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