I.—lα.

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Tμ. M. MTOALLUM.

get five years for all that had been published. The general impression was there was something else, but when the official minutes had been published in the papers the feeling abated somewhat; but later on, more particularly after Mr. Gaudin's release, the feeling became very bitter again, and more particularly since the war got so bad. 13. On his release you know an effort was made to induce the Government to admit that he had not been guilty of war treason?— Yes; I have seen that correspondence. 14. And you know that the Minister of Defence said he did not see his way to make any such admission?— Yes. 15. Do you know that since his release, and in the absence of any declaration of his innocence of war treason, that he has been regarded as unfit to be a member of clubs? —Yes. Not only that, I know myself I have suffered for eight or nine months through championing his cause, and in various clubs and places I belong to I have received the "cold eye" from a great many people who used to receive me well; and, in addition, others who have taken up Mr. Gaudin's case have been looked at askance. The feeling is bitter against. Mr. Gaudin still. 16. On the assumption that he was guilt} 7 of being a traitor?— Yes. There are any number of people in Auckland to-day who say the man is a traitor and should be shot. 17. The inference being made from the severity of the sentence of five years?— Yes. 18. You had some correspondence with Colonel Logan in which he characterized, the taking of the gold as theft?— Yes. 19. Have you got copies of the letters there?— Yes. I might say that Sam Kronfeld told me that Colonel Logan had complained that I had not put the Gaudin case fairly before the Auckland public. I wrote to Colonel Logan asking him in what way, and also told him that we were willing to admit everything we had done, and it was in reply to that letter that Colonel Logan wrote this one. My letter to Colonel Logan is as follows : — " Victoria.Avenue, Remuera, 27th April. " Colonel R. Logan, H.M. Administrator, Samoa. " Dear Sir,— " I was surprised to learn from Mr. Sam Kronfeld to-day that you had stated to him that ' Mr. McCallum had not put the Gaudin case before the public of New Zealand in a fair way.' The report of the case supplied to. the Press by me was as fair and accurate as it was possible for a longhand report to be, and it will readily be admitted by those who heard the whole of the Court proceedings and the evidence submitted (including Major Head and Captain Neill, to whom I referred the Herald and Star for its confirmation) that the report was a fair and unbiassed one. After considerable clamour by the Press all over New Zealand for an official report, the Hon. Mr. Allen supplied a copy of the minutes of the famous trial for publication, and the universal verdict of the .Press and the public was that the original report as published in the Auckland Star was a fair and unbiassed one. As Gaudin and I are both most anxious that every detail of the case should have the utmost publicity, I would be glad if you would let me know in what direction I have placed the case before the public unfairly. As you are aware, Gaudin need not have proceeded to Samoa for trial at all, but after telling the whole story to the officers here and to Mr. J. C. Martin, solicitor, he (Gaudin) decided that it would be better to go to Apia and answer any charges that could possibly be preferred against him, the general opinion of those who knew the whole facts of the case being that Gaudin's explanation of how lie came to be in possession of uncensored correspondence, and his absolute innocence of any treasonable intent, would be promptly accepted by any properly constituted Court-martial, but that he would be fined for any breach of your Military Regulations regarding the removal of gold. " Gaudin has been quite ruined both financially and socially through being branded as a traitor by the extraordinary finding and sentence of your Military Court, and his wife and children are now destitute and dependent on their relatives for support, His friends are therefore most anxious that the whole truth of the case should be made known, so that when Gaudin is released it will be possible for him to earn a living for his wife and four little girls. " If there is anything about the case on which you desire further information we will gladly and freely supply it; nothing whatever will be concealed or withheld, and nothing that Gaudin has done will be denied, gold-removal included. On the other hand, if there are any facts that you think T may be ignorant, of do please inform me of them, as I believe Gaudin to be absolutely innocent of treason, but guilty of removing gold from Apia in direct defiance of your special war regulations in common with a number of others who had been doing the same thing. " When we were in Samoa in December a number of false reports regarding Gaudin's actions had been current and uncontradicted for a month, which seriously prejudiced him in the minds of the community in Apia, and it is hard to say what further tales you have been told. Whatever you have heard, do please in the name of British justice specify it, so that Gaudin may admit or refute it. Tt is terrible to think that under the British flag a man can be crucified and branded us a traitor on vague rumours, or for the breach of a military regulation. " Awaiting the favour of a reply, I remain, etc., " Moncrieff M. McCallum. " Gaudin's services have been dispensed with by G. Kronfeld (Limited)." And the following, is the reply T received.from Colonel Logan :—• "To M. M. McCallum, Esq.. Victoria Avenue, Remuera, "Apia, Bth June " Sir — "With reference to your letter of the 27th April, I have the honour to inform you that your representations have been placed on record. It is my opinion that at the first public meeting when the theft of gold was brought up you went into committee to discuss the matter with the intention of concealing the theft, T can say nothing further on the matter. " Robert Logan, Colonel, " Administrator of Samoa."