L—2a

10

188. You had some other reason ?—Nothing except what was in the telegram. 189. Is there anything in it to suggest that by handing these papers to Mr. Rose you would expedite their delivery to the proper person ?—I believed that sending the packet to him was the proper course to take. I believed that Mrs. Eose was acting as Miss Ida Prince's friend, and that sending these papers to Mr. Eose would expedite the delivery to the proper person. 190. Was that from your private knowledge ?—I thought it very natural that Mr. Eose would speak to Mrs. Eose on the subject, as Mrs. Eose had been so great a friend of Miss Ida Prince. Mr. John Kiekcaldie examined. 191. Mr. Hutchison.] You are a member of the firm of Kirkcaldie and Stains, drapers, in business in Wellington ?—Yes. 192. Do you know Miss Ida Prince?—l do. » 193. She was in your employment for a time ?—Yes. 194. Towards the end of last year, did she leave your employment ?—I could not tell what time it was. I know she was absent. 195. Through illness ? —Yes. 195 a. While she was absent, did you receive two letters from the post-office—in December?— Yes. 196. Do you remember how they were addressed ?—I could not be positive. 197. Do you know whether they were both addressed in the same way? —I can only say that one was a large and the other a small letter. 198. From your post-office box was it you received them ?—They were delivered by the lettercarrier. 199. Do you know for whom they were intended ?—Yes ; before the death of Mr. Livingston letters used to come almost daily. They were always addressed " Miss Ida Prince." 200. She had not been at work for some time before you received these two letters ?—No. 201. What did you do with the letters that came to her before these?— They were almost invariably given to her sister by myself. 202. Her sister was in your employment?— Yes; and is still. 203. What did you do with these two letters? —Without doubt I delivered them to her sister. 204. In the usual course ? —Yes ; in the usual course. 205. Do you remember anything occurring ? —The same day Mr. Hoggarl called and asked me if I had received letters for Ida Prince. I said " Yes." He asked me to return one of them. I went to her sister and asked her if she had the letters. Mr. Hoggard wanted the large one. She gave it to me, and I returned it to him. 206. Will you try and remember the exact words he used ? —I could not; 207. Did he give any reason why he wanted that one returned?— No. 208. You knew him to be the Postmaster in Wellington?— Yes. 209. Mr. Gully.] Who got the situation in your place for Miss Ida Prince?— Mrs. Eose. 210. How long ago ?—I have no idea. 211. Will you say whether Mrs. Eose interested herself in Miss Ida Prince while she was in your employment ?—She did, very much so. 212. To your knowledge?— Yes ; in my knowledge. 212 a. How would you describe it?— She stood in Wellington in the position of Mr. Livingston. 213. Mr. Joyce.] Towards Miss Ida Prince ?—Yes. 214. Mr. Gully.] You were aware that Mr. Livingston had adopted Miss Ida Prince ? — Yes. 215. Could you mention any special matters, according to your recollection, in which Mrs. Eose interested herself on behalf of Miss Ida Prince ?—When she first made the application to me to take her Miss Ida Prince was very young, and the only position I could give her was to place her in the desk to give change. However, I took her. After she had been with me two or three days I found that so incompetent was she, having been without practice, she was quite unsuitable. Her mental arithmetic was deficient. That being so, I sent for Mrs. Eose, and told her I could not keep her, and suggested what I thought it was necessary to do. I think I sent her home with a note suggesting to Mrs. Eose to send her to school. My suggestion was taken. After some time another application was made to take her on. I took her on again, and after a few days, when she had mastered the routine, she was most efficient at her work. 216. Speaking generally, Mrs. Eose assumed a position as representing Mr. Livingston in her relations to Miss Ida Prince ?—Yes. 217. Was there any other occasion on which Mrs. Eose intervened specially, according to your recollection ?—There was. 218. Do you recollect what kind of intervention that was?—lt was a case in which there was some doubt in connection with the business. I think that is a matter concerning myself. I would rather 219. Could you tell us without going into matters that ought not to be disclosed, either for your own private reasons or through a delicacy, what Mrs. Eose did? —She stood up for Ida Prince. If she had not done so- * 220. With what result to Ida Prince, if Mrs. Eose had not done so ?—lt would be the reverse of what it was. 221. Mr. Bruce.] I understood you that you were of opinion that right through Mrs. Eose took a kindly interest in Miss Ida Prince ?—Specially so.

Yes.