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3. Did the Government of which you were a member hold the same views on that subject ?— Yes; our Government held the opinion that the offices were incompatible. 4. Was any proposition made by the Government to Sir Julius Vogel in reference to exchange of position ?—Yes; it was proposed to offer Sir Julius Vogel the position of Agent for the inscription of stock, at a percentage, subject to the approval of Parliament. 4a. When the telegram dated the 11th November was sent, was it then under the consideration of the Cabinet to include commmission for the raising of the future loan ? —I could not answer that directly, but I should think that, had Sir Julius Vogel received the appointment of agent for the inscription of stock with the approval of Parliament, he would probably have been appointed Agent for raising future loans. lam not able to speak certainly on that point. 5. Was it intended by the Government to apply to the loan then being raised—the Fivemillion Loan?—Certainly not, as far as I understood. 6. Sir Julius Vogel was specially appointed one of the Agents for raising the loan?—Yes; he had been, I think, by the preceding Government. But there is no doubt the Hall Government would also have made that appointment had it not been made when they came into office. 7. Would it be part of his duties as Agent-General to act as one of those Loan Agents ?—Yes; that is the view I have always taken: that the Agent-General should, when required, act as a Loan Agent without extra remuneration. 8. Then, appointment of the Agent-General as Loan Agent would not imply additional duty and payment ?—Yes ; it would imply additional duty; but it is one of the duties the Agent-General, in my opinion, ought to perform. Sir Julius Vogel was appointed because he was Agent-General. 9. It would not imply an additional sum .to be paid to him for those services ?—Certainly not; as far as I understand. 10. At the time of sending this telegram of the 11th November, had the question of Sir Julius Vogel's successor been considered ?—Not as far as I am aware; and _ I think if it had been considered I should have known of it. 11. When was Sir Dillon Bell appointed Agent-General?—l am not able to give the exact date, but I think at the end of 1879 or the beginning of 1880. 12. Was it before the loan was raised ? —No; after the loan was raised. 13. In your opinion, did the sending of this telegram relieve Sir Julius Vogel of his position as Agent-General ? —No, certainly not; and I think you will find a letter written by Sir Julius Vogel some months after that, in which he speaks of himself as being quite willing to change the office of Agent-General for that of Stock Agent on certain terms. 14. Had the services of Sir Julius Vogel during the year 1879 been of a particularly onerous nature as regards financial matters ?—Yes, particularly so. By every means in his power he strove to carry out the views of the Government, that the whole of the loan should be raised. 15. And a great deal depended on his judgment in the position of affairs then?—Yes, a great deal. 16. In your opinion, was the agreement made between the Bank of England and Sir Julius Vogel of great value to the colony?—Yes; I think so. 17. When Sir Julius Vogel made that arrangement, was he acting in any capacity in the service of the colony ?—Yes, as a Minister of the Crown. I am not quite certain whether he was Premier or Postmaster-General. 18. Do you know what sum was paid to the other Loan Agents for their services in connection with the Five-million Loan ? —I believe one-eighth of 1 per cent, was paid to the Crown Agents, and one-eighth of 1 per cent, was paid to'Sir Penrose Julyan. 19. Was this sum paid by direction of the Government, or upon whose recommendation was it paid? —The amount paid to the Crown Agents was the same as was always paid as a matter of course if they were employed. The amount paid to Sir Penrose Julyan was without the knowledge of the Government, just as all other loan expenses are paid. 20. In raising a loan the Agents have power to pay expenses ?—All ordinary expenses. The Government thought that the payment should not have been agreed to be made to Sir Penrose . Julyan without reference to them. Sir Penrose Julyan was a Crown Agent when he was appointed one of the Loan Agents to raise the Five-million Loan. But before the loan was floated he retired from his position as Crown Agent upon full pay. Just before the loan was floated, the Government received a telegram from the Agent-General, Sir Julius Vogel, informing the in that Sir Penrose Julyan had retired from the position of Crown Agent, and asking whether they desired that his services should be retained. The Government replied that they did desire to retain his services. Nothing was said, so far as my memory serves me, as to payment, and the Government knew nothing about it until letters arrived in due course. Then the payment had been made. 21. Do you consider that Sir Julius Vogel stood in the same position as Sir Penrose Julyan after that telegram of the 11th November ? —No, I do not think so. I had no idea that Sir Julius Vogel then considered he was holding the Agent-Generalship merely for the convenience of the Government. 22. Was the opinion expressed on page 5, line 8, of Sir Julius Vogel's evidence the opinion of the Ministry, or only the opinion of Sir John Hall? —I should think that was not the opinion of either Sir John Hall or the Ministry. I do not know what it refers to. There is nothing in Sir John Hall's letter about compensation. 23. Has Sir Julius Vogel made any claim on the Government for his services ?—Yes. 24. When were they first made ?—Very shortly after the Five-million Loan was raised. 25. Was f«the claim admitted or recognized by the Government?—No; it was never admitted as far as I know. 26. Did Sir Julius request that it might be brought before the House ? —I think the position Sir Julius Vogel took up was that he would be quite satisfied if the House decided against his claim, 2—l. la,