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46. You say you have had differences of opinion with Mr. Maunsell ?—Yes, in matters of detail; but he has never to my knowledge given an instruction contrary to my wish. 47. But differences of opinion are likely to arise ? —Yes. 48. Then what power has he to interfere with you in carrying out your duties ? —He has no power; he could only give his opinion. 49. What right has he to express his opinion ? —I do not know what right he has. 50. Is it necessary that you should agree with him in everything? —No. 51. You say he does the clerical work of your department? —Yes. 52. And he does so without being responsible to you ? —Yes. 53. Does he give you any instructions ? —No. 54. And you do not give him any ? —No ; but if I ask him to do anything he generally does it. Mr. Maunsell has charge of all the records of the office, and has had during the last two or three years. 55. Are you responsible for the safe keeping of the records ?—No ; I do not think I am. They belong to the Colonial Secretary's office. 56. Is there any person in your office who receives his instructions from you ?—Yes ; there are two clerks in the office, one of them being a permanent hand. I always give my instructions to those clerks. 57. Does Mr. Maunsell also give instructions to them ? —I think he does. 58. What would happen supposing that both Mr. Maunsell and yourself gave different instructions to the clerk?—l think my instructions would be carried out without any reference to Mr. Maunsell at all. 59. But suppose that both of you gave instructions to the clerk, which of you would he obey ?—■ I cannot say. A case of that kind has never yet occurred. 60. Who are the clerks to obey, in accordance with the instructions of the Colonial Secretary ?— Ido not think they have received any distinct instructions. They are in the office and they obey me. 61. But Mr. Maunsell does the inside work, and therefore the clerk must obey his orders ? —Yes; but no clash has yet occurred in the department in consequence of there being two heads : that is to say, Mr. Maunsell and myself. 62. Do you know anything of this case of Mr. Telford's ?—Very little. He was removed some time before I received my appointment. I have no personal knowledge of the case. 63. Mr. Sutton.~\ Does not Mr. Maunsell assume to be virtually the head of the Stock Branch of the department ? —I cannot say distinctly that he assumes to be the head of the Stock Branch of the Colonial Secretary's Office, but he has not the position to exercise the power of the head of the department. 64. Do you know whether he receives any portion of his salary from the Sheep Department?— Yes ; I think he gets £200 a year, or thereabouts, for the clerical work in connection with the Stock Branch of the office. 65. I understood you to say that, in regard to the appointment or removal of officers, you were always called upon to make a recommendation ? —Yes, that is so. 66. Is it not a fact that within the last six months, Mr. Maunsell lias recommended a person for appointment without your authority ?—lf he has done so it has been without my knowledge. 67. I am referring to the appointment of Mr. Fitzroy, as Sheep Inspector at Napier ? —That appointment was made while I was in Dunedin. 68. Is it a fact that Sheep Inspectors frequently receive orders from Wellington by telegram signed " D. Maunsell "? —Yes ; I believe that, in the case of calling for a return or anything of that sort, Mr. Maunsell may have signed a letter or a telegram, but I do not think he has ever signed any document which involved a large question. 69. Is it not a fact that in the Colonial Secretary's Office there is a sort of understanding that Mr. Maunsell, and not Mr. Cooper, directs the correspondence of the Sheep Department ?—At one time I think there was such an understanding. 70. And you say that Mr. Maunsell holds an undefined position at present ?—He conducts the clerical work of the Sheep Department, 71. Does not Mr. Maunsell pay official visits to Sheep Inspectors, and give them instructions with regard to their outside work ? —He has not done so to my knowledge since I was appointed. 72. I think something of that kind occurred in Napier in February last? —I do not know anything about that. 73. Are your positions sufficiently defined to make it his duty to report to you in such a case as that, or would he act independently of you altogether ? —I do not think he would act independently of me; and if he did so, he would be acting in contravention of my letter of appointment. 74. Do you not think that one man should,have the entire charge of all the work, both " inside " and " outside "? —I think that one man should have the entire control, provided that he could do the whole of the work. I may explain that lam often away from the office at Wellington for six weeks or two months at a time, and if I had to do all the office work it would accumulate to such an extent during my absence that I would not be able to keep it up. As well as the delay. 75. Do you not think it would be better if Mr. Maunsell were compelled to obey your orders? —■ I think it would be better if his position was clearly defined. I think there ought to be somebody in charge of the clerical work while lam away. I may say that there is a lot of the inside work that I am not acquainted with, but, of course, I could supervise that. 76. Supposing that in the present state of affairs there was a disagreement between yourself and Mr. Maunsell, who do you think would come off best? —There is an old axiom that answers that: namely, " Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." 77. Mr. Swanson.^ You say that if Mr. Maunsell has interfered and given instructions at Napier you are not aware of it ?—I do say so. 78. Is it possible for him to go cruising round Napier without your knowledge or permission ? —• I cannot say whether Mr. Maunsell was away from Wellington or not. I was away myself.