7

instituted an inquiry, and found
that Troopers Leander, Roland and
Tom had been to Gracemere, accompanied
by some of Mr Wiseman's boys, who were
armed, and had brought ammunition
with them, Leander being the only
Trooper who carried arms from the
Barracks. I flogged Leander, and
severely reprimanded the other Troopers.

Leander slipped his handcuffs, and
Deserted. I searched for him without
success till [sic] the night of the 4th when
Troopers Roland, Tom and Herbert
Deserted, taking with them two Gins. -

I immediately started in pursuit
with one black boy, but without success,
being obliged to return to Head Quaters
the 2nd day there being no troopers there
to look after the horses. -

I further have the honor to
report that on Sunday the 29th Spetember
having heard that Mr Williams was in
Rockhampton, I sent him your letter
instructing him to proceed at once to
Collaroy with two Troopers. I received
no official communication from Mr
Williams but he informed me privately
that he was detained in consequence
of illness. Mr Williams reported himself at Head
Quarters and started on the 4th Oct'r
for Collaroy.

On the 22nd October I received
a note from Mr Jardine requesting
me to meet him at N. P. Barracks
on the 23rd at 10 AM. At 9 o'Clock A.M.

the 23rd I received another note from
Mr Jardine ordering me to send him
by Sergeant Allen, any communications
I might have received relative to the
murder of Mr Wills and party. I
sent him the deposition of one of the
survivors, by the Town Constable who brought
the note, but I did not send in Sergeant
Allen. In about half an hour a Mounted
Constable rode up to the Barracks with
an order from the Police Magistrate for
Sergeant Allen to attend at the Court House
at once. Sergeant obeyed the order, and
I rode to the Court House and saw
Mr Jardine who shewed [sic] me a "private"
letter from the Colonial Secretary giving
him command of the Detachment of
Native Police at Rockhampton until
the arrival of some Officer of the Force,
and also stating that the Government
had not confirmed my appointment,
but empowering Mr Jardine to do so
should he consider my services necessary.

Mr Jardine at once handed me a
letter, informing me that the Government
no longer required my Services. Mr
Jardine gave me to understand that
his intention on the receipt of Mr
Herbert's letter had been to make use
of my Services, but as I had disobeyed
his orders in not sending in Sergeant
Allen he should dismiss me.

In less than an hour Mr
Jardine expressed a desire to destroy
the letter containing my dismissal