25

I. &A

Inspector Atchison.

26th Sept., 1878.

653. Have you missed any other papers and documents ?—I cannot say unless inquiries are made for them. 654. It is unfortunate, in this inquiry, that the only two documents we want from you are missing? —I think it is possible Farrell may have taken out the official report for some purpose or another. Perhaps he would tell you. I think it must have been Farrell who supplied Mr. Boardman with his report. 655. Tou heard Mr. Boardman's evidence just now. What conversation had you with Mr. Wallace on this affair ? —I do not remember holding any conversation. I was very anxious to discover the man Pestridge ; and when Mr. Simpson and Mr. AVallace came to me the morning after the fire, a warrant was at once issued, and I myself prosecuted. 656. Has any money been paid to you by the insurance companies as stated ?—Forty pounds was paid on account of Heggartv's case. 657. By whom ?—By Mr. Wallace. 658. How did that come to bo paid ? —I had been to a good deal of expense in going to the Wairarapa, and keeping witnesses in town. 659. Tour expenses, when incurred on the public service, are paid by the Government?—No; they were not. 660. AVhy not ?—I never sent any bill in. 661. AVhy not? —I did not know they would be paid. 662. Is it not the rule that any officer travelling on the public service gets his expenses?—l have not had any for years. 663. Tou have travelled frequently?—Tes. 664. And have you paid your own expenses ? —Tes. Up to the time Mr. Bunny came into office we never received any travelling expenses. 665. Is there not a rule that travelling expenses are to be paid by the Government ?—Tes; now there is. 666. Have you not drawn expenses ? —Tes ; when I went to AVanganui. 667. AVell, why did you not draw them in this case? —I was not aware I cbuld then. 668. How was this £40 disbursed ? —ln this way : O'Connor had £10, and Fraser had £5. 669. AVhat had he to do with the matter ?—He assisted me in getting hold of a man who was in Heggarty's employ. He was the man to whom Heggarty suggested that the place should be set on fire. 670. Well, that only accounts for £15 ? —On this man, of whom I have spoken (Gordon), I spent £8 or £10. The letter written to me said I was to uso discretion. 671. AVas the detective paid anything ?—No ; he did nothing. I found the man Heggarty was going away, and I went down to the wharf, as several steamers were about leaving AVellington. I saw Captain Underwood, of the " Arawata," and pointed out Heggarty to him, and told him what, I thought, he was going to do. I said, "Keep your eye on him ; and, if he should go aboard your vessel, just heave-to in the bay, and I will come off in a boat and take him off." I then went and consulted Mr. Bell, the Crown Prosecutor, and ho told me the best thing I could do was to arrest the man on a charge of perjury. lat once had him charged with perjury, in having sworn falsely against this man Gordon, who had in consequence been convicted, but who was subsequently released from gaol on a pardon. Heggarty was arrested, and brought up next day, and remanded to the Wairarapa. Farrell had nothing to do with the matter, beyond that he went with Smith to arrest him. 672. Then you say you gave £15 to O'Connor and Fraser, and the rest of the money went to pay expenses ?•—Tes. 673. Has money been paid to tho police in any other ease ?—Tes. I prosecuted a man named Macdonald, at AVangaehu, and the insurance office sent £15, of which the sergeant at the station got half. That was seven or eight years ago. Iv that case there was an inquest, and the Coroner's jury returned a verdict of " Accidental fire ;" but, as there were suspicious circumstances, I prosecuted the case, and got a conviction for incendiarism. I was days up there on that case. 674. Do I understand you, that hitherto you have got no expenses ? —No. Mr. Bunny is here ; he can prove it. 675. Is there any case you recollect in which you received money ?—-No. I have prosecuted a good many cases, but never got anything, or expected anything. 676. Do you know of any money having been paid to the policemen direct ? —I think there was a case at AVanganui. 677. Mr. Barton] Have you ever received money for other services to be paid to the police and not given it to them? —I always give them the money if any is sent to them. 678. Does it not occasionally happen, that persons whose premises have been left open at night (when it is discovered by the police, and care taken of the premises till morning) send sums of money to you to be given to the policeman or policemen so acting ?—Whatever is sent is given to the police. 679. Do you remember a policeman taking charge of the premises of Mr. E. AY. Mills?— No. Will you give me the date ? 680. I ask, do you recollect it ? —No. 681. Do you recollect Mr. E. AY. Mills giving you a sum of £5 ?—He did nothing of the sort. 682. Are you sure of that ? —Tes. 683. That a sum of £5 was not given or sent to you by Mr. E. AY. Mills, to bo given to a constablo who had taken care of his premises ? —No. 684. Nothing of the kind took place ?—No. 685. Do you remember an occasion on which Mr. R. J. Duncan's premises were left open ? —I do. 686. Do you remember a policeman taking charge till morning ? —Ves. 687. AVhat was the name of the constable who did that? —I do not know, but I can find out. 6SB. Did you get a sum of £3 from Mr. Duncan for the constable ?—No ; possibly Mr. Duncan may have said he would give it.