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Cloncurry March 27th / 84
Sir
In reference to the charges brought against me and to which I pleaded guilty I have with your permission some few remarks to make in the first place all my trouble originate in not being stricter with Sub Insp Clerk and reporitng him on his first aggression but I was under the impression he would only be here for a week or two and then proceed to Lake Nash so I refrained from making any report, and again in reference to the Books and Returns &c all the forms are altered since I had the honor to srve before, and during those years I cannot remember any complaint being made against me, Sub Insp Clerk would give me no assistance or explain the workings of them and there was no precedent to act upon, my predecessors not entering up in proper form and in many cases not posting at all, so I had to do the best I could. Sub Insp Clerk for for the most part of his time very unwell and I had to do all the patrolling.
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I am sensible of deserving a severe repreimand and this has given me a lesson I shall never forget. I acknowledge that some times I have taken more refreshment than I should have done, but it has been on very rare occasions. Since Sub Insp Urqhart has been in charge of the camp and has kindly shown and explained matters to me, I am thoroughly capable of keeping the Books &c satisfactorily. I can only regret the position this has placed me in and all through my clemency towards Mr Clerk. I trust the Commissioner of Police will kindly remember my former service and deal liniently [sic] with me. I candidly confess I have been much to blame this time. I can posirive say that he shall never have cause to complain in future.
I am Sir
Your obedient servant
[signed] Alf Smart
Sub Insp 2/c
RCH Uhr Esq
Police Magistrate
Cloncurry
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BC.
Enclosed for information of Honble The Colonial Secretary.
[signed] RCH Uhr
P.M.
27/3/84