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310. You would not have taken any other steps had it not been for communication from Mrs. Rose ?— No; unless some one else Had communicated to me to the same effect as Mrs. Rose had done. 311. Then, this course was suggested by yourself?—lt was the only one that was practical under the circumstances. 312. It was brought about by communications from Mrs. Rose to yourself?—lt was. 313. In asking that delivery was to be effected to Mr. Rose, that was virtually changing the address from Kirkcaldie and Stains's to Mr. Rose ?—Yes. 314. As an official in the Post Office Department, would it be usual to recall a letter in that way ?—No; I could not do that; that was why I adopted the course I did. The tenor of the Post Office Regulations is to the effect that delivery should be made to the proper person. 315. In this you acted somewhat differently: you were interested as a friend of Mr. Livingston in this matter? —I hardly think so. The whole practice of the post-office is to take care that a letter shall be delivered to the rightful owner. There was a certain amount of suspicion on my own part that it might not reach the rightful owner, but by delivering to Mr. Rose it would go to the proper person. 316. Suppose a letter posted from Blenheim to any one else (leaving Rose out of the question), and suppose any body pointed out that it was likely to fall into the hands of another person, would you feel warranted in your official capacity to take the same steps as you did in this instance. Suppose a letter posted by himself, and you had a fear that it would not reach its destination, would you feel warranted, as a clerk in the post-office, to have that letter stopped ?—lt would have to be under very peculiar circumstances. I would hardly feel myself justified in deciding without reference to my superior officer. It was in accordance with this view that I asked that it should be given to " Inspector" Rose. In an ordinary case, in referring to my superior officer, I would ask that it might be addressed or given to Inspector Rose. I may state that the circumstances of Mr. Livingston's death were so peculiar that it was rather hard to decide at once. That was a reason that the address should be so altered, and, at the same time, expecting that it should be delivered to Miss Prince. 317. Did you consider your duty as a friend paramount to your duty as an official ?—No. 318. Mr. Bruce.] I suppose you were perfectly well aware that your action was an infraction of the Regulations ; but, in consequence of the reasons which you have stated so lucidly, you thought you were justified, in the circumstances, in telegraphing with reference to that letter ? —I thought I was perfectly justified in doing so. 319. I assume that you would have hesitated before taking that line of action were it not that, by a coincidence in this case, you felt that you were practically acting within the knowledge of your official superior, who could have hauled you up immediately had you been guilty of any intentional breach of the Regulations? —That was my object in this case in specially using the word "Inspector" instead of " Mr." Rose. I used the term "Inspector" so that if there was any great breach of the Regulations he could correct it. 320. Any risk you incurred was practically in the interest of the young lady who is now the petitioner?— Yes; that is so. 321. Mr. Grimmond.] You are aware that Mrs. Rose was in Blenheim. I wish to know whether, when you referred to Inspector Rose here, she was cognisant of the fact ?—Yes; it was with her knowledge. It was, in fact, the result of a brief consultation with Mrs. Rose that I adopted this course. I was anxious to do the best possible in the interest of the young lady ; at the same time I was careful as to the manner in which it was to be done, so as not to commit any breach of the Regulations. 322. Are you aware whether he knew about it being done—l mean in his official capacity as Inspector ?—No ; I know that he was aware of all these circumstances; also, I believe, that he would know it was done for the double object of expediting the delivery of the letter to the proper owner, and submitting what I had done to him in his official capacity. 323. Mr. Joyce.] You were acting as the friend of the late Mr. Livingston?—Yes. 324. You had the letter unopened, not addressed?—lt was an "open" letter, not an "unopened " letter. 325. In an envelope not addressed?—l believe, not addressed; it was an old envelope. I should think it would be the original envelope on which he first put the address, and then tore it open. It was torn an inch or so down from the top. The contents were exposed to view, and were stuck in, I might say, rather carelessly. 326. Suppose Mrs. Rose had arrived at Blenheim before you posted the letter, would you have given these letters to her ?—I would have put the bank-book and letter of Mr. Livingston in the envelope and delivered it to her. In that case I would not have deemed it necessary to send my own letter. 327. Because you believed Mrs. Rose could give all details?— Yes. 328. Then, you would consider you had done your duty to deceased by handing that packet to Mrs. Rose ?—Yes; I believe I would have considered that I had fully complied with his wishes. 329. Your official relations had nothing to do with your posting the letter?—Fo; nothing to do with that, but I had to use my official capacity to effect the alteration in the delivery. 330. Was it your official relations that induced you to get the letter from Kirkcaldie and Stains's for the purpose of being sure of delivery to the young lady? —The main object was to get it delivered to the right owner, for the right owner is the person to be considered. 331. What you risked was at your own risk, in the interest of the young lady?— Yes; at the same time I was careful not to commit any serious breach of the Regulations under the Post Office Act, for I was aware that under that Act there were certain pains and. penalties. 332. But, as the writer of the letter, your desire was that it should reach this young lady, and not her sister ?—Yes ; as far as I was concerned, it was a private letter, but it was enclosed in a