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Constable suspended, 25/4/02. Police-station. Nelson, 24th April, 1902. Beport of Constable F H. Durbridge relative to the Commissioner's Memorandum of the 17th April, 1902, No. 325. I desire most respectfully to ask for a reconsideration of the decision of Cabinet calling upon me to resign. I beg to urge, in the first place, my good conduct and satisfactory record during my two years service in the Police Force of New Zealand, and refer with pleasure and confidence to the fact mentioned by the Commissioner that the charge No. 1 preferred against me was the first record against me, and deemed a reprimand and caution a sufficient punishment. Of the other charges preferred against me, that for taking, with Constable Burrell, two young lady friends to the station, the Commissioner has done me the justice to say that the action was an indiscretion only, and considered a reprimand a sufficient punishment. Upon the charge preferred against me of sleeping when I should have been on duty I was acquitted by the Commissioner. The severe punishment, by a virtual dismissal from the Force, if carried out, will tend to ruin all my future prospects. I am still a young man, being only twenty-four years of age, and have the best years of my life before me, and my ambition is, and has been, to perform my duties as a police constable alike with credit to myself and satisfaction to my superior officers. My ambition still is to remain and rise by merit in the Force, and I implore the Commissioner not to brand me with the stigma of a dismissed constable, and thus ruin all my future prospects in life. In conclusion, I desire to say that if the Commissioner will grant, or cause my request to be granted, I will endeavour to show my sense of obligation by a careful, earnest, and zealous discharge of my duty. . . Failing compliance with my request, I respectfully beg that a magisterial inquiry may be made into the charges preferred against me, and a judicial decision obtained in respect thereto. The Officer in Charge of Police, Nelson. F. H. Durbridge, Constable No. 942. Forwarded to the Commissioner.— E. Wilson, Sub-Inspector. 28/4/02.

Constable suspended. 25/4/02. Police-station, Nelson, 24th April, 1902. Bevort of Constable Burrell relative to the Commissioner's Memoranditm of the 17th April, 1902, No. 325. 1 beg most respectfully to apply to the Commissioner for a reconsideration of the decision of the Cabinet, conveyed to me in the above memorandum, calling upon me to resign. Although three charges were laid against me, and the Commissioner in charges Nos. 1 and 2 reprimanded me and cautioned me, and in charge No. 3 fined me 2s. 6d., and I respectfully urge that these punishments fall far short of a dismissal. Up to the time of these charges I had a clean defaulters' sheet, and this fact is kindly referred to by the Commissioner in his decision upon charge No. 2. May I respectfully urge in my defence that the offences charged against me were committed in each instance without a desire to be guilty of a breach of discipline or of regulations, and, upon reconsideration, I venture to hope that so severe a punishment as requiring me to resign will not be insisted upon. I have hitherto enjoyed a good name and a good character among those who know me, and whose good opinion I value, and I sincerely trust that the disgrace of an enforced resignation will not be meted out to me. I am still a young man, being but twenty-nine years of age, and I pray that the Commissioner will not, at the commencement of my career, deem my offences of so serious a character as to warrant'my being treated as a disgraced man. In addition to the humiliation I myself feel, it will be a source of deep grief to those connected with me, and I therefore pray that the decision may yet be reconsidered. In conclusion, I can only add that if my prayer be granted my future services shall amply prove that the consideration accorded has been justified. Failing compliance with my request, may I respectfully beg that a magisterial inquiry may be made into the charges made against me, and a judicial decision obtained in respect thereto. A. Burrell, Constable 912. The Officer in Charge, Police-station, Nelson. Forwarded to the Commissioner. —E. Wilson, Sub-Inspector. 28/4/02.

Telegram, 26th April. 1902! Sub-Inspector Wilson, Greymouth. Be Constables Durbridge and Burrell: Pay up to date of suspension. Jno. Evans (for Commissioner).

Telegram, 26th April, 1902. Commissioner of Police, Wellington. Be Constables Burrell and Durbndge, suspended : Should they be paid up to date of suspension only or full month. Edwd. Wilson, Sub-Inspector,