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mistake—and all men are liable to make mistakes—and there was consequently so much feeling at the time that it might account to some extent for charges being made against responsible officers. 290. Captain Jones's matter came back to your mind on the second interview with Mr. Hutcheson. Did you ask Mr. Glasgow what had been done with regard to Captain Jones ?—I did not. 291. Nor any one else ? —No. As I say, Mr. Hutcheson's speech was not in respect to the service certificate, it was with respect to an examination, and one man's hand holding another man's hand, and that would put me off Captain Jones, because his case had reference to a service certificate. 292. Why not ?—Because I had no conception about him going up for examination. If I knew about it I would have said so. What was there for me to conceal ? I had nothing to conceal. 293. You referred yesterday to a communication you made to the Press?— Yes. 294. I suppose you saw that communication in writing the day after it was printed?— Probably I had seen it. 295. You had seen it commented on in the newspapers ?—Yes. 296. And up to yesterday, I understand, you had not made any correction in it ?—Yes, I had. 297. Where ?—Several times when I have spoken about it. 298. Throughout the country ?—Yes. 299. Can you refer me to any speech ? Have you any report of any speech ?—I have a report of all my speeches. You asked me whether I noticed anything wrong in it ? 300. Yes?—l did. 301. When?— After my return to Wellington. That report was perfectly correct with the exception of the words "that I did not know Captain Jones." I say that that was misreported. It was impossible for me to have said so. What I did say, and what I repeat, is, that I did not know anything about Captain Jones's examination. But if I had to correct newspaper reports I should be kept very busy, and as a rule I do not do it. 302. This is quite different. You yourself communicated to the Press Association this information, and they sent it all over the colony. Would it not have been as easy to correct the error as to give the communication ?—To tell you the truth, I do not see much in it now, and I did not think much of it then. It is on a par with, a great many other things sent out by the Press Association. It would be a sorry thing for any man in this country to be judged by what appears in the Press. 303. You do make that correction now?—l do not make any correction. I simply say that the portion of the paragraph which says I did not know Captain Jones—a man I have known for over twenty years—is wrong, and the whole thing is apparent on the face of it; but what Ido say is that I did not know about his examination, and I want to emphasise that. 304. There are two paragraphs in this statement: " I neither spoke to the Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones about Captain Jones's examination, nor did I write to him. I went away to England in April, and the examination took place in July " ?—Yes. 305. In view of your having telegraphed to him, do you think that is a fair statement? —Most decidedly, and I would do it again. I had not communicated with him, or spoken or written to him, in respect of Captain Jones's examination. The irregularity and all the trouble is in respect of the examination. 306. Do you think that statement did not convey something quite different to the mere bare words you used ?—Certainly not; it is only men with twisted minds who would think so. What is in the writing speaks for itself. You take it to any sensible man, other than a lawyer, and he will tell you its meaning. 307. It goes on, " The first I knew of Captain Jones or his examination "?—That is wrong. It ought to have been, " The first I knew of Captain Jones's examination." 308. Do you say you did not make that statement to the Press Association? —Leave the words "or his" out, and say "The first I knew of Captain Jones's examination was after Mr. Hutcheson's speech." If you will fairly construe the first part of it the thing is all right. 309. I understood you to say yesterday that you had not" read Captain Airman's second report ?—I said I had not seen the original of Captain Allman's report until yesterday. 310. When did you see the original of Captain Jones's declaration ?—Shortly after it was made. I did not see the original then, but I saw a copy. 311. Did you also get a copy of Captain Allman's statement then?— No. 312. Can you explain why that was ?—I could not tell you about it. All I know is that I did not get it, and did not see it. If any one had asked me the other day in the House about the second statement, I should have said it was the one attached to the statement addressed to myself. 313. In reference to the interpretation which you put upon your own statement, I want to draw your attention to a telegram you are alleged to have received from Mr. Hall-Jones: " You were not in the country at the time, and we at no time had any conversation about Captain Jones, his certificate, or anything concerning him, until some time after Mr. Hutcheson's speech." Now you see there the same words are used about Captain Jones, " his certificate, or anything concerning him " ?—That is quite true. 314. Do you tell me that before you went Home, and while Mr. Hall-Jones was acting as Minister of Marine, and while you were having to do with these deputations, you had never spoken to Mr. Hall-Jones on the subject ?—That is so. 315. You swear that positively ?—I do. 316. Although you were interfering ?—I was not interfering.