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3145. Are you aware his story is that he has had it keeping all these months—more than twelve—in one of his private drawers of his writing-table in his office? —I am not aware of that. 3146. Very well. Now, that you are aware of it, is that proper conduct in connection with the custody of effects in any estate?—l do not think it is. 3147. Nor I; I think it outrageous.— [No reply.] 3148. Mr. Loughrey.] Did you go through this correspondence at all?—No, I did not. 3149. Would you mind looking at these two letters of Dallon's, in addition to those he has forwarded to you. [Letters handed to witness.] There are a number of other letters there ; you might just glance at them. Look at these letters. [Letters handed to witness.] Have you any doubt at all, after looking at them, that this young man, Dallon, is the son of the intestate ? —I have no doubt of it now. 3150. The Chairman.] Then, had you read these letters, which you ought to have done before, you would have been perfectly satisfied you were dealing with the son of the deceased woman ? —I should have been perfectly satisfied of that. 3151. Mr. Loughrey.] What has become of the money which was obtained from the sale of these articles?— There is £33 3s. 9d. to credit. 3152. The Chairman.] Yet you wrote at one time to say you would send certain things on his paying expenses, did you not ?—The box of his own clothing, he was told, would be sent on payment of expenses. 3153. Had you not money in hand to pay those expenses?—At this time I was under the impression that the young man did not take the estate. 3154. But then you had not read those letters ?—No. 3155. Which letters had been long in your possession ?—But not on the file. 3156. Is that a proper way to keep important information belonging to an estate ? —No ; they should have been on the file. 3157. Is it not possible other estates may be in the same position?—lt is not probable at all. 3158. But now you would not say it is not so ? —I would not. 3159. Have you written to this young man in Queensland to say there is so much money of his in your hands ?—No, but I shall do so. 3160. Since your attention lias been called to it ?—Of course. 3161. Perhaps you will have a difficulty in finding him ? —[No answer.] 3162. The Bey. Mr. De Castro had read these letters, because he told us he had destroyed them. He told us yesterday he had destroyed them all, and to-day he told us his statement was incorrect ?— [No answer.] 3163. Mr. Macdonald.] Mr. De Castro also stated in his evidence that he threw the entire responsibility and onus of the refusal—the jewellery and mother's effects—to the son upon yourself? —There is no doubt lam responsible ; no question about it. There has been an unhappy oversight. 3164. Mr. Loughrey.} So that when an estate comes into the office you have usually left it to Mr. De Castro to peruse any private correspondence he may discover, and leave it to him to prove the legitimacy ?—No, the Solicitor is the officer who is first to prove. 3165. Have these documents ever been referred to the Solicitor ?—Not that I am aware of. 3166. Looking at the many facts revealed to you by the Commissioners in connection with this estate, has not this young man in Queensland very grave cause of complaint ?—He has. 3167. Is it not a very cruel case ?—I think it is. 3168. Why was this desk retained? Why was it not disposed of with the other effects and the lace ?—They should have been disposed of, but were not, fortunately as it happens, because now they will be sent to Dallon. 3169. Mr.Macdonald.] Mr. Larnach asked you just now whether any more estates were in the same condition ? You see it raises suspicion upon many others ? —No doubt. I believe honestly there is not another estate like it. 3170. The Chairman.] You would have honestly believed before we came here that there was no such estate ?—I should have believed it. lam astounded. 3171. Well, you see the confusion your office is in in that respect?—As regards this estate. 3172. And any estate with regard to the particulars of its personal assets? —Yes, it is so. 3173. Mr. Loughrey.} I have gone through the papers carefully, and I have no reason to suspect there is the slightest ground to consider that this young man was the illegitimate son of Mrs. Dallon. I wish you would go through them too?— Then, if so, how account for the youth not furnishing proof ? 3174. Bead that letter. [Letter from Lieut.-Colonel Wilkinson to A. E. Dallon's father again read.] After reading that letter, would you not consider the son was legitimate ?—Yes, looking at this letter I should. Mrs. Maey Ann Morrison examined. 3175. The Chairman.] Mrs. Morrison, you knew the late Mrs. Dallon?—Yes, 3176. She lived in the same house with you? —Yes. 3177. Had you occasion to see her every day, and to be with her?— Yes. 3178. You remember when she died ?—Yes. 3179. Do you remember whether she had much personal effects?—We did not know at the time that she had anything at all. We thought she was entirely without means. She allowed some of her things to be sold because she could not pay her rent. 3180. What I mean more particularly by " personal effects " is this : did you know she had a lot of jewellery?—No, we thought she had nothing at all. 3181. And did you discover after her death that she had something?— Yes,