820

page 524
Keedee Keedee, in Bay of Iselands, New Zealand, April 11th, 1820.

Sir,—

In July last the brig General Gates, Captain Biggs, master, being in the Harbour of Port Jackson, the agent of the Church Missionary Society, the Revd. Saml. Marsden, took her up to convey me and my colleagues to the Bay of Islands, in New Zealand, the place of our destination. We sailed from Port Jackson July 29th/19, and shortly after we had got to sea several felons were discovered to be on board (I believe, five) belonging to the Colony of New South Wales. On my arrival at the Bay of Iselands, August 12th/19, there being no British ships in the harbour, nor any jail to confine these convicts in, I made no official demand on Captain Biggs to deliver them up, and the General Gates sailed from the Bay of Iselands on or about the 15 September, having these convicts on board. She has returned, and is now lying in the harbour. I therefore feel it my duty, as Resident Magistrate, to communicate to you the above circumstances, in order that necessary steps may be taken to secure and return them to the Colony and Government of New South Wales, for whom

I am, &c.,

John Butler,

Resident Magistrate, Bay of Iselands, New Zealand. Capt. R. Skinner, H.M.S. Dromedary, Bay of Iselands.