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HOUSE OF REPRESENTAIVE S.

PETITION OF JOHN T. W. BACOT.

Presented to the Home of Representatives June 6, 1856; and ordered to be printed. To the Honorable the Members of the House of Representatives of New Zealand in Session Assembled. The Petition of the Undersigned humbly Sheweth —- That in October, 1847, the Medical Department of the War Office offered to your Petitioner the appointment of Assistant Staff Surgeon of the Pensioner Corps with promise of promotion at the end of years, and the usual house, land, and other advantages granted to subaltern officers of Pensioners. That your Petitioner accepted the appointment and at once proceeded to this Colony, ■when he was placed in medical charge of Pensioners located at Panmure and Howick, and, subsequently, was put in occupation of a house and thirty acres of land at the latter village. That at the end of five years lie was promoted in due course, and consequent thereon the Colonial Government bestowed upon him ten acres additional of land as commensurate with his advanced rank, and that your Petitioner availed himself of the privilege allowed to Pensioner Officers and applied for leave to purchase fifty acres pre-emption land, in contiguity with his first forty aeres, which was at once granted, and a Crown title for the land issued. That he duly and faithfully fulfilled his seven years' service, and then applied for the title deeds of his house and forty acres, which, to his astonishment, were refused by the Officer Administering the Government; and your Petitioner, therefore, now appeals to your honourable House for redress. Your Petitioner founds his claim on the original letter conveying the offer of appointment and its conditions, of date 9th October, 1847, as follows ;— [Copy.] Army Medical Department, 9th October, 1847Sir,— In the event of the Director General being able to offer you an appointment as Medical Officer to take charge of Enrolled Pensioners about to be located in New Zealand, with promotion at the expiration of five years, I am directed to request you will state whether you are disposed to accept such appointment and be prepared to embark immediately.

E.—No. 5.