I.—4a

30

Mr. Wallace.

27th Sept., 1878.

804. Was any particular policeman mentioned, or was it stated how the money was to be distributed ? —AVell, I have a copy of the letter at the office. 3- 805. Can you send us a copy? —Tes. It is some time ago, and I do not recollect the circumstance very well; but, so far as I recollect, I enclosed the sum of £40 to Inspector Atchison, and told him it was for services rendered by the police in Heggarty's case, and it was to be divided amongst those officers who were deserving of it. He was to give the men what he thought proper, and to retain the balance himself. I think 1 mentioned incidentally the names of Farrell, Byrne, and O'Connor —that is, the detective in Wellington, and the constables at Carterton and Greytown —who had rendered important service, as I thought. I remember mentioning these people, because I had an impression that they had something to do with the arrest; but the letter inferred that Mr. Atchison was to use his discretion in how he disposed of the money. 806. Mr. Bunny] Tou left it to him, then, to do what he thought fit?—Tes. 807. The Chairman] Do you recollect any other case in which a payment was made to the police ? —The only case I was connected with was a case some two years ago, when I gave £10 in the case of Parker. That was more for the purpose of defraying the expenses to which the police had been than anything else. 808. To whom did you give that ?—I cannot recollect, but I think I have the letter which I sent. 809. Tou will send us a copy of the letter I suppose ? —-Tes. I am not sure whether I have the letter, but at any rate I am sure that I have a record. 810. Is there any other case? —No other case with which I was connected. 811. Hon. Mr. Gisborne] In Pestridge's case there was nothing given ? —No. 812. Mr. Bunny] Was anything said about the police being given money in order that they should look after the case then ?—Not to my recollection. I never knew of them saying such a thing. It is the business of the insurance officers to keep iv with the police, but we are never asked for anything, and would not give anything if we were asked in that way. 813. AVas any bargain made with you by the police as to the arrest of Pestridge ?—No. 814. Hon. Major Atkinson] The police, so far as you know, have never hung back until they were promised money ?—No ; not as far as I know. I may say, in regard to Pestridge's case, that I considered they were rather smart. 815. The Chairman] Do you consider it is necessary for the conduct of insurance business to " tip " the police ? —I think it is. If there is a case of incendiarism, and the police, at our iustigation, exert themselves, I think it is only right that we should give them something, because I know that the police have to " tip " men themselves in order to get information, and I think insurance companies ought to repay anything of that sort to the police. 816. Hon. Mr. Gisborne] Have you had experience in any other place than Wellington ?—-No. 817. The Chairman] Had your office any insurance in the case of Morton Quin ?—I recollect the case. 818. Were you interested ?—No. 819. Tou had nothing to do with the case ? —No. 820. And you know nothing about the case ?—No ; except that the case occurred here, and of course I talked about it. 821. Did you see the report of the detective officer about it?—No; I do not think I did. I had nothing to do with the case beyond talking about it. 822. Did you think the circumstances suspicious ?—Tes, I did think the circumstances were suspicious at the time the fire occurred. Touching the matter of reward, I may say that the insurance companies' agents have frequently had discussions on the subject of offering a standing reward for information where fires occur, if there is a suspicion of incendiarism—information which would lead to convictions ; but it has generally been overruled by the majority of the agents, on the ground that it would cast an implied slur upon the community to have such a reward advertised. It has been discussed. 823. Hon. Mr. Gisborne] Tou gave money on two occasions—once £40, once £10. Did you ever hear complaints as to how the money was distributed ? — I cannot say I have heard direct complaints, but I have heard indirectly from the Agent of the South British Company, Mr. Boardman, that the money was not fairly distributed. 824. Tou heard from Mr. Boardman ?—Tes, on one or two occasions, but I did not attach much importance to it at the time. 825. Tou had no complaints from the constables ? —No. I have never seen Byrne or O'Connor since. 826. Did Inspector Atchison ever answer the letter in which you sent the money ? —I cannot say. If he did I have kept a copy of his letter; but I am almost certain it was not answered. 827. Mr. Swanson] AVould not his letter acknowledging the receipt of the money be your voucher? —It would not be necessary to send the police answer for a voucher. 828. The Chairman] Perhaps the police would not give a receipt in a case of that sort ? —I should not ask for a receipt. A sufficient receipt would be the cheque, which would be crossed. If the cheque went through the bank that would show they had the money. 829. Mr. Barton] Could you charge your memory whether that was a crossed cheque or not ?— No ; I can hardly say that; but, as a rule, a cheque seldom leaves our office unless it is crossed. 830. Hon. Mr. Gisborne] Tou are sure the money was paid ? —Tes, I am sure of that. 831. Mr. Swanson] If a conviction had not been obtained, would the money have been paid ?—I do not think it would. The only thing is this: it might have been paid if the police were put to any expense ; and, if that were represented to me, I should have felt bound to have remunerated them the expense to which they had been put. 832. But nothing in the shape of reward would have been given?—No ; unless a conviction had been obtained, the insurance companies would have given nothing. 833. Mr. Barton] Tou stated, in one of your answers just now, that it was necessary for the