23

A.—2b

I respectfully beg to append my name to the prayer of the above petition. Should His Excellency be mercifully disposed to grant this young man a ticket-of-leave, I shall be most ready to receive him into my employment, and do what in my power lies to influence his future life for good. Meadow, Lachlan Eiver, 6th April, 1859. William Taylor. Eeid's Flat, via Wheeo, 19th April, 1859. I beg leave respectfully to transmit the accompanying petition, and to recommend the same to the favourable consideration of the Government. Henry Newham.

(No. 2.) The Inspector-General of Police.—C.C., 8.C., 27th April. Memorandum. —The Visiting Magistrate of Cockatoo Island will have the goodness to report, for the information of the Government, what has been the conduct of Francis Clarke since he has been on Cockatoo Island, and, with the task-work he is likely to make, at what period he will become eligible to receive a ticket-of-leave. —Jno. McLerie, Inspector-General of Police. Convict Dept., 2nd May, 1859. B.C. to the Visiting Magistrate, Cockatoo Island, 2nd May. Mr. Taylor will compute this.—D.F., 9th May, 1859. The task-work to the credit of Francis Clarke, to the 30th of April, 1859, is 701f days. His probation will be eight years from the 17th March, 1854. He will be eligible for a ticket-of-leave in or about December next, if he is not punished in the meantime.—Chas. Ormsby, Supt. Cockatoo Island, 12th May, 1859. The petitioner, Francis Clarke, a native of the colony, was received here on the 10th April, 1854, under two sentences to the roads, the first of seven years' roads, the second of seven years' roads to commence at the expiration of the first sentence, passed upon him at the Circuit Court at Goulburn, on the 17th March, 1854, for horse-stealing; since which period his conduct has been as follows, viz.: — 30th April, 1855—Disobedience of orders : three days' cells. 17th April, 1856 —Absented himself on the afternoon of this day, in company with Joseph Eoberts, a native, and remained secreted until the evening of Sunday, the 20th April, 1856, when he was apprehended in the lumber-yard. His conduct since then has been generally good. Nothing further recorded. Chas. Ormsby, Cockatoo Island, 12th May, 1859. Superintendent. D. Forbes, V.J., Penal Establishment, Cockatoo Island. Blank cover to the Principal Under-Secretary.—Convict Department, 13th May, 1859. —Jno. McLerie, Inspector-General of Police. The man applies for a ticket-of-leave, which he will not be entitled to until December next.—CO., 25th May.

(No. 3.) The Under Secretary to Government to the Visiting Justice Cockatoo Island. Sir, —. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, 30th May, 1859. Eeferring to the petition from the prisoner named in the margin,* praying for a mitigation of his sentence of fourteen years' labour on the roads or public works, I am directed to request that you will apprise the prisoner that by good conduct he will be eligible for a ticket-of-leave about December next. I have, Ac, W. Elyard.

(No. 4.) Mr. H. Newham to the Colonial Secretary. Sir, — Eeid's Flat, Lachlan Eiver, Wheeo, sth July, 1859. Eeferring to a petition in behalf of Francis Gardiner, alias Clarke, a prisoner of the Crown, under sentence at Cockatoo, which I became the medium of transmitting to the Government six weeks since, it being recommended by the prosecutors in the two cases of conviction, and undertaking to afford the man employment in my own service as also others, a guarantee that the locality are quite willing he should return to his native home. I respectfully solicit information whether it has pleased the Executive Government to exercise the Eoyal clemency, by granting a remission or commutation of sentence under which Gardiner now labours. And those who have interested themselves in the subject will feel thankful for the communication. I have, Ac, Henry Newham. He may perhaps be informed of the answer given to the petition.—C.C., 12th. * Francis Christie alias Gardiner.