PETITION OF ALEXANDER BROWNE.

Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1856 Session I

1 85 6.

ILHut.se of

PETITION OF ALEXANDER BROWNE.

Presented to the House of Representatives M>y 13, 1856, and ordered to be printed.

To THE HOS'OEAEIE THE SPEAKER AXI) THE HOUSE OF lIEPHESENT ATIVES IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED. The humble Petition of Alexander Browne, sheweth— That he joined the volunteers in Auckland on the sth of June, 1845, and sailed for the Bay of Islands a few days after, destined for the Oawiwi (the Rebel's Camp) on the Ist of July. That at the attack upon the pah ho was appointed to convey a scaling ladder, in doing which ho was wonnded by a musket ball, which lodged under his right eye, and of which he has°totally lost the use; besides which his head was fractured, several pieces of bone having worked out therefrom on various occasions. That he was brought to Auckland a few days after, along with the wounded of the 58th regiment, and was attended by the different doctors then appointed over the hospital for the space of three months, during which period he received two shillings a day. At the general inspection of the wounded, the doctors not having discovered the ball, your petitioner was entered on the list of wounded, and reported to Government as having his vision impaired and a scorched face. That your Petitioner then went to the bush to procure a living the best way he could, which your Petitioner did till volunteers were wanted for the Ruapakapeka, Avhen he again joined under the command of Captain Atkyns, and was through all the campaign, and was at the end again discharged when it broke up. That your Petitioner returned to his employment, working and suffering for two years, at the end of winch period he was obliged to return to Auckland, and put himself under medical aid for a length of time, until his means were exhausted. That your Petitioner then went to Dr. Johnson, then Colonial Surgeon, and had a certificate of his wound forwarded to Governor Grey, accompanied by a statement of his services from Captain Atkyns, to which your Petitioner never received an answer. That shortly afterwards your Petitioner went to the Governor in person, who sent him to Dr. Sinclair, whose answer caused your Petitioner to give up all hope of assistance from the Government. E.—No. 3.

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That your Petitioner again returned to his work for two years longer, suffering great pain, until Dr. Lee discovered and extracted the ball from his eye, and a piece of square lead out of his nose. That your Petitioner again applied to Government, and had a pension of one shilling a day for two years, when his pension was stopped. That your Petitioner's wound has never healed, and is attended by a constant running from the eye, which runs over his face. That your Petitioner is at all limes suffering from depression of spirits; that his sight is so weak that he can scarcely see to write his name; and although no means have been left untried which might mitigate his sufferings, they have all proved ineffectual. That your Petitioner is about 36 years of age. And your Petitioner humbly prays that your Honorable House will be pleased to take his case into its gracious consideration. ALEXANDER BROWNE.