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317. Can you state what salary any of these officers receive for services during the recess over any amounts for salaries set down in the estimates ? —As to the three permanent officers there is no salary attaching to them other than what is on the estimates. But in the recess if they can get anything to do they do it. 318. Then, there are no regular services by the Clerk, Clerk-Assistant, and two extra Clerks provided for outside their duties in the Legislative Council ?—No. 319. Do any of these officers receive a bonus which does not appear in these estimates'?— Last year I believe there was a sum of £50 on the estimates for preparing the index to the statutes of the General Assembly. 320. By whom was that ordered?—By the Council. 320 a. By resolution of the Council?— Yes. 321. Was that resolution passed last year? —The original resolution was passed in 1879. Another resolution was passed in 1884, under which a new edition was to be prepared. 322. Mr. Garrick.] The Clerk of the Council is away on leave ?—Yes. 323. Six months' leave ?—Yes, six months. 324. Does not that practically involve twelve months' leave ?—Do you mean that he will be absent twelve months? 325. Did it not involve the liberty to the Clerk to stay away twelve months if he liked ?—Not that I am aware of : I know that is not his intention. 326. Is not that the effect of it ? —I think not. 327. You have said there would be no services requiring his return within the twelve months ? —I do not remember saying that. I think perhaps some other witness may have said that, as he will have duties to perform if he is here, as he will be in about six weeks' time. He would have to see the Journals through the press, and do the other duties which he ordinarily performs in the recess. 328. Are you able to say what time the Clerk and Clerks-Assistant are employed during the recess, and whether their work is continuous ?—There is no continuous work, because it depends upon the printer to send up the work; but the attendance is continuous. We attend daily. If the printer sends up the proof-sheets we read them as they are sent up. 329. Can you say what is the amount of time in the year that you are employed ?—I have calculated, putting the various works together, that it would be about eight months. 330. Mr. Garrick.] The Government Printer has told the Committee that the printing is completed in four months after the end of the session? —That is, generally speaking, correct. But the exception to that is the fact that the printing during last recess was not completed within that time. 331. What did you mean when you said that the Clerk would be at liberty to get extra work during the recess ?—I have had extra work during the recess, with the permission of the Speaker. 332. Do you mean work connected with Government, or outside work ?—Work connected with the Government. I have been Private Secretary to the Premier (Sir John Hall) during the recess. I have been allowed to assist Dr. Hector in publishing work, and in other things of a similar description. But employment of that kind is very precarious and uncertain. 333. Do these observations apply to the other gentlemen termed Assistant-Clerks?—They would, I suppose, be at liberty to do the same. The Speaker makes a stipulation that any work he allows me to take outside should not interfere with my duties to the Legislative Council. In illustration I might state that some work on which I was engaged last recess in connection with the census was interrupted by my being subpoenaed to give evidence before the Supreme Court at Auckland. I had to employ another person to carry out my work. 334. Would it be allowed to any of these gentlemen to attend to any work of an ordinary commercial or mercantile character, such as that of an insurance office ?—I do not think he would be allowed to go into the business of an insurance office, or any other mercantile business. 335. Is there more than one Messenger ?—There is another Messenger, who specially waits upon the Speaker, and assists the custodian of the Parliament Buildings. 336. There are three ?—No; the Custodian has the charge of the building. The Messenger is the permanent Messenger of the Council and the one which I designate as the Speaker's Messenger. The latter takes the place of the Chief Messenger when he is absent, and waits upon the Speaker. He also acts as custodian of the building when the Custodian is absent on leave or from sickness. 337. Speaking of the Clerks in making up the Journals, that is the work of all three, is it not ? —The Second Clerk-Assistant does not practically assist. He may be called on at any time to do so. If, for instance, either of the two Clerks was called away, or had to leave, he would then be called on to assist. 338. Then, if the Second Clerk-Assistant is not called on to assist, he would practically have nothing to do after the session closed?—He would have work to do for a week or two after the session closed, also for a week or two before the session. 339. Then, except the assistance he might be called to afford the other two gentlemen, his duties would be comprised within a week before the session and about a fortnight afterwards ?— Yes. 340. So far as work is concerned, then, all that has to be done is making up the Journals and Appendix and the indices to Journals and papers ? —There is, of course, correspondence, and attendance upon the Speaker once or twice a week on business, and a number of small duties, which we cannot put in a schedule. 341. Speaking of the Interpreter, his duties practically end with the session? —I have known a case where the Interpreter has been called on during the recess to perform duties. 342. But as a rule ? —As»a rule, I should say, the duties of the Interpreter end with the session. 343. Do I understand you that the Speaker uses his office twice a week?— Always once and sometimes twice or more a week, as business arises to require his attention.