H.—.

18

287. Do you remember Sandbrook handing a letter to you, or to the Minister's Private Secretary, for Mr. Cadman? —Not within the last month. There is not much correspondence between Sir Patrick and Mr. Cadman. 288. Did Mr. Cadman ask you any questions relative to a letter from Sir Patrick Buckley?—• No. 289. Did you read a paragraph in the Post giving an account of the reasons for Colonel Fox's resigning?'—Yes, I remember seeing that. 290. I have a copy of it here. Did you read this paragraph in the paper? —Yes. 291. Did it strike you as probable that the paragraph was in any way connected with any letter that might be laid on Mr. Cadman's table about that date?—No; I never knew that Mr. Cadman had anything to do with it. 292. Did you know that such a letter ever came into Mr. Cadman's possession? —Not until long afterwards. 293. How did you hear it then ?—Sandbrook told me he had taken it in. That is the only information I ever had that it was ever in the room. 294. What did Sandbrook tell you? —We were talking about Colonel Fox's letter, and he said he had taken it from Sir Patrick to Mr. Cadman's room himself. 295. Did he tell you how he knew they were Colonel Fox's letters?—No. 296. Did you distinctly understand from him that they were Colonel Fox's letters that were laid on Mr. Cadman's table?—Yes, but that was some time after the publication. 297. Did it appear strange to you that he should know what the letters were ?—I did not give it a thought then. I think so now. 298. What was the first you heard of Colonel Fox's proposed resignation ?—Seeing it in the paper. 299. Did you ever see the letter, or a proof or a copy of the letters, relating to the resignation ? —No. 300. Did you know any more than appeared in the papers ?—I never saw the papers to my knowledge in any shape or form. 301. Will you give me, as nearly as you can recollect, the substance of the conversation you had with Sandbrook ?—As nearly as I can recollect, I said something about being glad I had nothing to do with it—that is, that it did not come through our department. Sandbrook then said, " Oh, yes! it did. I took it into Mr. Cadman's room myself." I said then I had not seen the letter, and I did not remember anything about it. 302. Is there anything else you know of that might throw any light upon the subject?—No.

Tuesday, Bth May, 1894. Andrew Eyre Sampson re-examined. 303. The Commissio?ier.] You remember the date of the publication of the letter in the Evening Post ? —No, I do not remember the date. 304. Can you recollect the day of the week ?—No, I gave no attention to it, as it did not concern me. 305. Have you any recollection of any Minister going into Mr. Cadman's room about that date? —No ; they would not go in unless Mr. Cadman was there. 306. What makes you think so ? —I would tell them Mr. Cadman was not there, and they would go away. I never saw a Minister go in unless Mr. Cadman was there. 307. Supposing you were not at the door? —Then he could go in easily enough. 308. Do you recollect if there was a Cabinet meeting on that Wednesday?—l could not say. 309. If there was a Cabinet meeting, where would you be ?—Mostly about the Cabinet room. I generally keep an eye on the Cabinet room, and then I keep Mr. Cadman's door shut. 310. Would it be possible for any one to go into Mr. Cadman's room without your knowing it ?—Oh, yes ! they could go through Mr. Hazelden's room. 311. Do you remember any Cabinet Minister going into the room on that day?—No. 312. Do you remember any one from the Colonial Secretary's office going in on that day ?—No. 313. Can you say that no Minister went into Mr. Cadman's room that day ?—Not so far as I know. I never saw a Minister go further than the door and go out again if the Minister was not there.

Monday, 14th May, 1894. Andrew Eyre Sampson re-examined. 314. The Commissioner.] Do you recognise this book [produced] ?—Yes; it is the book for the entry of letters going out of the Buildings for delivery. 315. Do you notice amongst the entries under date 4th April, one letter addressed " Evenitiq Post" ?— Yes. 316. What facts would you gather from looking at those entries ?—That those letters were taken out for delivery by Mason at 10.10 a.m. on 4th April, 1894. 317. On what duty were you employed on or about that period?—l was attending to the Hon. Mr. Cadman. 318. Do you recollect if about that period a letter passed through your hands, addressed to the Evening Post ? —No.

Letter from E. T. Gillon, Editor of the Evening Post, to the Commissioner. " Sir,— " Evening Post Office, Wellington, 7th May, 1894. " I have this day been served with a summons, issued by you as a Commissioner, under the Commissioners' Powers Acts, requiring me to attend and give evidence regarding 'the circumstances