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temporarily employed at Spring Grove Station in connection with delay re correspondence. The reason Constable Kelly was more on foot duty after the report was owing to the troop-horse being turned out to grass. During the time the horse was turned out it was staked in the shoulder. It was stabled for a few days after the injury, and then turned out permanently into a paddock. Constable Kelly was then utilised for street duty in the ordinary way when I had other men employed compiling the jury-list and similar duty. I deny that any member of the Force at this station has been punished by me in any manner through having reported anything to his superiors. Gross-examined by Constable Bird.] The key of the office is, with the exception of perhaps once or twice in three months, when I may have something of importance in the office, hung in the passage. It is not a fact that when Constable Williams is on night duty or early morning duty the key is not hung in the passage. Ido not remember that on three nights when Constable Williams and you were on night duty that the key was not in its usual place. It, however, may have happened. It has not happened for a whole fortnight when Constable Williams has been on night duty. While Constable Kelly's horse was turned out I used to order him to parade at 9 a.m. daily, and if he had no factory duty to perform would send him to work the outskirts of the town, either north or south, as I might think fit. I have no recollection of speaking to you on the subject of Constable Kelly's duties at any time. I never told you that my object in turning out the horse was to show that a mounted man was not required at Nelson. Cross-examined by Inspector Macdonell.] The horse was turned out by direction of Inspector Ellison because mounted work was slack. I represented to Inspector Ellison that the work was slack. I do not remember that I recommended the horse should have a spell. As near as I remember, the question of the horse being turned out arose out of the forage return, which showed that the horse had been drawing full rations. The mounted duty was not as slack when Constable Aldridge went away, or shortly before he left, as it was when Constable Kelly was here. E. Mackay, Sergeant. Frederick Henry Durbridge, constable, stationed at Nelson :— Examined by Sergeant Mackay.] I have been stationed at Nelson since the 26th August, 1900, and prior to that I was stationed in Wellington. At no time since I have been stationed at Nelson have I ever been refused access to the statutes. I have no knowledge that any other member of the Force has been so refused. When on the early morning duty it has been my duty to sweep out the sergeant's office. I have alw T ays found the key hanging up in the passage behind the front door. lam a single man, residing on the station, and frequently, in the absence of the sergeant, I have had to answer the telephone when about the station. I have always found the key on these occasions in the usual place behind the front door. Gross-examined by Constable Bird.] I have occasionally failed to find the key behind the door when the sergeant may have been called away to his house suddenly for a few minutes. I have been on night duty with Constable Williams, and on those occasions I have always found the key in its usual place. Cross-examined by Inspector Macdonell.] I am charged with an offence in connection with bringing two females to the police-station, and I understand the sergeant is charged with failing to report me for so doing. F. H. Durbridge. Constable Thomas Simpson Charles Kemp, stationed at Nelson, says:— Examined by Sergeant Mackay.] I have been at my present station since June, 1900. I have never been refused access to the official statutes since 1 have been on this station, and I have no knowledge of any other constable being so refused. If I want to get into the office during your absence I take the key from its usual place in the passage, and admit myself. I have always been able to obtain the key when I have wished to get into the office. When on the station and the sergeant -is absent I frequently have to enter the office to answer the telephone. [Not cross-examined.] Thomas S. C. Kemp, Constable. Constable Patrick McGrath,. stationed at Nelson, says : — Examined by Sergeant Mackay.] I have been stationed in Nelson about eight years. I have occasionally required the statutes when Sergeant Mackay has been absent. The key of the office is placed on a nail in the passage when the sergeant is absent, to enable the men to get anything from the office they might require. I have never been refused access to the statutes. Ido not know if any of the other men have ever been refused access to them. You have never refused me access to the statutes. I have had no difficulty in getting them if I required them. When I have been on the early morning relief I have always found the key of the office in its usual place in the passage. When on night duty I have always been able to get the key if I required it. Cross-examined by Constable Bird.] I have never asked Sergeant Mackay to let me see the statutes. They have always been in their place for me to see if I wanted to see them. I have always found the key in its place when I required it. Cross-examined by Inspector Macdonell.] I have read the statutes from time to time, but I cannot state or specify any particular occasion. It may be six months ago since I last perused them. The sergeant has at no time done anything or said anything which led me to believe he was opposed to me seeing the statutes. I have never seen any of the men take the statutes out of the office to read. I have no recollection of the sergeant having, on receipt of the new statutes for the year, drawn our attention to any amendment of the law, or encouraged me to read the statutes. Be-cross-exammed by Sergeant Mackay.] There is a volume of statutes specially compiled for information of the police in the men's room at the station. 1 have never been refused permission to see this. The volume in question is the property of one of the single men, but I have always seen it lying on the table in the single men's room. I go into this room sometimes, but it is not a room generally used by the married men ; but there is no objection to the married men going into the room when they desire to do so. P. McGrath, Constable.

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