REPORT OE THE PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE.

H—No. 7.

23

308. What I asked .you, Mr. Vogel, is, At the time you received that communication from Mr. Harrison, did you perceive that it could be made, if promulgated, to have a damaging effect in regard to Mr. Stafford's Government ?—My impression is that I did not think so. 309. Did you not advise Mr. Harrison to make this matter public, for the purpose of damaging a certain political party ?—Certainly not: nothing of the kind. All I did was to advise Mr. Harrison to place the matter directly in the Speaker's hands. 310. Did it not occur to you that it would bo a proper thing to ascertain the accuracy of Mr. Harrison's statement before promulgating it ?—lt never struck me that I was called upon to investigate the statement at all. It only struck me that I had no right to carry a secret of this kind about with me, and accordingly I advised Mr. Harrison to consult the Speaker. I wish to add that although I advised Mr. Harrison to be guided by the Speaker, and not by my advice, I did not conceal fromtiim that in my opinion, supposing his impression of the conversation with Mr. Holt was correct, it was not incumbent on him to consider it confidential. But I wished him to be guided by the Speaker's opinion and not mine.

Hon. Mr. Vogel. 12tl1 Oct., 1872.

Monday, 14th October, 1872. Mr. Holt, Private Secretary to Mr. Brogden, was in attendance, and, on being sworn, was examined as follows: 311. Mr. Travers.] You are at present and you have been for some time past private secretary to Mr. Brogden, of the firm of Messrs. Brogden and Sons?— Yes. 312. Do you remember Monday, the 30th of September last ? —I do. 313. Where was Mr. Brogden on that day? —He was at Picton. 314. He was absent then from Wellington ?—Yes. 315. You had, I believe, some interviews with Mr. Harrison on that day?— Yes. 316. Had you received any instructions from Mr. Brogden in reference to these interviews ? —None whatever. 317. Had you made Mr. Brogden aware of your intention of holding these interviews with Mr. Harrison ?—I had not. 318. You have been acquainted, have you not, with Mr. Harrison for some months past ? —I knew him slightly last year, but I have been better acquainted with him this year. 319. Then am I to understand that the interviews you held with Mr. Harrison were entirely the result of your own act ? —They were entirely my own act. 320. I observe that Mr. Harrison has stated the objects of these interviews. You have heard his statement. Was the nature and objects of these interviews as he has stated them ?—Yes, so far as the writing of articles and prospectuses is concerned. 321. Portions of these interviews took place in Mr. Brogden's office, did they not ?—Yes. 322. Was there any other person present when they took place ?—Yes, Mr. Tribe was there, at least part of the time. 323. Mr. Tribe, I believe, was there on business?— Yes. 324. Had you a conversation with Mr. Harrison, while Mr. Tribe was present, on political matters, apart from the actual business in which you were engaged ? —I think we had. I know I had a talk with Mr. Tribe regarding political matters generally, and it is very likely 1 had such a conversation with Mr. Harrison too, as they were both present at the time. 325. Had you any instructions from Mr Brogden in reference to the discussion of political matters with these gentlemen ?—Certainly not. 326. Or to make any proposals to them in reference to political matters ?—No. 327. What was your object in having this interview with Mr. Harrison ? —The object was mainly with the view of getting certain articles connected with the projects of the firm prepared for insertion in the Colonial press. 328. I believe it was the intention of the firm to employ some one in that capacity?— Yes, another person had been named. It was purely out of friendship to Mr. Harrison that I made the suggestion to him. He had been civil to me in getting an article inserted in the Illustrated London News, and I thought Mr. Harrison might as well have the work as any one else. 329. Have what, do you say ?—Have the writing of these articles. 330. What, then, was the actual purpose of the interview, so far as it went?—lt was merely to suggest the thing to him, and having started the matter with Mr. Harrison, it was then my intention to speak to Mr. Brogden, and then leave Mr. Brogden to decide the question for himself. 331. In the course of these conversations did you make any proposition whatsoever involvin" Mr. Harrison's political character as a Member of the House ? —No, decidedly not. It was understood from the very first that his vote and action as a Member of the House were to be entirely unfettered. These were the very words that were used. 332. Did he, in the course of these conversations, say anything respecting his position as a Member of the House ?—He did. He said something of this kind, at all events this is the substance of it: If I was not a Member of the House I would go into the thing at once. I replied I did not think that made any difference either one way or the other. He then said, Leave the thing over until after the Session. 333. Did Mr. Harrison at any time intimate to you that you had made a proposition during the interview derogatory to his character and position as a Member of the House ?—No, certainly not. 334. Did he make any intimation of that kind at any time?— None whatever. 335. Did you dine with Mr. Harrison after that interview ? —I did. 336. How long did you remain in his company after dinner ? —I remained in his company until I left to go home and dress for Government House. I think it was about half-past eight o'clock. 337. Did anything occur which led you to believe that Mr. Harrison looked upon or believed that the propositions you had made to him were improper ?—No, nothing at all. I never was more surprised in all my life than when I heard that that was the view he had taken of the matter.

Mr. Holt.

14th Oct., 1872.