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13th instant, in reference to the forgery of the late Dr. Nesbitt's name to a deed of conveyance, and in reply to inform you that the matter has already teen decided by the Government. I have, &c, E. G-. Fountain, J B. Hurrey, Esq., Gisborne. Under-Secretary

No. 13. Petition To the Hon. the Minister of Justice. Txie humble petition of the undersigned respectfully showeth, — 1. That the certificate of the late Dr. Nesbitt as Trust Commissioner was, about the year 1879, forged to a certain deed of conveyance of Matawhero B. 2. That the deed was, on the 9th of February, 1879, uttered by being placed on the register of deeds by one E. ff. Ward, jun., who subsequently claimed and demanded property under the said deed of Matawhero B Block. 3. That he was prosecuted for forgery and uttering of the said deed. The prosecution being a private one, it was ultimately dismissed, the Magistrate remarking that the police would require the deed. 4. That a second information was about to have been laid for uttering, by William Henry Tucker, one of your petitioners, but he was stopped by the officer in charge of the police, who informed him that the police were satisfied of the forgery, and that they would prosecute the utterer, which they now considered it their duty to do. 5. That thereupon the matter was left entirely to the police, in the natural expectation that they would perform their duty 6. That, after considerable delay and many inquiries, which were fenced, your petitioners discovered that the father of the accused had been in correspondence with one Commissioner Shearman, with the result that the police did not prosecute, though they had already reported the crime and the person suspected. 7 That letters were then addressed to the Hon. the Minister of Justice and the Hon. the Native Minister in about February last; and, after further delay, it was promised that the Inspector of the district should visit the district, make inquiries, and report; and this was done last March. 8. That in April one of your petitioners was informed by wire that the police were instructed to render him every assistance in case of a prosecution, but they were, not to take charge of the case. 9. That he thereon waited on Sergeant Bullen to ascertain the amount of assistance on which he could rely, and found that the police would do no more than serve subpoenas on witnesses, to do which is, in any case, their bare duty ; and, as some of the witnesses are out of this district now, something more than mere service of subpoenas would be required to secure their attendance. 10. That he subsequently received a letter, by direction of the Hon. Mr. Hall, informing him that the police had been instructed to give him every assistance, but not to take charge of the case. 11. That he thereupon formally applied to the Government for a copy of the Inspector's report to assist him in the prosecution of the criminal, but was informed, by direction of the Hon. the Premier, that he could not have it, as it was of a confidential nature. 12. That he therefore decided, after much reflection, that since he had been met at the very first step by a refusal to do anything more than the police might have been compelled to do, namely, serve summonses ; and at the second request —for the assistance of a copy of the report —by a flat refusal, not to undertake the duties of the police during their comatose state, but to bring the whole matter under the notice of the authorities, with the hope, in which we join, that the police may be permitted to pursue their functions without further interruption. Tour petitioners, therefore, beg that you will take such steps as will allow the police to resume their functions, and detect and punish the criminal or criminals. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray W 11. TxrcKEH. John 11. Htjeeey, Trustee for Mereana Paraone. Kataeaina Kahtjtia. Wl PAEAONE. Tamati Tiwiia Tiwha. Hoke Meihaka Tawhana. Hone Niwa. Rota x Waipaea. Hokokai x. !N~oa Wakaateee. RIPEEATA KAHUTIA. Aa grantees and purchasers in the Matawhero B Block.

No. 14. The Hon. Mr. Dick to Mr. De Latttoue. Sib, —■ Department of Justice, Wellington, 21st June. 1881. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a petition signed by certain grantees and purchasers in the Matawhero B Block, the certificate to the deed of conveyance of which property was forged by one E. ff. Ward, praying that Government may take such steps as will allow the police to prosecute in the case.