37

I.—2b

9. With regard to the safety or otherwise of that road soon after the murder of Bermetfc White and the maihnau ?—I always considered there was a certain amount of risk in travelling that road. 10. What was the most dangerous part ?—From Opotiki to Ohiwa. 11. Being in the district you would hear what was going on, I suppose? —Yes. 12. Did you hear at about that time or not of any conspicuous act of bravery associated with the name of Mr. Harry Wrigg? —I do not recollect any. 13. Would you have forgotten it if the matter had been talked of at that time, an act so conspicuous as to deserve an order such as the New Zealand Cross?—l think I ought to have recollected it, but cannot say I recollect it. 14. You were asked to produce some specimens of the handwriting of Captain Gwynneth, whom I suppose you know ?—Yes ; I have a letter here. 15. Is that Captain Gwynneth's handwriting ?—Yes. 16. Is that a private letter ?—No; it is an official letter. 17. Were you associated here, in Wellington, in the Government service with Mr. Wrigg afterwards ?—Not here; I was District Engineer in the Public Works Department, but was not in Wellington. 18. Mr. Wilford.] You say, " I think I ought to recollect such an act if it occurred ":is it not possible you may have forgotten it ?—lt is possible. 19. Do you know the part described on the route near Ohiwa called the " Bluff" ?—There was a bluff very near Ohiwa, and there was one at Whakatane. 20. The bluff at Ohiwa, do you know that ?—Yes. 21. On the ordinary route to Tauranga one had to pass that bluff?— Yes. 22. If Natives were posted on the top there would be no protection for any one passing?— No. I think that was where Bennett White was shot. 23. There would be no chance whatever of protecting yourself from the firing from off the bluff?—No; you would be exposed. 24. What distance could you get away from the top of the bluff inland ?—You might get inland for some miles. 25. The ordinary track, what was the width of it, that they travelled round to the bluff?— They travelled on the sea-beach. 26. What would be the width of the sea-beach—loo yards ?—Provided the tide was low. 27. If it was high tide, would there be 10 yards ?—More than that. 28. Twenty yards ?—I think there would be a chain and a half or 2 chains. 29. Do you agree, Captain, that it was at times a very dangerous road?— Yes, at times. 30. Will you agree, Captain Turner, that at times this was a very dangerous road between Opotiki and Ohiwa? —It has been proved it was so, as Bennett White and the mailman, Popata, were killed. 31. You have some knowledge, I suppose, of regimental orders and camp-duties?— Yes. 32. Would you think it an extraordinary circumstance for an officer commanding a troop of cavalry, such as the Bay of Plenty Cavalry—would you think it extraordinary for a captain to issue an order to his troop ?—No, there is nothing extraordinary in it. 33. Then, an order from a captain of a troop of regular cavalry would be sufficient authority for the party to whom it was directed to carry despatches?—l think it would be usual to go through the adjutant, though it might be done another way. 34. Do you know Captain Gwynneth ? —Yes. 35. Do you think he understands regimental service ?—I hardly think so. 36. You would be more unlikely to expect an irregularity from him than an ordinary soldier ? —Oh, yes. 37. Mr. Hutchison.] Supposing the captain of a troop issued an order directing two men to proceed outside the district, would that be regular?—No ; he would lay.himself open to a vote of censure. 38. This bluff at Ohiwa, do you know it ?—Oh, yes. 39. You do not know that it was there that Bennett White was killed ?—From what I can recollect, it was there. 40. Between Waiotahi and Ohiwa would not be all bluff, would it ?—No, not all the way. 41. It was put to you that he was killed at this place, at Ohiwa, but you cannot say so?—I cannot say positively. 42. This bluff comes out on to the beach ?—Yes. 43. Is not the country on the top, and away for some miles back, open ?—There was a track over the top of a hill. 44. Was it open or bush country ?—lt was open for some distance. 45. And a track over it, by which, I suppose, if the tide was in, travellers would go over it? —Yes, some have gone over it. 46. Mr. Monk.] You have just said, Captain Turner, that it was possible you would have known about this act of bravery that has been under consideration. Do you think it probable it would have occurred without your knowing?—l should have known of it, because I was doing military duty at the time as well as civil duty. 47. Mr. Field.] What duty were you on at this time?—At the time that the mailman was killed I was then doing survey-work at Maketu. 48. Did the survey-work take you out of the camp—out of the settlement ?—At that time I was working very near Maketu, principally behind it. 49. In a friendly district?— Yes, the Arawa district. 50. You said that from the bluff to where the track passed it was from a chain to a chain and a half?— Yes.