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declines to reinstate him.—l have, &c, A. Hume, Commissioner.—To J. Ollivier, Esq., J. P., and those who signed the petition." When this petition came in, I wrote to the Defence Minister as follows : " This matter has been already before you, and you were pleased to approve my decision. The constable was allowed to resign on account of his long service and was not dismissed. I know of no Act that admits of a man being granted compensation on resignation." This was minuted, " Approved.—H.A.A." 443. Was there further correspondence in regard to his reinstatement ?—Yes. The next is a petition as follows: " Christchurch, 30th April, 1891.—T0 the Hon. E. J. Seddon, Minister of Defence, New Zealand.—The petition of Patrick MeGill, late a constable of the Police Force of New Zealand, humbly showeth as follows : (1.) That your petitioner was discharged from the Police Force on the sth November, 1890, on account of a charge of his having been intoxicated whilst on duty at Christchurch races. (2.) Your petitioner respectively begs to state that it was purely an accident his getting under the influence of drink, and the same was caused by meeting some old West Coast friends on the racecourse and having a glass or two with them, very few indeed; but not being in the habit of drinking intoxicating liquor for a considerable time previously to the unfortunate occurrence now referred to, caused a small quantity of liquor to affect his head and to excite him. The petitioner deeply regrets the circumstance, and if the Hon. the Minister pardon him, such an occurrence will never happen again. (3.) Your petitioner has had a long service in the New Zealand Police, having joined in 1865, and served thirteen years on the west coast of Middle Island in the flash times of the diggings and saw there a great deal of rough service, and your petitioner can confidently say that he always did his duty honestly, fearlessly, and to the best of his ability. (4.) In conclusion, your petitioner respectively urges that you will favourably consider his case, and take into consideration that having been six months out of the Force, that his offence is sufficiently punished, and be pleased to order the petitioner to be reinstated in the service, and for which your petitioner will ever pray.—Patrick McGill." 444. That was from McGill to the new Minister of Defence ?—Yes. 445. What was the result ?—Mr. Seddon minuted the petition as follows : " I think Inspector Broham knows Constable McGill. Ask his opinion. Also ask Inspector Pender to report—{l) On the charge for which McGill was called upon to resign; (2) generally upon McGill's conduct as a police-officer; (3) whether the offence has been, by the constable being out of the Force now some twelve months, sufficiently punished." 446. What was the date of that minute ?—l2th May, 1891. 447. When was he dispensed with ? —On the 7th November, 1890. The next paper on the file is a copy of a letter from Mr. Broham to the Commissioner, dated 1882, which was sent up re Mr. McGill at this time. Mr. Broham says, " With reference to your memorandum of the 25th instant accepting the resignation of Detective John Neill, and approving the appointment of Sergeant Hughes of this station as fourth-class detective in his stead, I have the honour to recommend that Constable Patrick McGill, now in charge of St. Albans Station, be appointed third-class sergeant to replace Sergeant Hughes. Constable McGill has been in the Force about seventeen years, is a well-conducted constable, and has been in charge of various stations in the Westland District as well as this for many years." The next paper is a memorandum from myself to Inspector Pender, carrying out the request of the Minister, and the Inspector replies as follows :— Sib, — New Zealand Police Department, Inspector's Office, Christchurch, 20th May, 1891. In compliance with the instructions contained in your confidential memorandum, attached, dated 18th instant, relative to the application of the late Constable Patrick McGill to be permitted to re-enter the Force, I have the honour to inform you that in the absence of the papers in the case, which were forwarded to your office on the 10th November last, the particulars of the charge are given from my recollection of the circumstances, as follows : (1.) McGill was on duty with several other members of the Force at the Riccarton Racecourse on the sth November last. Some time after lunch on that date Sergeant Briggs, who was in charge of the men, reported to me that the constable was under the influence of liquor and unfit for duty. I instructed the sergeant to suspend him, and he was sent to Christchurch in a cab. The constable was not disorderly in any way, but was so far under the influenoe of liquor as to render him unfit for his work in a police point of view. On the 7th November the constable was brought before the Commissioner of Police, who was here at the time, on the charge of being under the influence of drink while on duty at the raceoourse; and, having pleaded guilty to the charge, was dealt with by the Commissioner in the manner shown by the defaulter's sheet attached to the papers. (2.) MeGill joined the Force on the 28th February, 1865, and was appointed first-class constable 30th April, 1877. He has also received the New Zealand medal for long service and good conduct. He was once fined £1 for being drunk when not on duty, 13th April, 1882, over eight years previous to the time of his discharge. He was for several years in charge of stations in the Westland District and up to the time of his leaving the Force in this district, where he has served under my command for upwards of eight years, and performed his duties with zeal and efficiency. I formed a very high opinion of his character, and was very much surprised when informed of his condition on the racecourse. The district olerk here informs me that Mr. Inspector Broham, my predecessor, also entertained a very high opinion of McGill. I attaoh a copy of a letter from Mr. Broham to the Commissioner, dated 27th July, 1882, in which he strongly recommended Constable McGill for promotion to the rank of third-class sergeant. (3.) McGill brought up and educated a very large family of ohildren in a highly creditable manner, and he could not possibly have saved anything. I believe at the time he left the Force he was in poor circumstances. This, together with the loss of his position and service, must have caused him great pain of mind and suffering. Taking into consideration McGill's long and faithful service, over twenty-six years, and his general good conduct in the Force, I think I am justified in respectfully reoommending his case for favourable consideration.—l have, &c, P. Pendeb, Inspector in Charge, Canterbury and North Otago Districts. 448. The Chairman.'] What was the result of this reply from Inspector Pender ? —There is a telegram, sent on the 28th May, 1891, to Mr. Patrick McGill, as follows : " Eeferringto your petition dated the 30th ultimo and addressed to the Hon. the Defence Minister, I am directed to inform you that if you report yourself at the Police Station, Wellington, you will be appointed to the Police Force as a first-class constable from the sth June next. —John Evans (for Commissioner)." 449. Mr. Taylor. .] Was he a first-class constable when he was dismissed ? —Yes. 449 a. And he was reinstated in his old rank? —Yes. 450. Do not you consider that a very great discouragement to other men in the Force?—l must decline to answer that question. It was not for me to think at all. I did as I was told,

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