H.—No. 7,

24

REPORT OE THE PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE.

Mr. Holt.

338. Was the interview sought by you ? —lt was. 339. In your letter to the Speaker you state that Mr. Harrison came to you ?—That referred to • my meeting with him. I had gone to the Government Buildings to see Mr. Haughton on the same business as I had seen Mr. Tribe. I then saw Mr. Harrison in the House, or else coming out of the House. I said, I have been looking for you. He replied, lam going down your way to see a flax machine. He then went down part of the way with me, and turned off at Mills' foundry. I then went on to the office. Before we parted he asked when he could see me that afternoon. I said, Mr. Tribe is coming at two o'clock, and you had better come at half-past four o'clock. 340. Had you had any previous conversation with Mr. Harrison on the subject of these proposals? —No, none whatever before that day. 341. What did the proposals chiefly relate to ?—I wanted him to let the public know the character of the proposals Mr. Brogden had made to the Government; and Mr. Harrison having already advocated these proposals, I thought, more particularly from his local knowledge of the West Coast, that he would be enabled to render valuable assistance in furtherance of these matters. His acquaintance also with the editors of the press would, I thought, enable him to get these articles inserted. That was mainly the reason that induced me to speak to him 342. Was anything said about secrecy ?—Absolutely not one word. At a subsequent part of the conversation, when tho political position of parties came to be talked of, then Mr. Harrison made certain statements to me under a promise of secrecy. The secrecy, however, referred to the political position of parties, but not one word of secrecy was mentioned with regard to these proposals. 343. The promise of secrecy, then, did not refer to the proposals made to Mr. Harrison?—Not at all. There was no secrecy to bo maintained regarding the writing for the press. The secrecy referred to other matters altogether. 344. Had you made any proposals to Mr. Harrison requiring secrecy ?—None whatever. The proposals which were made seemed to me perfectly legitimate. I understood that they were to stand over to the end of the Session. 345. Mr. Harrison has stated that you asked him to use his influence to prevent a hostile vote being brought down against the Stafford Government ?—I may have said so. I spoke in that way to Mr. Tribe and many others, but that was entirely a thing of my own doing; I was not prompted to it by any one else. 346. You were under no instructions in the matter ?—None whatever. 847 V Mr. Harrison has stated that throughout the conversation you made use of the word "we." —Very likely. It is a very common thing for every one in the office to use the word " we," and it is very possible I did make use of the word. 348. In the course of your conversation with Mr. Harrison did you state to him that you had been authorized by any one to make these proposals, or did you say anything to lead him to believe that such was the case ?—Nothing whatever. I distinctly remember that I avoided such an inference, simply because I had no authority for making it. 349. You state most distinctly that you did not make any proposals to Mr. Harrison which could be considered improper proposals ? —Certainly I do. 350. Mr. Harrison.] Will you state whether or not you made use of the words " That it is because you are a Member of the House that your services will be the more useful ?—No, I did not. 351. With regard to the pledge of secrecy, you have stated that it did not relate to the business part of the conversation, but that it was made with regard to the political part?— Yes. 352. Did you not exact any pledge of secrecy from me ? —No. You volunteered a pledge of secrecy to me. 353. The Attorney-General.] Have you never had any other conversations with Mr. Harrison with reference to the writing up of these schemes excepting upon that occasion ? —None, excepting on that day. The conversation extended over three portions of the day. First, when I saw Mr. Harrison on the Beach, the second time at the office, and the third time after dinner. Upon no other occasion excepting that day was the proposal mentioned by me to Mr. Harrison. 354. You had not at any other time asked Mr. Harrison to write for Messrs. Brogden on behalf of their schemes?—No, unless it was during the early part of the Session when I asked him to put in the original proposals laid before the House. But that was only a reprint article, with his comments on them. 355. Previous to Mr. Brogden leaving for Picton had you any conversation with him regarding the employment of Mr. Harrison ?—We had some general conversation about the employment of Mr. Harrison, as well as about the employment of other persons, in this particular capacity. 356. Then before Mr. Brogden went to Picton you had some conversation with him with reference to the employment of Mr. Harrison as well as other persons. When did that conversation take place ? —I think it was a week or so before he left for Picton. The subject was mentioned in a general way, and I mentioned Mr. Harrison's name to Mr. Brogden. 357. Had not some steps been taken previously with the view of having the gold fields water schemes worked ? —Yes. 358. Had not a meeting of promoters taken place ? —I think so. I was not, however, present at any meeting. 359. Were you not exceedingly urgent to see Mr. Harrison that morning ? —No, I was not. I live in the same street with him, just across the road, and I thought I would walk down with him. When I found he was not out of bed, I walked down to near the building lately occupied by Dr. Featherston, and afterwards went back to Mr. Harrison's house. It was rather an idle day with me. Both Mr. Brogden and Mr. Henderson were away, and I thought it would be a good opportunity for having the conversation with Mr. Harrison. 360. Had you business to transact at Dr. Featherston's ?—No ; I went down, I think, to see my washerwoman. 301. Mr. Tribe has said in his evidence that, you said "You can prevent Mr. Vogel bringing on a

14th Oct., 1872,