H.—l6b

26

we did. After the sergeant had had an interview with Howard, he instructed both Constable Kemp and myself to hold ourselves in readiness to proceed with Howard to the Maungatapu Eanges. It being late, Howard remained on the stititm, as an early start was to be. made next morning. We were driven to the foot of the Maungatapu Eanges. We then journeyed on our way to the camp. On the other side of the range we met a young man who said he had come from Canvastown. He complained of hunger; we gave him food, and told him how far he was from Nelson. There was no threats of any kind made, and I cannot understand how Walker could make such an allegation, as he was miles away at the time we met this man. Howard, who was present at the time, brands this assertion of Walker's as a deliberate lie. Eegarding Walker's complaint that he was ill-treated when arrested, is also an untruth. Constable Kemp and I arrested him, and we secured his custody with no more force or violence than was necessary to effect our purpose. He made repeated and deliberate attempts to escape, compelling us to handcuff him on both wrists and ankles for some time. This, in my opinion, was absolutely necessary,.as, had he once got away from us, we would never have been able to catch him in such a dense bush. As soon as we could give the prisoner our attention we removed the cuffs from his ankles. His complaint that I squeezed his throat is like all his other statements, utterly ficticious, and shows plainly the class of man we are dealing with. There was no revolver pointed at him, nor skin peeled off his ankles or wrists. The swag he carried was a very light one, made up of one 121b. ham rolled in a blanket, and it was Walker's own desire to carry it, remarking that it was the lightest swag he had carried over the range. The next complaint in his letter is that he was not searched when placed in the cell at the police-station. He must have a very defective memory, or he would remember that he was searched directly he was arrested at his camp, and again at the police-station, when there was present Constables Kemp, Burrell, and myself, and Sergeant Mackay. He had none of the weapons he says he had on him in the cell, and it is not likely that any constable would allow any prisoner to be in possession of such weapons. I know of my own knowledge that Constable Kemp visited the two prisoners during the night. They were brought before the Court, and pleaded guilty to the charge of having stolen two of Wilkie's hams. Sentence was deferred to the 16th ultimo, the Magistrate wishing to be furnished with a report from the Probation Officer. Bail was allowed, which Howard availed himself of, and Walker refused in open Court, stating to us that his reason for refusing bail was that he was better treated in custody than he would be at home. On the 12th ultimo he decided to accept bail, which he got. He asked us if we would allow him to stay on the station, and if we did he would show us a track by which we could get pack-horses close to the camp. As the road was a bad one and we were unacquainted with the country, we granted him his request, keeping him at our own expense. I think, instead of complaining, this ungrateful being should consider himself indebted to us, and, to my mind, he would be were he not prompted by the evil machinations of a certain party in this town. It was in the interest of the service that we allowed him to remain on the station, for had we not done so we would not have been able to get the exhibits for the Court. Mr. Harley, solicitor, appeared for both of the accused, and he told them to take particular notice of the articles enumerated in the information, and, if there was anything mentioned therein that they did not steal, to plead not guilty. Howard and Walker left this station well satisfied in every way, and I am sure they would be yet were it not for Walker's employer, Mr. Trask, who interested himself greatly before the trial, and sat on the bench with Mr. Eobinson, S.M., a thing that he has never done since I have been stationed in Nelson. We single constables some time ago took our meat from Trask, and finding him unsuitable we left him. Ever since then he has been very unfriendly towards us. F. H. Durbridge, Constable No. 942. Sergeant Mackay, in charge of Police, Nelson.

Police-station, Nelson, 7th November, 1901. Beport of Constable A. Burrell, No. 912, re Letter from A. B. Walker alleging he was not searched luhen he was placed in the Police Cells. I respectfully report that when prisoners Howard and Walker were brought to the police-station on the 10th ultimo I searched them in the presence of Sergeant Mackay, Constables Kemp and Durbridge. I took all personal effects from them. It is an absolute falsehood that they were not searched, and he had no such weapons on him as he alleges he had. Arthur Burrell, Constable 912. The Sergeant of Police in Charge, Nelson.

Sir, — Shelbourne Street, Nelson, 4th November, 1901. I have been requested by the police to state what I know concerning the treatment my nephew, A. B. Walker, who was arrested on the 9th ultimo, received while in custody and on bail, and my knowledge that he was fairly and well treated, and it was his own wish that he remained with them in place of returning home. He visited us while on bail, and it was through them he got it, as we were to allow him.to remain in custody as a further lesson. Yours, &c, The Sergeant of Police, Nelson. M. Barker.