I.—2a

10

55. Tell us what the other remarks were ?—I will as well as my memory serves me, and the notes that I took at the time of the conversation. I said, " You will not get Mr. Hornsby returned, as he will not be returned." That does not appear to be in my first evidence. It was currently reported that I was to be shut out, and that Mr. Armstrong intended running Mr. Hornsby. That is what I was told when I came back. 56. Did you believe it ?—I believe all your actions went to show you were a strong partisan. 57. Do you believe everything you are told outside?— No. 58. Anything you were told concerning me, whether it was right or wrong?—-I do not believe everything I hear of every man. I judge a man by his own actions. I judged you directly you refused my nomination, because I knew it was so wrong. 59. When did you take the notes of what occurred —did you take them at the time that they occurred ? —I took them immediately after. 60. That was an hour and a half after it took place ?—Yes. I was very careful to take the notes at the time, so that I should not forget them. 61. Do you know it is a fact that you took no notes during that interview with Baylis and yourself ? —I took the notes an hour and a half after the interview. 62. If I get a letter from Messrs. Bayliss and Driscoll to show that what you say is not correct, will you believe it ? —I would not say that. 63. You say I refused your nomination at 10.30? —Yes. 64. Are you not aware, Mr. Phillips, that you had not a nomination with you when you saw me at 10.30? —You said you would refuse it. I tendered you my nomination at 11.15. 65. No. Where did you see me at 11.30 that day ?—All I remember is that I saw you at Mr. Fairbrother's store. 66. Did you not meet me at the corner going along to the Bank of New Zealand, when you said you had a cheque which you were going to get cashed?—lt was 11.15. The distance between Mr. Fairbrother's office and the Bank of New Zealand is just a diagonal across the road in place of a straight line, so that it is within a few yards of where I saw you. 67. Will you relate what took place at Mr. Fairbrother's? —I have given to the best of my recollection the circumstances that took place already in my evidence. 68. Did you ask Mr. Fairbrother to come to me and try to persuade me to extend the time ?— Yes, I said so in my evidence. I will repeat it. 69. You said to Mr. Fairbrother, "Do you think it will be any use tendering my nomination to him again ? " —I think it is almost the same. I saw Mr. Fairbrother, who said, " Mr. Armstrong is inside " ; and I said, "Do you think he will take my nomination-paper again ? " He said, " Well, you can go in and ask him." I believe, on Friday, the 27th, I went to see Mr. Fairbrother at his office at 11 o'clock. Mr. Armstrong: I went up the road and into Fairbrother's to get a copy of the Act, to explain the thing to Driscoll. Afterwards I went down to the office at the Court, and Mr. Phillips sent Fairbrother to know if he could persuade me to accept his nomination-paper. Mr. Phillips : Ido not remember sending Mr. Fairbrother to Mr. Armstrong. I will say what did occur. I believe Mr. Fairbrother and Mr. Atcheson begged Mr. Armstrong to take my nomina-tion-paper, and he would not do it. I spoke to Mr. Fairbrother, as my evidence shows, namely : "Do you think it would be any good my offering my nomination-paper again? " Mr. Fairbrother may have gone and seen Mr. Armstrong, but as true as I sit here I know nothing of Mr. Fairbrother going down to the Courthouse to see Mr. Armstrong. 70. Mr. Armstrong.] Did I go back with Mr. Fairbrother, and you made the statement that I had the power to extend your nomination ?—We three were together at the time. Mr. Armstrong : You said I had power to extend the time. I said, " Sit down, and point me out where I have power to extend the time, and I will do it." Mr. Phillips : Possibly there was something like that said, and I believe I looked through the Act, and I did not see any clause which would apply in the Act at that time. But I stated that " it was a general thing for race-meetings to extend the time of their nomination, and you can extend the time now." 71. Mr. Armstrong.] Did you say at your last meeting that Mr. Hornsby told you that I had canvassed for subscriptions for his election after I was appointed Eeturning Officer ? —I did not say anything of the kind. 72. In your travels through the district you said that I had been canvassing on behalf of Mr. Hornsby ?—Where did I say that ? 73. You said it through the district, did you not ?—I said at Carterton you were acting as agent for Mr. Hornsby. 74. In what way did I act as agent for Mr. Hornsby ?—That will be answered by one of the witnesses, if the Committee allows me to bring him. It was a witness who regarded Mr. Armstrong as Mr. Hornsby's agent. I have a letter, and I will produce it, but I have not the writer's permission to do so at the moment. If the Committee will allow me I will summon the witness. 75. Have you made statements through the district that I was canvassing for Mr. Hornsby ?— I only know at Martinborough they said you were canvassing for Mr. Hornsby. It was also said that Mr. Hornsby could not go about any portion of the place without your attending him. 76. Did you not make certain statements through the district about this matter ?—I did not. 77. Did you not receive a letter from Mr. Acheson ? The Chairman.] What Mr. Acheson ?—Mr. Acheson, my solicitor. I believe Mr. Armstrong threatened me with two or three Supreme Court .actions, and he has threatened other people, but has not brought any. 78. Mr. Armstrong.] Who are they ? 78a. The Chairman.] Did you write instructing your solicitor to take action against Mr. Phillips, Mr. Armstrong ? Have you any documents in connection with same ?—-No.