17

H.—s

260. How were you employed during that week ?—Looking through newspapers, and cutting out scraps, and so on. 261. Were you attending on the Premier?—The Premier was away, but I was cutting out and pasting scraps into books for him. Thomas Eedmond sworn and examined. 262. The Commissioner.] What are you ?—A Government messenger. 263. On what duty were you employed about the 4th April ?—I believe I was attending the Hon. Mr. Ward. Ido not come under the duty-plan at all. 264. Do you recognise this book [produced] ? —Yes; it is used for recording letters going out of the Buildings into town. 665. Do you notice, under date 4th April, an entry " Evening Post " ? —Yes. 666. What does an examination of that entry tend to show you?—lt shows that on the 4th April, at 10.10 a.m., Mason took out that letter for delivery, among others. 267. Cast your mind back to the 4th April, and see if you can recollect a letter addressed to the Evening Post passing through your hands or under your observation ?—None. 268. Do you remember, on or about 4th April, taking a letter in to Mr. Ward from Sir Patrick Buckley ?—I think Sandbrook gave me a letter for Mr. Ward—perhaps more than one. I never got a letter direct from Sir Patrick Buckley. I could not be positive as to the time, but I know it was between the time Mr. Ward came back from the Postal Conference and the time he left again for the South. 269. Do you know if any of those letters were marked " Confidential"?—No; I might not even look at the address if I was told it was for the Minister. 270. Can you remember if about that period you got a letter from Mr. Ward to Sir Patrick Buckley marked " Confidential "?—No. 271. Can you remember if you got one from Mr. Ward for Mr. Cadman? —No. 272. You understand when I say "from Mr. Ward," I mean Mr. Ward or his Secretary?-— No; I have no recollection of having got a letter either for Mr. Cadman or Sir Patrick. 273. Nor from Sir Patrick to Mr. Cadman ?—No. I should recollect that if I had done so, because it is outside my own department.

Saturday, 16th June, 1894. Thomas Eedmond re-examined. 274. The Commissioner.] I want you to carry your mind back to the 4th April last—that is, the morning of the date of the publication of the Fox letters in the Evening Post —and tell me if you can remember if you got a letter from Mr. Hyde, the Private Secretary to Hon. Mr. Ward, for delivery to Sir Patrick Buckley ? —I have been thinking over that since I saw you last, and I fancy I did, on that morning, receive one to be delivered. I would not say that morning, as I am not certain of the date, but I have a good recollection that I got a letter from Mr. Hyde to be delivered to Sir Patrick Buckley about that time. That was just after we returned from the Postal Conference. 275. Did you deliver it immediately?—l went straight with it. 276. Did you deliver it to him personally ?—Yes ; I am certain I did, according to the instructions. I never stop ; I always go straight with it, and carry it myself. I did not recollect anything about that before, but it is an unusual occurrence for me to bring a letter to Sir Patrick Buckley, and I am almost certain in that case I did bring it. Andrew Eyre Sampson sworn and examined. 277. The Commissioner.] What are you ?—Government messenger. 278. Do you remember Wednesday, 4th April, particularly—the date upon which a certain paragraph appeared in the Evening Post relative to the proposed resignation of the Commandant of the Forces?—l remember a paragraph, but I could not tell you the date. 279. Do you remember the day on which the paragraph appeared ? —Yes; I remember seeing it in the newspaper. 280. Do you remember the receipt of a letter by the Hon. Mr. Cadman on that day, marked " Confidential " ?—No ; the only letters I have seen lately marked " Confidential " contained Bills, or were supposed to contain Bills, coming forward for Parliament. Ido not remember any one particularly. 281. Do you remember seeing a letter in the handwriting of Sir Patrick Buckley, addressed on the envelope to Mr. Cadman, and marked " Confidential" ?—I have seen several letters from him, but all in note-envelopes. 282. Do you remember one in a larger envelope ?—Not from Sir Patrick Buckley. 283. If such a letter did come, who would it be brought to—to you?—That would depend upon what the Minister might say to his messenger. If he did not say, " Take it to Mr. Cadman himself," it would be handed to me, and I should take it to Mr. Cadman. 284. Would letters come to you even if marked " Confidential " ? —Yes. 285. Do I understand you to say you have no recollection of any large envelope, containing a letter, being laid on Mr. Cadman's table, or given to you about that date ?—Of course it might have been laid on the table, but I do not remember having the envelope in my hand from Sir Patrick. 286. Do you remember Sandbrook going into the room about that date ?—No; I do not remember ever having seen Sandbrook go into the room. 3—H. 5.