I.—4a.

32

Mr. Wallace.

27th Sept., 1878.

Mr. Conner.

27th Sept., 1878.

Mr. Buchanan

27th Sept., 1878.

856. Inspector Atchison never called upon you and said you were misinformed as to the deserving parties ? —No. 857. There was no account rendered to you as to hotv the money was distributed ? —No. Mabtin Connee, Constable, stationed at Carterton, being duly sworn, was examined. 858. The Chairman] Tou were engaged in investigating the case in which Heggarty was concerned ? —I was. 859. Were you paid any reward in consequence of that ?—Sometime afterwards I received a letter from Inspector Atchison, enclosing a post-office order for the sum of £10. 859 a. AVhen did you get that?- —I could not say. 860. About when ? —I could not say. I kept no record of it. I received it, and replied. 861. Is this your letter of reply (produced and read) ?—Tes. 862. AVhen did you send that ? —lt is dated sth January. About that time. 563. When did the fire occur ? —I think it was in November. I cannot state positively. 864. Mr. Barton] What induced you to say, <: I beg to return you my sincere thanks for recommending me for a reward" ?•—I do not know. 865. Did you mean recommending you to the head of the department ?—No ; it is tho usual phrase made use of in such letters. 866. Is there a system of rewards in the department ? —I never received one but that. 867. Are you sure you sent the letter on its date ?—Tes ; I wrote it on that date. 868. Did you send it then? —I should think so. I cannot remember. I never expected the matter to turn up. It is not an official matter. 869. Have you not an official record of it at Carterton ? —No. 870. The Chairman] This letter of reply was addressed to Inspector Atchison ?—Tes. 871. AVhere is this filed?—lt may be in Mr. Atchison's office. I wish to make one or two remarks. I was greatly satisfied with the reward, and made no complaints; and, secondly, Inspector Atchison was called upon more than once to investigate the case. People in the Wairarapa were excited, and wanted him to come up, and therefore I wrote myself that he would come up in order to satisfy the people. AVhen he came up, he made every inquiry. He was up more than twice, I think. I am positive he was up twice, and that on one occasion he was there three days or so. 872. Mr. Swanson] Has that anything to do with the £10. Nothing particular. 873. Then, what is your reason for giving us that evidence. I merely volunteered the statement to the Committee, if it was required. 874. The Committee I am sure is very much obliged; but why did you make that particular statement?—To put the Committee in possession of that fact, in case they required to know about it. John Buchanan, being duly sworn, was examined. 875. The Chairman] Tou were in charge of the police station at Te Aro ?—Tes. 876. In 1875 and 1876?—1n 1875, I think. 877. AVhere is the record-book? —There was an old book which cannot be found. 878. What becomes of the old books ? —The Te Aro Station was pulled down and altered. The book must have got away in the lumber somewhere. 579. Is there no rule about where the book was to be kept ? What did you generally do with the old books ? —They are generally brought down to the other station. 880. Did you bring this down to the other station ? —I think not. 881. Tou think not ? —I cannot draw upon my recollection that I did. 882. Tou do not know what became of it ?—I do not know. 883. When did you give up charge ?—ln The book must have been lost at the time of the alterations of the station. I know after the station was repaired there was a new chargebook, but what became of the old one I do not know. 884. Mr. Swanson] AVho had charge of the book at the station ? —The person who was in charge of the Station. BSS. But who was responsible ?—lf 1 was there by myself I would be responsible for the safety of the book, but if I was not there, then the person left in charge would be responsible. SB6. AVhen the policemen all went away at night, who would be responsible? —Nothing could happen to the book then. 887. What 1 want to know is this, who would be responsible for the book day and night and altogether? —AVhoever would be in charge of the station. 888. Then I suppose you mean the book was handed from one man to another as they took charge of the station ? —Tes. 889. Did they ever take receipts from one another for the book? —No. 890. Did you consider this book of no importance ?—I would not consider it of any importance. 891. AVhy not ? —Because every charge in it was copied and taken down to the Resident Magistrate's Court, and entered there. That is a record. 892. But what becomes of the original book ?—I cannot say. I cannot make out what became of it. 893. As the book is lost, who is to blame for it ?—I cannot tell. If I had been there always I would know whether it would be myself or not. 894. Supposing a book of this sort became full, what would be done with it ?—lt should be brought down to the Inspector's Office and kept there. 895. If you had taken the book down, would you have got a receipt for it ? —lf I wished I could. 896. Is it a rule of the service that you should, on handing over documents or books, get a receipt to hold you harmless ? —I could get a receipt. 897. Is that the rule ?—Tes.