19 May/46. To J.T. Wicksteed. Sir, At a public meeting in this settlement on the 11th. inst. at which you were present, a charge of embesslement was preferred against you in your character of Resident Agent to the N.Z. Comp. by Mr. Chilman, late Clerk in your office. Regarding you as not merely the Representative of the N.Z. Comp., but as a Magistrate of this Colony, we had hoped that you would have taken an equally public way of meeting a charge of so serious a Nature. We therefore adopt with great regret the only course open to us of declining to act with you in the Commissn. of the Peace until you have exonaeated yourself from the above accusation. We have etc. Sgnd. Josiah Flight J.P. G. Cutfield J.P. Jas. Webster J.P. J.G. Cooke J.P. W. Halse J.P. You will therefore perceive that our opinions were unanimous we waited his reply but up to this date not received any at which all are astonished - on the Monday evening after the receipt of our letter about 4 oclock, he consulted with C. Brown on the matter who advised him to take the earliest opportunity of refuting it, a meeting was held at Georges the same evening on roads etc. W. was there as well as Chilman. W. rose and a more wretched attempt was never made in fact his own friends are now I feel certain convinced of his principle. Halse is at this moment stating that his admission of having made a mistake in the non entry of the Bishop's £20 is proof sufficient against him, Chilman was very plain and honest in his charges and brought such charges against him and in such a manner that staggered, all he C. cared for was that six gentlemen should be appointed to prove the merits of his charges which W. distinctly disagreed to but boasted of having shown the accts. to Smith which created a general laugh - R. Brown taxed him with being a defaulter to the amt. of £400 or 500 - he stood all with the coolest impudence much to the disgust of all - the Magistrates also agreed at their private meeting that should he fail in acquitting himself we must cut him consequently he is sent to coventry. A copy of the letter to W. was sent to Capt. King the reply was as follows.- in doing so, and I trust Mr. W. will see the propriety of absenting himself from the Police Court until the offence with which he is charged is satisfactorily cleared up, His Excellency the Govr. is daily expected at N.P. and I shall feel it my duty to lay the copy of your communication to Mr. W. before him on his arrival. I remain etc. (Signed) H. King P.M. This letter of the Captains is addressed to the whole of the J.P.'s I have reason to believe should W. attempt to resume his seat on the Bench that the old Gent. will give him a gentle hint. You will perceive by this old fellow that I have not been quite in error as to my opinion of the worthy zeal he shows but very little now. J. I understand is fearfully cut up in the correspondence. There is to be another meeting called I believe to request that Col. W. will without loss of time either come himself or appt. some other person to go into the affair - in fact W. ought to desire instead of which he opposes in every shape. The matter is gone so far now that the settlers are collecting everything against him evidence to prove the injustice in allowing him to remain an agent in this quiet little Hamlet. For his sake I should wish the matter settled. Chilman as I have before stated offered in fact solicited that every inquiry should be made as to the truth of the charges preferred against him - if the other was honest he would have the same desire.