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Mr. H. C. Haselden to the Hon. T. Thompson. Auckland, 23rd September, 1897. In reply to yours, the gentlemen reporting occurrence on board " Dingadee" are William Cooper, barrister, Wyndham Street, and Adam Henderson, shipbuilder, North Shore. The Hon. Thomas Thompson, Wellington. H. C. Haselden.

Inspector Emeeson to the Commissionee of Police. The Commissioner. District Police Office, Napier, 11th September, 1897. The following is my reply to the charges made against me by the Auckland Temperance League contained in your memorandum, No. 607, of 17th ultimo. On Ist May last I went on board the " Dingadee "at the Spit, Napier, at 10 p.m. I had two games of cards with a gentleman passenger. We played euchre, and finished at 11 p.m. The steward would not allow any more playing. I proceeded to Gisborne and inspected the station, and returned by the tender " Snark" at about 10 p.m. It was then very rough. I went on board the " Dingadee "and, down to the cabin. I was perfectly sober. The Eev. Father Ahem was in my company till I left by the " Snark." I regret that he has left for Auckland; he may be found at any time, and can state as to my sobriety. The statements of the captain and steward of the " Dingadee," the master and deck-hand of the " Snark," and Sergeant Black, attached hereto, are perfectly correct: [These persons gave evidence before the Commissioner.] I had a violent fit of coughing, as I was suffering from the effects of a bad attack of influenza. I did not use the wash-hand-basin as a urinal, and did not spit on the floor, but used acb amber. One of the occupants of the cabin ordered me to stop coughing and spitting or he would have me removed. I said, "You are an unfeeling creature, and deserve kicking." In my opinion this is the sole cause of this untruthful and beastly lying report having been made against me, the informant knowing that I was an Inspector of Police. I did rise in the night on two occasions, went to the chamber, and spat into it or my handkerchief. I have never been accused of drunkenness before, and up to the present have not a black mark against me. Had I been drunk I could not have walked to the washhand-basin as alleged by my accuser. It seems he was not manly enough to report me, and I presume none of the Temperance League saw me, not having been present. I beg to request that the name of my accuser and all those implicated in making this filthy and lying charge against me be furnished to me, as I intend putting the matter in the hands of a solicitor. It seems strange that a delay of three months occurred before I was notified of the charges made. John Emeeson, Inspector.

The Commissionee of Police to the Seceetaey, Auckland Prohibition League. Bib,— 20th August, 1897. I have the honour, by direction of the Minister of Justice, to acknowledge his receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, relating to charges of misconduct imputed to Inspector Emerson, of Napier, and in reply to state for the information of your League that inquiries are now being made into the allegations made in your letter under reply. I have, &c, The Secretary, Auckland Prohibition and A. Hume, Commissioner. Temperance League, V.M.C.A. Buildings, Auckland.

Police Department (Commissioner's Office), Wellington, 17th August, 1897. Memorandum for Inspector Emerson, Napier. I am directed by the Hon. the Minister of Justice to forward the following extract from a letter from the secretary of the Auckland Prohibition and Temperance League, dated the 4th August, 1897, for your information, and for such explanation as you may desire to make :— " The officer charged with misconduct is Inspector Emerson, of Napier, and the offences with which he is accused are drunkenness and disgusting conduct. The scene of the misbehaviour of the Inspector was on board the s.s. " Dingadee," on the Ist and 2nd of May last, when he was a passenger from Napier to Auckland, the circumstances being shortly as follows: Inspector Emerson came on board the s.s. "Dingadee" at Napier on Saturday evening, and sat playing cards and drinking until 2 a.m. on Sunday, when he retired to his cabin much the worse for drink. Upon the steamer's arrival at Gisborne the Inspector went ashore (it is believed) to inspect the station and men there. He was brought off to the steamer on Sunday evening in a beastly state of intoxication, when he was guilty of most disgusting conduct, spitting about the floor of the cabin and using the washhand-basin as a urinal. The Inspector was so very drunk that he could not remove his boots or get into his bunk without assistance; in fact, he was helpless, and lay like a log on the floor until those who were occupying the same cabin came to his aid. During the night he got out of his bunk and again used the washhand-basin as a urinal. Upon one of the gentlemen remonstrating with him, the Inspector was abusive, and threatened to kick the gentleman referred to. Finally matters became so very unpleasant to the occupants of the cabin that they reported the matter to the steward, and the Inspector was removed." A. Hume, Commissioner of Police.