3

I.—2b

89. What date was that ?—About two months after the ride. 90. Before you left did the troop come to any resolution with respect to yourself?— No. 91. Did they not pass a resolution asking the Governor to cancel your commission?— Decidedly not. 92. I want you to look at this minute-book. [Minute-book produced.] Look at that entry there. Are you aware of this resolution having been passed by the troop ?—No. 93. At this time you were in Southland—the 10th August, 1867 ?—Yee, I was in Southland then, as far as I know. I certainly was not in Opoiiki then. 94. Did you resign your commission ?—Well, I did after Captain Gwynnetli asked me to resign. I was in the Imperial Service at Home, and brought up for the Imperial Service. I was a martinet as far as the duties of my corps were concerned, and these men, for vindictiveness, I presume, brought this resolution forward. I never heard of the resolution until it was brought up in the petition before Parliament. 95. Can you give us any approximate date of your leaving Opotiki?—lt was before that resolution was brought forward. 96. You went to Southland, then, a short time after tho ride ?—Two months, I think it was. 97. Did you remain there long ?—Yes. I remained there, I suppose, about eighteen months. 98. Was it in private or public service?—lt was in public service. I was transferred there. I was computer in the Survey Department. 99. After leaving Southland where did you go?—I was transferred to Auckland. 100. To the City of Auckland ?—I was Chief Draughtsman in the Provincial Government. I was transferred to the Thames. 101. Did you continue there a long time ?—Yes; for two years. 102. Where did you go then ?—I was then transferred, to Wellington. I asked to be transferred. 103. Did you remain in Wellington until you retired ?—1 remained about eighteen years. 104. Then you retired on a pension ?—Yes. 105. On the ground of ill-health ?—Yes. 106. So your service, then, from the time you went to Southland until you retired, was continuous ?—Yes. 107. When did Captain Gwynneth die, do you remember?—l cannot tell. 108. Did you see him after you left Opotiki?—l saw him two months before he died. 109. What year was that?—l suppose, about 1885 or 1886. 110. That would be in Auckland ?—ln Cambridge. I would not be certain of the date. 111. Had you seen him in the interval ?—No ; but I would not like to say definitely. 112. How did he come to put that indorsement on the back of the document [Exhibit No. 3]? —I wrote to him to ask if he would put an indorsement. I had the- original document in order to have a record. I thought I would write and ask him to give me an indorsement of that, and he did it. 113. You sent the document to him by post, and got it back ?—Yes. 114. Do you know in whose handwriting the indorsement of this document is ?—lt is Captain Gwynneth's, and the signature is his. 115. Did you suggest what was to be put in the body of the document ?—Decidedly not. 116. When you got the document back you put it away among your papers ?—I did. 117. How did the idea of applying for the Cross arise in your mind ?—Through an article in the Wanganui Chronicle. 118. You saw a paragraph, I suppose?—lt was a suggestion by Colonel McDonnell, I think. 119. As to celebrating the Jubilee year by conferring the Cross upon veterans ?—Yes, I believe that was it. 130. Did you put yourself in communication with any one on the subject?— Yes. 121. Who—Captain Bower?— Yes. 122. He was at Napier ?—Yes. 123. Why is he called " Captain " Bower ?—Once a man is captain he is always captain. 124. He had been at Opotiki in 1867 ?—Yes. 125. Was he in Opotiki on the date when the news of Bennett White's murder came in ?— Yes. 126. Was he also there when you went to Tauranga ?—Decidedly so. 127. Did you see him at Opotiki about that time ?—Yes. 128. What did you write to him about—asking him to support an application for the Cross ? — I did write to Captain Bower. 129. Did you get a reply ?—Yes. 130. Will you kindly produce it ?—Yes. [Reply, dated 10th July, 1897, put in—Exhibit No. 4.] 131. Did you send him a letter afterwards?— Yes, I think two or three. 132. Doyou remember particularly a letter in reply to that letter in which you asked him to send a certificate?—l could not remember that. I cannot say. 133. Do you remember any letter before he gave the certificate—seeking to refresh his memory ?■—l do not know. Mr. Hutchison : Mr. Chairman, will you allow Captain Bower to be called in?— Yes. Captain Bo web called. 134. Mr. Hutchison.] Mr. WrSgg has handed in a letter of yours, Captain Bower: do you recognise it ?—Yes. 136. Did you get a reply from him ?—To this particular letter, Yes.