191

H.—2

Sic,— 7th August, 1891. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, and to inform you in reply that P. W. Bezar some time ago when tested for the Permanent Artillery was found to be under the required chest measurement, and I have, however, issued instructions for him to be again measured, and if found up to the required standard, he will be appointed when a vacancy occurs. As regards Constable Eoche, I find on inquiry that there are twenty-eight before him on the list of third-class constables, many of whom like him have had charge of important stations, and have several entries in their merit-sheets, and, as there are more first- and second-class constables than are required, I cannot at present see my way to carry out your recommendation for his promotion. I have, &c, A. W. Hogg, Esq., M.H.E., Wellington. R. J. Seddon. I should like to explain to the Commissioners the reason this letter is not on the file. It was looked for yesterday, but was not there. Instead, there is a pencil-note in the letter-book on the top of the letter, "No inward letter.—J.B." That means that the inward letter was marked " private," and when a letter is marked private the Defence Minister very often turns down the corner, and says, " Eeply to this accordingly," or whatever it is, and then the letter is destroyed. It is not put on the file because it is marked "private." Not only members' letters, but letters from any one which are marked " private," are not put on the file. You asked also for a letter to Mr. Hogg, dated the Ist November, 1893. I have no such letter in my letter-book; therefore, it will probably be from the Private Secretary to the Minister. 1. Mr. Taylor.'] I propose just now to run through this return, and fill in certain particulars. What is the first name, Colonel Hume ?—William Patrick Patton. 2. Who was he recommended by ?—lt does not say; it is on the old form, but there is a memorandum here from Mr. Thompson, Inspector : " Health and physique apparently good. Looks about the age stated." 3. Had he been previously in the Force ?—Yes. 4. Does it say why he left ?—No. 5. What is the next one ?—John Bell, recommended by Inspector Weldon and Eev. Dr. Stuart, and had been previously in the Force; then, John Cullinane, who is not recommended by anybody. He applied in 1891, and was enrolled in 1891, and had previously served. Next, Charles Edgar Harrington Trevelyan, whose application is on the old form. He was enrolled in 1889, and had formerly served nine months in the Armed Constabulary Force in New Zealand, and two years and three months in the Queensland Police. Next, John Bennett Dales, recommended by Inspector Moore. He was in the Prisons Department, and was transferred from there to the police on the 18th November, 1889. Next, Walter Phillips, who was enrolled on the Ist May, 1890. He was late Superintendent of Police, Tasmania, and was recommended by J. Heywood, Esq., of the Treasury. Next, Michael Foley, and there is no application form. On his papers is this minute by Commissioner Gudgeon to the Defence Minister : " This man was taken on as a district or rather probationary constable about two years since, at a time when it was intended to take men on occasionally at small pay until they showed their fitness for the work. Foley is, however, the only man of the sort we have, and as he has turned out exceedingly well, I would suggest placing him on the same footing as all other constables. He now receives £100 per annum " ; and this is further minuted, "Approved.—W.B.E., 14/12/89." The next is Valentine Hooper, and Major Gudgeon writes to the Defence Minister, and asks permission to enrol Hooper, whom he describes as " late of the Life Guards, a young man, educated, 6 ft. 3 in. in height, and suitable in every respect," and according to the minute this recommendation was verbally approved. The next is Owen Cummins, who was recommended by Major Gudgeon. The next, James Allinan, who was recommended by his brother, Captain Allrnan, who is now Marine Adviser, Colonel Bailey, of the Cape Mounted Eifies, and Colonel Dartnell, of the Natal Mounted Police; and he was enrolled on the 7th June, 1890. The next, James Black, who was recommended by Colonel Goring. He had been three years and three months in the Permanent Artillery, and was enrolled on the 16th April, 1892. The next, E. Bretherton, who was enrolled on the 20th June, 1890. I do not know how this man got in, he has always been a mystery. Apparently, from a telegram on his file, he was recommended by Bishop Luck, of Auckland. He is out of the Force now. The next, Patrick Dennis O'Connell, who was enrolled on the 18th September, 1890, and was transferred from the Prisons Department. He was recommended by B. McClendon, Esq., Poverty Bay, Captain Baker, commanding the Field Force, Ohinemutu, and Dr. Lewes, Ohinemutu. The next, Arthur Baker. There is no history about him, but there is a memorandum from me on the 2nd December, 1890, to the Hon. the Defence Minister, as follows : " The undersigned has the honour to request permission to enroll as third-class constable Arthur Baker, late Warwickshire Constabulary, who the undersigned believes will make a good constable.—A. Hume, Commissioner. Approved.—H.A.A." The next, Thomas Frederick Donovan, who was transferred from the Prisons Department to the police on the Ist April, 1891. He was recommended by the Gaoler at Lyttelton, and the reason I took him into the Prisons Department was that he was an officer in the prison at Dartmoor with me at Home. The next, James O'Eeilly, who was transferred from the Prisons Department on the Ist April, 1891, and was recommended by A. E. Guinness, M.H.E., and E. A. Burke, Greymouth. The next, George Winduss, who was recommended by E. H. J. Beeves, M.H.E., Captain Gleadow, Mr. Guinness, M.H.E., and Judge Kenny, on the Ist April, 1891. The next, Alexander Hattie, appointed on the 3rd August, 1891, and recommended by F. McGuire, M.H.E., and E. M. Smith, M.H.E. He had former service in the Eoyal Irish Constabulary, and New Zealand Armed Constabulary, and in Wellington Gaol. The next, Gavin Wilson, appointed on the 13th August, 1891, and recommended by Captain Loveday, commanding Heretaunga Mounted Eifles. The applicant says, "I can only refer to my discharge certificate," which was from the Eoyal Horse Guards Blue. I may state this is a man I think I took on on my own responsibility. The next, John Forster, appointed on the 12th January, 1892, and recommended by G. A. Preece, S.M. at Napier, and Mr. Sidey, ironmonger, Napier, and by the Hon. E. J. Seddon. He had been before in the police, from the 22nd November, 1878, to the 22nd June, 1887. The next, Walter Smith,