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Police Department Georgetown 24th July 1879
D.J. Seymour Esq'r Commissioner of Police Brisbane
The petition of the undersigned Michael McKierndin [sic] 2nd Class Sub Inspector of Police at Georgetown humbly sheweth.
That your petitioner joined the Queensland Police force on the 13th of January 1864.
That he has continuously served in the said Police force for a period of fifteen years and and one hundred and ninety three days.
That owing to illness resulting from the effects of injuries recieved whilst actually engaged in the execution of his duty, viz wounds and sunstroke he is unable to continue to perform his duties.
Vide Senr Sergeant Armstrong's telegram of 5th July instant &c
Your petitioner can have no doubt that the climate
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in Northern Queensland, and the exposure to all sorts of weather and camping out which was necessary for the performance of his duties during the four years he had charge of the Charters Towers, Ravenswood, and Townsville gold escort tended materially to develop the illness which he has more or less suffered from for several years past, and which now presses so severely as to incapacitate him from the performance of active Service, viz. violent confused headache, loss of memory and latterly general prostration when exposed even for a brief period to solar heat.
Your petitioner cannot forward medical certificates respecting his present State of health as there is no Doctor within 300-miles of this place.
Nor any certificate respecting the wounds he recieved on the 14th July 1867 when resisting an attack made upon him with the view of rescuing two prisoners he arrested at Toowoomba on a charge
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of robbery with violence, as Doctor Stacey who attended him has left the Colony several years ago.
But your petitioner begs to attach two certificates which happen to be on hand and which were given on former occasions by Doctors Howlin, and Geldard. Also a copy of the depositions taken at the trial of the offenders referred to.
The depositions on which these offenders were committed for trial contians much fuller particulars but your petitioner does not know where they are.
The sunstroke your petitioner recieved in the latter end of January 1864 whilst collecting a Coroner's jury on Spring Hill, Brisbane, and is no doubt recorded in the police books at Brisbane Station, He was attended by Doctors Hobbs and Handcock.
Irrespective of his State of health and any pecuniary loss that may result from his retiring; your petitioner cannot without regret contem plate withdrawing
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from a service where he has served for nearly twenty six years (not the whole time in Queensland Police) as may be seen by his testimonials in your office, and where he had always cause to feel grateful for kindness and favors received from his Commanding officers. Owing to the causes stated above your petitioner respectfully applies for a retiring allowance from 1st September next. He thinks there can be none now on the list before him for 1st Class Sub Inspectorship and hopes you will be please [sic] to take into your favorable consideration that during the last five and a half years he had not increase to a small salary. He also begs to apply for stock allowance as will enable him to remove (return) to Brisbane where he resided when he joined the the [sic] police. He may remark that he had no idea then, that he would ever be sent to serve in this part of the Colony, where he only reached in obedience to order at very heavy expense. Hoping the above will meet with favourable consideration your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray. [signed] M McKiernan 2nd Class Sub Inspector