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88. The local option poll had been entirely finished on the 7th December? —The ballot might have been finished, but Mr. Fowlds had not been finished. (Si). What was Mr. Payne's position with regard to the majority : was he for the three-fifths majority or for the bare majority? —For the bare majority. !>(). Was not Mr. Fowlds also for the bare majority? —Yes. 91. What was the difference between the two? —In the trade we consider Mr. Fowlds a most dangerous man. 92. So you beat him with another bare-majority man? —And we arc very glad we did. 9.'i. You say you were quite sober when 3-011 told Mr. Payne that you could get £500 if you could handle him ? —Yes. Mr. Young: Not to " give it to him." 94. Mr. Bussell.] 1 want to get out what the witness had in his mind when he said "handle him "1 —I had nothing in my mind. The question has been asked by another man. 95. You tell us that you were sober when you used those words?— Yes. 96. You must have meant something when you said you could get £500 if you could handle him?—t treated is just as lightly as Mr. Payne did. 97. What would a man ordinarily understand by that? —I do not know what an ordinary man would understand by it. 98. Supposing anybody said that to you, what would you understand by it? —I would ask him to put the money up. 99. You would understand that a man making the statement would put the money up and take your instructions as to how he was to vote?— Yes. 100. In other words, you were to drive the team and he was to be the horse?— That is the construction you put on it. 101. Had you discussed this question of Mr. Payne's position with any other person? —No. 102. Had anybod} said anything to you as to his being doubtful? —Yes, some of the members of the committee. 103. And had it been suggested that some pressure should lie brought to bear upon him? —Yes, that I should bring some pressure. 104. What was the nature of the pressure you were to bring to bear?—l wrote him a letter so as to show that I had something to show as to whether he intended to keep his pledge. 105. Mr. Skerrett.~\ That letter was not subsequent to this interview? —There is a copy of the letter here. It was subsequent to our meeting in Auckland. 106. Mr. Russell.] When you rang him up and asked him to meet you between 2 and 4, was it in pursuance of the request that had been made that you should bring some pressure to bear upon him : were you carrying out the wish of the others? —No. 107. Then, how did they agree to bring pressure upon him —only by the letter?— Yes. 108. What answer did you get? —None. 109. Mr. Seed.] I think you said you were annoyed on account of your position as secretary to the general committee by people asking you whether Payne was going back on his pledge? —I was. 110. How was that—you said you bad every confidence that Payne would not?— Because in the short time I had become acquainted with Payne I felt sure he would. 111. Did those remarks annoy you then?— They did. 112. Was that previous to your meeting at the Thistle Hotel? —Yes. 113. Was your meeting at the Thistle Hotel quite apart from that?— Quite apart from the people annoying me. 114. What was the primary object of your meeting? —It was to ask Mr. Payne personally, so that I could go back to the people who bailed me up in the street and say that lie would keep his pledge. 115. Even though you had confidence in him, on account of the people annoying you by askingquestions you had arranged that meeting at the Thistle Hotel to get a direct answer as to whether he was going to keep his pledge or not? —Yes. 115. Even though you had confidence in him, on account of the people annoying you by asking you by people asking questions in the street —that was in your mind? Will you explain what you meant with that in your mind?—Up to that time Mr. Payne had not broken his pledge, and I thought he would keep his pledge, and that I would have the laugh at others. That is the reason why I made the joke. 117. You said that in your mind you were annoyed at the remarks made outside to you?— Yes. 118. That was in your mind when you brought about this meeting? —Partly. Ll9. You had this in your mind at the Time you met Mr. Payne and made the remark as to the ,£soo l— Yes. 120. Is there any connection between the two?— No. 121. None at all? —None at all. 122. What did you mean by that —first of all the handling of him, and the £500 —who was to get the £500?— I was. 123. Then you were to get £500 if you could handle him? —No. 124. As far as the licensing is concerned, or general politics, what did you mean by " handling "1 —It was just a jocular statement. 125. You said £500 would come to you if you could handle him: was that handling him in general politics or in licensing matters? —I could not explain that to you, because I had no idea of either purpose. 126. And as soon as you got his assurance that lie was not going to break his pledge you went up to the Auckland Club and saw Mr. Massey?—l did. 127. Mr. Vigor Brown.] May I ask a question. Had you any offer from me directly or on mv behalf?— None whatever.