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Waiomatatini: Suppresses fact that Waiomatatini was out of my district. Opotiki: Suppresses greater portion of my wort, and the fact that I had completed the list. Tauranga: Suppresses part of my wort, and appropriates the credit of the remainder to himself. Suppresses that I had completed the list as far as possible. Galatea : Knowingly required me to sit in two concurrent Courts eighty-five miles apart. Tauranga, Uawa : Saw me ill, and tnew I had medical certificate ordering rest. Uawa out of my district. Ohinemuri: Out of my district; was sitting already at Matetu. Unable to preside in two concurrent Courts. J. A Wilson.

Sir,— Native Office, Wellington, 19th June, 1882. In accordance with your letter of the 14th instant, No. 46/82, which has been referred to me, I beg to furnish the following report upon the petition of Mr. J. A. Wilson, late Judge Native Land Court and Eoyal Commissioner under the Tauranga District Lands Act. Generally I believe the statements made by the petitioner as to the services rendered by him in various capacities to be correct. As an officer of the Native Department Mr. Wilson, who is a gentleman of great ability and considerable knowledge and experience in Native matters, always manifested zeal combined with unusual industry and capacity for work. So far^as my experience goes he invariably rendered willing and valuable assistance in any matter referred to him during his period of service ; although since his retirement this department has been much inconvenienced by his tacit refusal to give up to his successor as Eoyal Commissioner Minute-books and other documents relating to the Commission, though repeatedly asked by letter to do so. In the latter part of 1880 the Native Land Court was transferred from the Native Department to the Justice Department, and it was during this period that Mr. Wilson ceased to hold office as Judge. His appointment, with those of the other Judges, lapsed in consequence of the passing of the Native Land Act of 1880, and he was not appointed under the new Act. lam unable to offer any report as to the reason he was not reappointed. As Commissioner of Tauranga District Lands Mr. Wilson was in the Native Department; but there was no salary attached to that appointment, which had always been held in conjunction with other offices. When Mr. Wilson ceased to be Judge it rendered fresh arrangements necessary for continuing the Commission, and it was the intention of the Government that the Native Land Court should be enabled by legislation to deal with the remainder of the lands. Mr. Wilson was written to accordingly by direction of the Native Minister. He was at the same time requested to forward the formal resignation of his commission, and to hand over the records and public property in his charge to Mr. Brabant, who had previously held the appointment of Commissioner, and who still performs the duties without salary, in conjunction with his offices of Eesident Magistrate and Native Agent, Tauranga. Mr. Wilson in due course forwarded his resignation, but has sent in no claim for the compensation for loss of office to which he is entitled. I forward herewith a copy of the letter addressed to Mr. Wilson, dispensing with his services as Eoyal Commissioner. I have, &c, The Chairman, Public Petitions Committee, T. W. Lewis, House of Eepresentatives. Under-Secretary.

(Telegram.) Chief Judge Fenton, Auckland. Government Buildings, 28th October, 1878. Wilson will leave for Tauranga on Wednesday. Would suggest Halse take his place for cases to be heard in Wellington. Better leave Symonds finish cases at Tauranga, if possible. Wilson will have lots of work with Tauranga District Lands. John Sheehan.

Authority : Geobge Didsbuby, Government Printer, Wellington—lBB2.

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