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201. Several times you asked me to work on Sundays and holidays ?—Yes ; I was very anxious to get the thing out of my hands. 202. The Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.] There was no idea on your part that the report should be corrected after it went through the Printing Office or was laid upon the table ?—No ; such an idea was never in my mind, nor Mr. McKerrow's, nor Mr. Bush's. 203. Mr. Pirani.] As you said, to do it would be utter nonsense ?—lt is a dangerous thing to alter what has been said. 204. To put in what has been left out?—lf it is an extract. 205. Mr. Leslie.] Is it the case or not that you understood that I would have preferred longer time in order to complete these papers? —Yes; you wanted longer time and I would not have it. Our report was in, and it was desirable that the evidence should be put into safe custody. 206. You remember, during the evidence being given I was frequently applied to by persons to be allowed to look at papers?— Yes. 207. On every occasion, so far as you know, I referred the matter immediately to you, and never allowed any one to come to the room without your permission ?—Yes. 208. When we came down here. I reported that Sir Walter Buller wanted to see his evidence ? —Yes. 209. You have seen me living for two months in the same house with Sir Walter Buller, and do you think I have had anything to do with Sir Walter Buller as insinuated?—! have already said " No." 210. Mr. Pirani.] Do you think it was negligence on Mr. Leslie's part not getting these extracts at the time ?—I suppose, if you look at it from the highest point, Mr. Leslie should have reported every word; but I think it would be an absurd position to take. 211. Do you know whether that is the rule?—-No, I do not. I know it is not my practice in taking notes of evidence if documents are read. I merely refer to them so as to identify them. 212. Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.] Since laying the report on the table of the House, have you given Mr. Leslie any instructions to supervise the printing of this report?— No. I had nothing to dowith it; it was taken out of my hands when forwarded to the Premier. 213. Has Mr. Leslie called upon you or you upon him ?—Only on the occasions I have mentioned. 214. Mr. Jjeslie.] Mr. Martin, I mentioned to you, I think, Mr. Sheridan said he required me to superintend the printing about a week before the report went in. Was there no conversation between you and me about terms? —I rather understood from the conversation that somebody would be required to superintend the printing, and that it would be a very good thing for Mr. Leslie if he could get it—it would be a small fee for him; and that he was desirous of getting it, and Mr. Sheridan would help him if he could. 215. That is all correct assuming the report would be printed?—-Yes. Mr. P. Shebidan examined. 216. Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.] After the report was laid on the table, did you give any authority to Mr. Leslie to deal with that report or make any alterations ?—I had a printed proof-copy of the report only. I noticed one or two apparently printers' errors in it; I sent a note, not to Mr. Leslie, hut to Mr. Hackworth, requesting him to call attention to them. Mr. Leslie came to see me about them afterwards and informed me that they had been corrected; they were, as I have already stated, printers' errors only. That is all the conversation I had with him on the subject of alterations. 217. Are you quite clear that after the evidence was laid on the table you gave no authority to touch that evidence ? —I have never seen the original report or evidence. I was very clear with Mr. Leslie in telling him the whole thing was out of my hands and that I could not interfere with him at all now. It was the duty of the officers of the House, to whom I referred him, to see to the printing. 218. Did Mr. Leslie come to you?—He did. He asked me if he was to do the reading or if it would be done by the department. I told him the thing was entirely out of my hands, and I could not interfere. He said, " May I tell the officers of the House you said I was to do it?" I said, " Certainly not; it is entirely out of my hands." Then he said, " May I tell Mr. Friend you sent me to him?" I said, "No." He then said, " May I tell him of the previous arrangement you intended to make with me? " and I said " Yes." 219. If, when the report was laid on the table, Mr. Leslie went to Mr. Otterson for authority to get the report from the Printing Office by your instructions, would that be correct ? —He had noauthority from me to do so, but I would have availed myself of his services had the duty of correcting proofs devolved upon me. Except as regards printers' errors I had no conversation with Mr. Leslie on the subject of alterations. 220. Mr. Pirani.] If Mr. Leslie went to Mr. Otterson and told him you had made arrangements, or were willing to make arrangements, with him to superintend the printing, provided thedepartment had to see to it, would you say that was correct ? —Yes. 221. If, in consequence, Mr. Otterson considered Mr. Leslie the most competent person to do it, would he be right ?—I think Mr. Leslie could do it better than a stranger, as the notes and typewriting were his own. That was why I intended to employ him if the duty had devolved upon the department. If the report and evidence had been printed under supervision of the department I would have been responsible for corrections of final revise. 222. Do you think you are in a position to speak with authority as to whether Mr. Leslie was the most suitable person to do this work ?—He would be the most competent. 223. Mr. Lieslie.] Yes, when I heard the House had ordered these documents to be printed I saw Mr. Otterson, told him that if your department had to do the printing I was to have looked after the work? —That would be right. I intended you to correct proofs in conjunction with myself. 224. Mr. Pirani.] Then you think there was nothing improper in Mr. Leslie saying to Mr. Otterson you would have intrusted him if you had had power?— Certainly not. I have found him honourable and straightforward throughout.