I.- 1b

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162. The Chairman.] Who made the engagement direct with you to do this work? —It was Logan. We did all our business with Logan. He represented himself to be the owner; but now it appears that he was not. 163. Sir B. Stout.] You should not make such a statement on oath unless you were sure? — There is no doubt about it. 164. But there is a doubt about it; it is absolutely untrue. 165. Mr. Macgregor.] You have told us that you went to Sir Bobert Stout to ask him to guarantee your expenses ?—Yes. 166. He was then acting as solicitor in the case, and it was in that capacity that you went to him. Had you any idea of Sir Eobert Stout's connection with the line ?—I knew nothing about it until the " dummies " themselves fell out. 167. Sir 11. Stout.] You came to me because I was the mortgagee; you said so? —I knew nothing about a mortgage. 167 a. When you were asked to do this work did you make any inquiry whether Logan was the bond fide employer? —No. 168. It is a large bill ?—Yes, it mounted up very quickly to a big bill; they thought it was too much, and that it was better not to have to pay it, I suppose. 169. Mr. Valentine.] When Logan, or the official representing the Fernhill Company, asked you to do certain work, did they ask you in writing?— They never wrote to me at all; I was trading with the company ; there was no writing. 170. Mr. Logan was the official manager? —We used to get our cheques signed "Fernhill Coal Company " ; afterwards, when it was " dummied " to Gray, it was " A. H. Logan, for James Gray." 171. The Chairman.] Do you know if any cheques were paid, after Logan took possession, in the name of the Fernhill Company? —There were apparently two companies, for their invoices and accounts used to be headed "The Fernhill Coal Company"; but the invoices used by Logan at this time were by " The Fernhill Bailway and Coal Company (Limited) ; and afterwards it was altered- at my suggestion to Logan, to "The Black Boy Coal Company." Seeing there was no money to get out of them, the name would be appropriate as a truly Black Boy concern.

Wednesday, 6th Septembee, 1893. David Andeew cross-examined. 1. Hon. Sir B. Stout.] Who gave you the land at Fernhill? From whom did you obtain it ? Who conveyed the land to you, and when ?—That question I really cannot answer. It is over twenty years since that was done. 2. Did you not get the land from your father, at the time of Lonney's trouble?— Yes; it was at that time. 3. From your father ?—Yes. 4. Was not the land after that date treated by your father as his own ? Did he not have his sheep on it, and did he not negotiate with Logan and Alves about the construction of the railway, and you were not consulted in the matter ?—My father never had sheep on that land. When I went up-country he managed the farm for me when no tenant was in it. 5. Did he not convey the land to you because he was a guarantor of Lonney, your brother-in-law, and was afraid the creditors would come upon him?— These matters are beyond my memory. 6. Did your father not make the arrangements with Alves and Howorth? —I cannot say. There is no one who knows more about this affair than Sir Eobert Stout. He acted as my adviser for years. 7. About this lease you are wrong ? —Mr. Logan told me he did it in your office. 8. Had you anything to do with giving the land for the railway, or was it done wholly by your father?—l had nothing to do with it. You advised me not to sign it; and it was not my father's to give. 9. Mr. Macgregor.'] At this time Sir Bobert Stout was acting as your solicitor ?—Yes. 10. And the knowledge which he gained then he is now using against you. He advised you not to sign the document ?—That is so. 11. You changed your solicitor ? —Yes ; shortly after that. 12. For what reason?—l found out that Sir Eobert Stout was connected with his father-in-law (Mr. John Logan) in this matter, and I thought that he could not advise me properly. I was in a fix about that company, and wanted to get out of it; therefore I changed my solicitor. 13. That suggestion, that you agreed to give this land for nothing, is absolutely untrue ?—I never consented to give it. I refused to sign, the document to that effect. Sir Bobert.Stout advised me not to sign it. Mr. James Gray examined. 14. Mr. Macgregor.] What is your name ?—James Gray. 15. You are a collier ?—Yes. 16. You have had a good deal of experience in colliery work ?—Yes. 17. Do you know the Fernhill Colliery ?—Yes, very well, and also the railway ; it being in conjunction with the colliery. 18. You have been working at the Fernhill Colliery for a number of years ?—Almost from the start. 19. You are one of the petitioners in this petition ?—Yes. 20. You work at the said Fernhill Colliery. Do you produce an account for your wages ?— Yes. [Account produced.]