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Thubsday, Ist July, 1886. Mr. A. T. Bothamley, Acting-Clerk of the Legislative Council, in attendance, and re-examined. 1 290. The Chairman.'] In pursuance of your evidence before given with regard to the work of the Council, I wish to ask you whether that work is of such a character as to preclude the Clerk from doing other work?— Perhaps, before I answer that question, I may state that I have prepared a schedule of duties of the Clerk of the Council, which might assist the Committee in questioning me. [Schedule read.] 291. You do not mention whether the Clerk has any authority over the other officers of the Council ? —I have said that he is responsible for the proper execution of the business of the office, which necessarily involves authority over other officers. 292. Do you mean that the Clerk of the Council is the chief of whatever staff is required in the service of the Legislative Council ?—Yes; under the Speaker, who is, of course, the chief permanent officer. 293. With regard to the Clerk-Assistant and the Second Clerk-Assistant, I presume there is some one acting in your place when you are acting as Clerk ?—Yes ; the Second Clerk-Assistant is in my place. 294. There is another clerk now?— There is another clerk—an extra clerk—who acts as Second Clerk-Assistant. 295. For the session? —Yes ; for the session. At the same time a good deal of extra work is thrown upon myself and also upon Mr. Moore (Acting Clerk-Assistant), such as writing up the Journals. The gentleman who is acting as Second Clerk-Assistant does not write the Journals. 296. During the recess, what work falls upon yourself as Clerk in the meantime and as ClerkAssistant at other times ?—I am employed in seeing the Journals and Appendix through the press, making indices of Journals and papers, and conducting any correspondence there may be; in looking after the accounts and attending the Speaker. 297. Then, as Clerk-Assistant what would be your duties?'—They are much the same. 298. What is the duty of the Second Clerk-Assistant during the recess ?—He has sometimes very heavy work during the recess. He is called on occasions when he is wanted. 299. His work is assisting the other two officers ?—Yes ; assisting in the office generally. 300. With regard to the Interpreter?—l have not scheduled his duties. He sits in the Council when the Council is sitting. He translates all Bills and papers relating to the Native race. He does anything else that the Maori members wish him to do. He acts to a great extent as their secretary. lam not actually conversant with all his duties, but will forward an account of them to the Committee. 301. Are you aware whether he has any duties during the recess ?—I am not aware. 302. Who appoints the Interpreter? —The Speaker of the Council. 303. Then, are we to understand that the Interpreter has no regular schedule of duties ?—I am not aware that he has. 304. With regard to the Shorthand Committee Eeporter ? —His duties are to act as shorthandwriter to Select Committees. I may mention, with regard to that, that sometimes more than one shorthand-reporter is required. We have to get assistance of that kind on such occasions from the staff of the House of Eepresentatives. If the shorthand-writer to the Council is not required, he i 3 available to assist the Committees of the House of Eepresentatives. 305. His duties are limited to sessional service?— Yes. 306. With regard to the Messenger, there is one put down here at £150?— I have not scheduled his duties ; but he has very responsible duties. He sees that the other messengers do their work. He rings the division-bell, and attends to the Council generally. He is on duty at any time that his services may be required. 307. Has he any duties during the recess? —Being the Messenger of the Council, he is always in charge of the offices; he acts as doorkeeper, and goes messages. 308. Are we to understand that he is retained for the purpose of delivering messages during the recess ?—He carries messages, acts as doorkeeper, keeps the rooms tidy, and looks after the place generally. 309. Are the rooms not locked up during the recess ?—The Speaker's room and the offices areopen, but the record-room is always kept locked. With regard to what I have said as to the duties of Interpreter, Shorthand-writer, and Messenger, if the Committee wished it, I could get those duties scheduled. Mr. Garrick : I think that would be as well. 310. The Chairman.] With regard to the extra clerks during the session, there is £150 put down for that; what services are returned for that ?—Besides the permanent officers, there are ordinarily two extra clerks. 311. Are they engaged in daily attendance?— Yes, during the session. 312. What are their duties?—To attend meetings of Select Committees, and do all the work connected with them, to keep in order the Bills and papers, and copy anything required. 313. How many extra messengers are engaged for the £250? —Four. 314. What is this £250 for contingencies?— For any contingencies that may arise—any new furniture that may be required, such as a bookcase, washstand, safe, coal-scuttle, towels, or other requisite. 315. Is there any schedule returned of these contingencies : is there any account of this expenditure ?—lt is kept in the Treasury books; we also have an account-book in which we enter the items. 316. The getting of these things is authorized by the Speaker ? —Yes, and sometimes by the House Committee.