15

H.—s

202. What facts would you gather from an examination of those entries?—That those letters were taken out of the Buildings by Mason at 10.10 a.m. 203. Where were you at 10.10 a.m. on the 4th April ? —Attending to Sir Patrick Buckley. 204. Was that about the time you took the letter to Mr. Cadman ?—I think it must have been after that I took the letter to Mr. Cadman's room, because I would not have returned from Sir Patrick Buckley's office before that time. 205. At what hour do you think you took Mr. Cadman his letter?—l cannot tell what hour. I should think it would be about 11 o'clock, because Mr. Cadman generally comes about that time. 206. Can you recollect if, about that date, a letter addressed to the Evening Post, or one to Mr. Atack, passed through your hands?—No. 207. Did you see such letters on the table?—No, not to my knowledge. I may have seen the letter to the Post, but I would not recollect it if I had; but I would remember the one to Mr. Atack if I had seen it. There are so many letters for the Post, containing tenders, and so on. 208. During Wednesday, 4th April, how were you employed ?—I was on this first floor until Sir Patrick Buckley went home. 209. Your name was not on the ordinary duty-roll?—No; I have not been on that roll for years. Ido not take letters from any one except Sir Patrick Buckley or Mr. Govett, even if they ask me, because I would not take the responsibility. James Sandbrook re-examined. 210. The Commissioner.] You told the Commission yesterday that to the best of your belief the letter was addressed to Hon. Mr. Seddon ; you took it off Mr. Seddon's table, and brought it ack to Sir Patrick Buckley ; and that Sir Patrick addressed it in the corner to Hon. Mr. Cadman ? —I still think so, for this reason :It was hardly an instant before Sir Patrick gave it back to me, and said, " Give that to Mr. Cadman, and tell him that is the letter." He could not have had time, I think, to put it in a fresh envelope and address it afresh. 211. Was the letter you took into Mr. Cadman's room marked " Confidential "? —I would not be sure, but I imagine so, because it was marked " Confidential " when I took it into Mr. Seddon's room. •'••■• 212. Then, do I understand that, so far as you believe, it was marked " Confidential " in one corner, and " Mr. Cadman " in the other?—l believe so. Benjamin Marcus Wilson sworn and examined. 213. The Commissioner.] What are you? —Private Secretary. 214. Will you tell me briefly anything you happen to know in connection with the subjectmatter of this inquiry, which, as you are aware, is the publication of certain letters which passed between Colonel Fox and the Premier, dated 16th March ?—I am afraid I can tell you very little. The only thing I can remember about it is seeing a letter in Sir Patrick Buckley's handwriting on Mr. Cadman's table; but whether that was the document in question or not Ido not know. 215. Was the letter marked " Confidential "?—I could not say ;it did not come through my hands. I only remember seeing the envelope on the table. 216. What date was that ?—lt was the same day as the publication of the letter in the Evening Post. That is what brought it to my mind. I thought probably that would have been the letter. 217. Then, it was the next day you thought " The letter I saw yesterday must have been the letter "?—That may have been it; it was either the same day or the next day. 218. Did you ever see the letter itself ?—No. 219. Did you ever handle the envelope, so far as you are aware ?—No. 220. When did you first see it ?—Some time in the afternoon. 220a. Did you know who brought it ?—No. 221. Do you know what became of it ?—No ; I have not seen it since. 222. Prior to the publication of this letter were you approached by any one connected with the papers in Wellington, seeking information on the subject ?—No; in fact I had not heard of the letter before. 223. Did you know such a letter was expected, or that it had arrived ? —No. 224. What was the first you heard of Colonel Fox's resignation, or proposed resignation?—l think that letter in the paper must have been the first. 225. Do you remember seeing any other paragraphs in the papers before the publication of this particular letter ?—Well, there was a hint in the Post one night, I think. . 226. Was that the first you heard of it ?—Yes ; and I heard nothing else until the publication of the letter. Benjamin Marcus Wilson re-examined. 227. The Commissioner.] In your evidence yesterday you said that you saw a letter addressed to Mr. Cadman in Sir Patrick Buckley's handwriting, lying on Mr. Cadman's table. That was on Wednesday, 4th April. Will you tell me how it was addressed, as nearly as you can remember? Was it addressed to Mr. Cadman direct ?—I believe it was addressed " Hon. A. J. Cadman." 228. Was it addressed to Hon. Mr. Seddon, and then marked in the corner " For Mr. Cadman " ?—I think not. 229. It was in the afternoon you saw it ? —Yes. 230. Was it marked " Confidential " ? —I could not say. My impression is that it was just addressed " Hon. A. J. Cadman." 231. Do you feel confident it was not addressed to Mr. Seddon, and afterwards addressed in the corner "For Mr. Cadman"?—Yes; lam fairly confident. Of course, I may be wrong. 232. Can you say if you saw any Cabinet Minister go into that room on that day ?—I cannot ; but it is not usual for Cabinet Ministers to go into the room when the Minister is not there. They often come as far as the door, and I say, " The Minister is not there," and they go back again.