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Question put—That Dr. Bacot be called in and examined. Agreed to. Dr. Bacot examined ; —1 was Staff Assistant Surgeon in the army, attached to the Pensioner force in medical charge. I have been in New Zealand seven vears, attached to the Pensioner force. I know the Regulations under which the Pensioners came out. (Regulations produced.) Question put—That Sergeant Hoop be examined. Agreed to. John Hoop, late Sergeant in the 39th Regiment of foot, examined. I came to New Zealand in 1848. At that time I was a Pensioner. I was discharged in 1845. 1 have my discharge. (Discharge produced, with testimonial of good character.) Afler 1 left the service I took a Public House in Liverpool, and kept it tor twelve months then gave it up, removed to Belfast in Ireland and opened a shoemaking shop. There 1 enrolled mpself in the New Zealand Fencibles. Was married and had no children, I have none. My wife came with me. "When I went to receive my pension in 1847 a card was posted up for volunteers for the New Zealand Fencible Service. The conditions were posted up, one of the conditions that I should have a cottage and acre of land on my arrival, one fourth of which should he cultivated. The Regulations now produced and printed were those under which L volunteered. I have no matter of complaint on account of anything before my arrival in New Zealand. I have complaints to make after my arrival. I was not put in possession of my cottage and acre. On my arrival 1 applied to my Commanding Officer, Lieutenanant Hickson for my cottage and acre of land (He was the Officer of the detachment.) He told me there was none for me. I applied to Lieutenant Hickson for leave to remain in Auckland to follow my business. I obtained leave. I followed my business of a shoemaker and hare done so ever since. 1 provided my own lodgings and house room at my own cost. I preferred slopping in Town. I considered it preferrable to stop in Town to going to one of the distant Pensioner Villages. Otahuhu was the Village to which I was assigned. There was no house for me there. 1 never had any grievance to complain of (ill Major Kenny came. That was about three years afterwards. I considered that the advantage oflivingin Town and carrying on my business was equivalent to immediate occupation of my cottage, but I looked forward to having my cottage and acre when the proper time came. Whilst I was in Auckland I did some military duties. I went out to Otahuhu, helped Sergeant McAnulty to drill a company previous to going le Onchuuga to be inspected. That was the first inspection. This was annual duty.

SATURDAY, Ist SEPTEMBER, 1855. Present— Messrs. Carleton Messrs. Forsaith Taylor Mackay Mr. Sewell —Chairman John Hoop—Examination continued I had still to continue my Sunday parade at Otahuhu. On the 18th September, 1850,1 addressed the memorial to his Excellency praying to be excused from attending church parade at Otahuhu (produced a copy of the memorial) I forwarded the memorial through Lieutenant Hickson. Hehadtoforit through Major Kenny. Major Kenny refused to forward it. 1 never received an answer to it. 1 received an answer from Major Kenny that he would not forward it. He reccommended me to lake my discharge from the force, and that 1 should get off by paying 15?. I sent in through Lieutenant Hickson sick certificates, both before and after sending in my memorial. (Copies of certificates produced.) I was at that time suffering from rheumatic gout. lam occasionally still ; I was too unwell to walk to Otahuhu ; it is about nine miles there, and nine miles back. I was unable to perform that duty. I sent in a medical certificate which Major Kenny refused to receive. I received from my Commanding Officer intimation that I must do one of three things, either attend my duty, receive my discharge, or be dismissed. I conceived that it ■would be best to submit to the alternative of paying for my passage and getting my discharge, I was forced to do this. I never made a remonstrance, I waited for time. [ am not aware of anything in the Regulations to prevent my appealing to the civil authorities. 1 signed a document giving up all claims on the Government; 1 never kept a copy of it ; Ido not remember its contents. It was to the effect that I gave up all claim on the Government; I did not understand that I hereby gave up my claim to the collage and acre. 1 was obliged to sign the paper, Major Kenny told me if I did not sign il that 1 should be dismissed from the force. That induced ine (o sign it. There are some advantages belonging to the service which I understood I was giving up ; I did not understand 1 was giving up my cottage ?nd acre. When my seven years was up 1 applied to Lieutenant Hickson to be put in possession of my cottage and acre. He