Page:Tales-of-Banks-Peninsula Jacobson 2ed 1893 cropped.pdf/82

sion of the Government. Four of the signatures were Messrs Aylmer, Watson, Doyley, and D. Watkins. Mr. Golden, Collector H.M. Customs, first started the petition, and the four above-named persons possessing fifty-acre sections in the town of Akaroa, were afraid that Mr. Hempleman would select their land, hence the petition. Mr. Fitzgerald also states that the claimant was at that time reeling about Christchurch intoxicated. Mr. Hempleman arrived in Christchurch late in the evening, and left again early next morning, allowing very little time to make himself known in that manner.

When Mr J. C. Boys received instructions from James Campbell, Esq., to lay out the land for Mr. Hempleman, he at once made arrangements with the claimant to proceed with it. Unfortunately as soon as arrangements were made, Mr. Boys had to leave for Wellington, and so it was put in the hands of the assistant surveyor, Mr. Aylmer, son of the before-mentioned person. He immediately resigned his position, and so the matter fell through. The next thing the claimant heard was that he was to receive 250 acres instead. The claimant also signed the requisition under protest. Sincerely trusting that justice will at last be administered.

Sir George replied to this letter from Kawau on December 5th, stating that it was not a matter for him to decide, and referring Hempleman to the Government.

From his earliest residence in the Peninsula, in the year 1835, up till some years after the arrival of the Canterbury Pilgrims, George Hempleman kept a very minute diary of all his doings. A great deal of it consists of unimportant matters, being a