I.—lc,

16

APPENDIX.

Mr. Dickey,— • Auckland, Bth August, 1882. Annexed is a paper containing remarks by Mr. "Wilson, late a Judge of this Court, on the return of his work made out at my request in 1880. Be good enough to peruse Mr. Wilson's statements, and let me hare your remarks as soon as possible. J. D. Penton, Chief Judge.

Mr. Penton, — Native Lands Court Office, Auckland, 9th August, 1882. In preparing returns of work done by Judges of this Court, we never include either testamentary orders or recommendations for appointment of trustees under Maori Eeal Estate Managements Acts, as the work connected with such orders occupy so little time. The return furnished from this office in respect of the business transacted by Mr. Wilson in his capacity as a Judge of this Court is substantially correct, with the exception of the omission of the seven days he appears to have sat in conjunction with Captain Heale at Maketu. This omission took place through the Court having been credited to Captain Heale, the presiding Judge. Be Galatea session: Mr. Wilson was instructed to adjourn sitting as stated by him. Re Tauranga sitting: Extended over a period of ninety-two days, as stated in our return from Mr. Wilson's statement; it appears that several adjournments took place during that time. Re Opotiki: I have it noted that the Court lasted eight days, and on referring to the Minute-book I find that such is the case, the Court having opened on the 13th of August and closed on the 20th. Re Galatea sitting: Mr. Wilson was warned to attend, and in reply stated that his present engagements entirely precluded his attending. Re Ohinemuri: Mr. Wilson stated he could not attend as he had a Commissioners' Court to hold. He was then warned to attend the Maketu session. A. J. Dickey, Eegistrar Native Land Court.

MEMORANDUM "FOR THE PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE. Before commenting upon the annexed paper by Mr. Wilson, I desire to remind the Committee of a question of a very remarkable character put to me by him, viz., whether I had not published in my own name a decision made by him in the matter of the Eangiuru Block. Although remembering nothing of what Mr. Wilson alluded to, I felt that I could absolutely deny doing anything of the sort. He then cross-examined me in a somewhat offensive manner as to the date when the Court sat at which I made the order. I was unable to answer those questions, but promised to send to Auckland for the Minute-books. I did so, and, on receiving them from Auckland, wrote to the Chairman desiring to be recalled for further examination. Mr. Kelly informed me that constant engagements of the Committee precluded that being done. I then requested him to come and examine the books, which he was good enough to do. I showed him the minutes of the Court, and the order made by myself. I also desire to correct my evidence about the first Galatea Court. I find that the adjournment took place by my request. It appears that Mr. Sheehan wired also to Mr. Wilson. In my letter to Mr. Wilson I say that I should not have assented had I known that the adjournment was to be " subject to my approval." Why the communications between Mr. Sheehan and Mr. Wilson, and between Mr. Sheehan and myself should have been different in tenor I cannot explain. But Mr. Wilson appears to be exonerated from blame in that matter. And here I should wish to explain the history of that return of Mr. Wilson's work. Being very much dissatisfied with his conduct, I desired the Eegistrar to make out a return of the work done, Omitting, as is usual, the trivial matters which occupy no time. He did so, and on receiving it, I thought it my duty to make a strong protest to the Government against an officer drawing all his salary from my department and giving his time and services to another. I enclosed the return. I desired that he might be transferred to the department which occupied his time almost entirely, stating that the Native Land Court was much underhanded, and that it was very unfair that its funds should be thus used. I expected that the Government would send the return, with my letter, to Mr. Wilson, for his remarks and explanation ; but they did not do so. I had previously written to the Government calling their serious attention to the embarrassing position in which I was placed by having one of the small staff of Judges unserviceable. This was on receipt from Mr. Wilson of a telegram in May> 1880, stating that he could do no more work for this department for the rest of the year. I urged the Government to transfer him to the Tauranga Land Act Department, which engrossed all his time, and I protested against his being allowed to sign the monthly certificates on which he drew his pay, to the effect that he was actually engaged in the Native Land Court, when we had antecedent notice that he was not. I enclose a form of the pay abstract, which he nevertheless continued to sign [A.]. I never asked for his removal from the public service; that was no business of mine, but merely that he should be transferred to the Tauranga Land Commission Department. With reference to Mr. Sutton's question as to the advance for the last Court at Maketu, I found on inquiry at the Treasury that Mr. Wilson, received the money. My refusal to recommend was a protest to the Government that I would not take the responsibility of advising any further payments to Mr. Wilson. He had just informed me that he could not attend Ohinemuri Court, " having a Commission Court for Tauranga District Lands advertised for same day." I had no expectation that he would attend Maketu Court. Possibly the invitation which he received from the Government to resign his commission of Judge may have affected his conduct. See the correspondence (B.) I now proceed to notice very briefly (for lam much pressed for time) Mr. Wilson's paper. The tone of it is very unusual in official matters.