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Mr. Pilmer,

19th Sept., 1878.

32. Buchanan w 7as the policeman?—Tes. S3. Inspector Atchison.] Tou have seen me very frequently ; why did you not make this com- '• plaint to me before now ?—I have not made any complaint yet. I simply told Mr. Barton what occurred. 34. During the time you wore Inspector of Nuisances, you were a sworn-in constable : did you not think it your duty to report the matter?—l told the Mayor about it. Considering that I was sworn-in by Mr. St. Hill in about 1803, my recollection begins to forget that I am a special constable. 35. Are you sure you told the Mayor ?—Tes ; and the Mayor told me afterwards lie had written to you on some matter, and you had not condescended to answer his letter. Also, I may add, Sergeant Monaghan told me distinctly he would make it "hot" for me in consequence of McCarthy's case. In that case I caught a man charged with rape, and held him prisoner for over an hour, aud the police refused to take him off my hands. I told Mr. Barton of these things. 36. Do you know what this man you say you saw beaten was charged with?— No. 37. Do you take in the papers ? —Tes. 38. Did you not see what the man was charged with ? —No. 39. Did you look to see? —No ; it was the poor man's business to complain, not mine ; my evidence would have been forthcoming. 40. Tou did not think the case of sufficient importance at that time to induce you to make a complaint to the Magistrates or to the Inspector of Police ? —No; it was the man's affair. 41. In cases of assault or things of that sort, the names of prisoners are generally published in the morning and evening newspapers? —Nothing was published about this assault. 42. Tou know what I mean. This man's name must have appeared in the papers ?—I did not look ; everything does not appear in the papers. 43. Do you not think you should have endeavoured to find out his name? Was the matter not of sufficient importance ? —I do not read the police reports when I take up a paper. I had orders from the Mayor not to interfere with the police in any shape or way. 44. AVhen you were at the pound you took a memorandum of the impoundings ?—Tes; and the brands of the horses. 45. By whom impounded, and other information? —Tes. 46. Tou kept a pound-book in fact ?—Tes. 47. Then could you not by means of that book arrive at something near the date ?—I do not think so, because I was continually impounding. One day I would put in one horse, and some days more. One day I put in thirteen horses. I could not distinguish on which day it was I saw this. 48. Would not the entries in the book enable you to see ?—Tou can get the book. 49. Mr. Barton] What day of the week was it ? —I could not tell that. 50. Inspector Atchison] It was not such an important matter that you considered it necessary to tell me of it?—lt was not of particular importance. I knew that policemen were in the habit of treating prisoners badly. That was a matter of common report all over the city. 51. Did you think it your duty to tell the Mayor about it ? —I used to speak to him generally about these matters. 52. Simply as mentioning an occurrence, not reporting as a matter of duty ?—No ; the Mayor and I have often had conversations about the police, and the Mayor told me not to interfere with them, as they had often refused the Corporation officers assistance, and Inspector Atchison had not had the courtesy to answer a letter he had sent. 53. But this would not have been interfering with them. Surely if you saw an act of inhumanity on the part of a policeman you should have reported it?—lf he had struck the man on the head I would have knocked him down. 54. But why did you not go to a Magistrate ?—I did not think it was necessary. I did not care to interfere. 55. But you thought it necessary to tell the Mayor ?—Not as a matter of duty. 56. Mr. Bunny] How long have you ceased to be Inspector of Nuisances ? —About six months. 57. Did you go to Mr. Barton, or did Mr. Barton come to you ? —I am not quite certain about, that. I told him in the course of conversation. 58. Where did that conversation commence?— About the streets somewhere, and afterwards in his office. 59. But you cannot say how the conversation commenced?— No. 60. Mr. Barton] Do you remember being engaged in a building next the New Zealander office, as inspector or something of that sort ?—Tes. 61. Do you recollect my passing there, and having a conversation there? —I do. I recollect now. 62. And you remember on that occasion telling me of this occurrence ?—I do. 63. And I asked you whether you would have any objection to coming to my office and giving full particulars ? —That is the case. Alexander Anthony Gordon Pilmer, being duly sworn, was re-examined. 64. The Chairman] In your previous evidence you referred to McCarthy's case, and we wish you to state to us what you said to Mr. Barton, against the police, in this matter? —Tes, I was living within seventy yards from Mrs. Stott's. One day I was busy, I heard an awful noise, cries for help and so forth, proceeding from the direction of this house; but I did not take much notice, as I thought possibly the husband aud wife might be quarrelling, but it turned out afterwards that the husband was away from home. 65. What time did this occur?— About 3 o'clock in the afternoon. 66. On what day did this occur? What date?—Tou can get that from the police-books. Ido not know.