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334. What is the distance between these plaoea ?—I do not know. 335. la it under twenty milee?—Yes. 836. Possibly under ten miles?—iieaily and truly, I forget the distance. 337. What is the distance between Opotiki and Tauraaga?—l suppose about; eighty mile? 338. This piece from Opotiki to Ohiwa was a short distance comparatively?-—Yee. 339. Do you remember Trooper McDonald riding from Opotiki?—No 340. Do you remember Cornet Wrigg riding with despatches ?—I thought so in July Sasi year. 341. What do you think now'? You did not see him go ?—No. 342. Do you know if any escort went with Trooper McDonald?—That is one of the things that has been brought to nay recollection since. It has been brought to my recollection since that letter was written to Mr. Wrigg that there was no danger—when troopers were sent with despatches a body of men was sent out. 343. Do you think your recollection is better this yei*r than it was last year as to the events of 1867 ?—Well, you see my recollection has bean rubbed up in opposition, as it were, to what I bad previously written. 344. If you were asked to-day to give & certificate as to Mr. Wrigg : s conduct in June, 18S7, would you give such a certificate as you Tnrote last year?— No. 345. You mean that you would not write such a certificate as you did twelve months or more ago ?—No, not in the terms I did. 346. How would you write it now, or would you give any certificate ?—lf it were to happen over again, in all probability I should refuse to do it at all. 347. Did you know a Captain Simpson in Opotiki in 1867?— Yes; I knew Captain Leonard Simpson. 348. Late Captain, Second Waikato Begiment?—l knew him; he was a surveyor. 849. In Opotiki in 1867 ?—Yes. 350. Did he, in the month of June of that- year, hold any military rank ?—No, I do not think he did. 351. Then he would not have been on duty in any of the occurrences at that time ?—No. 352. He is living at Maketu ?—I do not know. 353. Did you know a Captain W. H. Pereival ?—Y«b. 354 Was he in the Opotiki district in 1867 ?—Whether he was actually in Opotiki in June, 1867, I really do not know. He was a paymaster of the troops. He came periodically to pay us. 355. Your memory is not very good,' I suppose, as to events of thirty years ago ?—I do not exactly remember. 356. Captain Percival afterwards went to Auckland ?—Yes, I think so. 357. Did he go afterwards to Melbourne ?—I do not know. 358. You cannot recollect whether he was in Opotiki in June, 1867, or not ?—I cannot. 359. Did you know Mr. George H. Leaning in Opotiki?—No. 360. Resuming the correspondence, we got to the day that you sent the certificate ?—Yes. 361. Did you gai a letter from Mr. Wrigg acknowledging the certificate ?—Yee, I have a letter of the 4th [Letter, dated the 4th August, put in—Exhibit No. 14.] 362. It acknowledges receipt of the certificate, does it not—namely, " I tender you my sinoereet thanks for the certificate," &c. ?—Yes. 363. That was the letter acknowledging the receipt of the certificate ?—Yes. 364. Did you afterwards receive a letter from Mr. Wrigg, dated the 14th August ?—I have on* 1 dated the 21st. 365. Let us see that one ?—Here it is. 366. Perhaps Sir Arthur Douglas hae t.ha letter of the 14th August from Mr. Wrigg to Capfcva Bower ? Sir Arthur Douglas : Here it is. [Letter, dated the 11th August, put in—Exhibit No. 15.] 367. Mr. Hutchison.] Did you get that letter, Captaiis Bower, dated the 14th August?— Yes, it is familiar to me. . . , , 368. Do you remember, Captain Bower, receiving thai; or one so that purport ?—My impression is that I received that letter from Mr. Wrigg, and that it was attached to the papers I sent to the Hon. the Defence Minister. 369. Have you one, dated the 21st August, with reference to the Cross ? —Yes. [Letter, dated 21st August, put in—Exhibit No. 16] S7O. You will notice. Captain dower, these two letters—the one just handed in and the one dated the week before—both to the same effect ?-—Yes; but I fancy tho first was official, with the intention that I should attach it to the documents that went in. 371. The letter of the 14th August probably came along with that of the 21st ?—I do not know, 372. Did you, in furtherance of the request contained in that last letter, send in an. application to the Defence Minister ?—I did. 373. Is it dated the 26th August, 1897. [Letter, dated the 26th August, put in—Exhibit No 16a.] ?—Yes, I recognise that. 374. Was this application written out by you from a pencil draft sent to you by Mr. Wrigg ?— 375. And you copied out the draft and signed the application ?—Yes. 376! You sent in*the application. Did you get a reply to the application that the Cross would not be bestowed on Mr. Wrigg—an official reply ?-—Never. I sent that in, and, excepting what I have heard from Mr. Wrigg, I have not had the slightest reply. 377. Have you a letter of the 31st August from Mr. Wngg to yourself ?—Yes. [Letter of the 31st August put in—Exhibit tfo. 17.]

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