H.-3.

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3555. You remember it was a piece of glazed paper ?—Yes. 3556. And had your handwriting upon it ?—Yes. 3557. And you took it away without intimating to the Commissioners that you were doing so? — I thought it was merely a piece of waste-paper. 3558. Was it not the paper in which you had wrapped the lace?— Yes. 3559. What right had you to take it away?— Because I thought it a piece of waste-paper. 3560. What did you do with that paper ?—I tore it up and burnt it. 3561. Are you in the habit of tearing up brown-paper every day that is used in wrapping up articles of jewellery ? —lf it is no longer of any use. 3562. But, you having brought that wrapper around the lace to the Commissioners' room, seeing the lace was left with the Commissioners, what right had you, without intimating your intention to the Commissioners, to take that wrapper away ?—I am very sorry if I did anything wrong. I thought you saw me take it away. 3563. How could the Commissioners see you ?—lt was on the table, and I did not know you wanted it ?—lt was no use to me. 3564. Did you, when you bought at the auction-sale last year that ladies' watch for the Public Trustee, buy anything else ?—No. 3565. Are you sure you did not?—l am quite certain. 3566. Did you not buy a silver watch on that day ?—Not that I know of. lam speaking of Dallon's estate. Ido not know whether there were any other effects sold. 3567. There were effects in the estate of Dickson ? —Then I will not say. Ido not know. 3568. Did you at that time buy a silver watch?—l do not recollect. 3569. Did you ever give Bs. for a watch?— Yes; I recollect a little watch for which I gave Bs., and great rubbish it was. 3570. That was the same day you officiated for the Public Trustee, and bought the watch for him by instructions ? —I do not know that it was the same day. 3571. It was the same day. That watch for which you gave Bs. was in the estate of Dickson ?— I do not know whether it was or not, or whether it was one of our estates. 3572. It was one of your estates. If you wish to refresh your memory you can see it recorded in the auctioneer's books? —I recollect that watch. 3573. Have you resold any article that you bought in that way at any of these auctions?— No. 3574. Then you must have a large stock ?—No; what things I have bought I bought for myself and other people. 3575. But you have been buying for so many years?— But I am certain I did not buy twenty articles. 3576. Do you think a three-bushel bag would hold them all?— All I bought was a few watches. I have three or four boys grown up. As to the little watch, it was very little use when I got it. 3577. And that is the way in which you present your boys with necessary articles of that kind, such as watches ?—Yes. 3578. Now, would you be prepared to disgorge or to give back the whole of those things you have purchased from time to time at auction in these several dead men's and dead women's etates?— Some of them are worn out, I think. 3579. Supposing they are not, would you be prepared to disgorge them ?—They are not in my possession. The boys have grown up, and some of them have been married long ago. I think Dallon's sale was the last I attended. 3580. Would you like to part with the coat you bought and have still got?—l have no objection, but would rather keep it. 3581. It is a good deal worn ?—Yes. 3582. Tell me this, and I want you to look at the question I am about to put to you calmly and seriously : Do you think, when the public become aware, as they must do, that you and your superior officer and officers below you in the service of the Public Trust Office have been systematically and continuously buying parts of estates of dead men and dead women which the Public Trust Office is to administer—do you think that it will inspire confidence in the public mind to the benefit of the Trust Office?—l cannot see any objection to myself or others attending the sales and bidding as any of the public. 3583. Then do you think it will inspire confidence in the public mind when the public becomes aware of it ?—I do not think it will damage it. 3584. Do you think it will do the Public Trust Office good, and help new business to flow into it ?—I cannot see how it can affect it in any way. 3585. Do you think then, Mr. De Castro, seriously speaking, if that is your opinion of the morality of those transactions, that you are fitted to continue to hold the high office you do ?—Yes, I do. 3586. Mr. Loughrey.] Are you quite satisfied that you tore up that wrapper which you removed from this room yesterday ?—Yes. 3587. What did you do with the pieces ?—Threw them away. 3588. In reply to Mr. Larnach, did you not state you burnt them ?—I threw it in the grate. 3589. Was there a fire there ?—Yes. 3590. The Chairman.] When you destroy pieces of paper like that, are you in the habit of burning them ?—lf there was a lire in the place I would. 3591. Then you would get up from your chair and go to the fire and burn them?— There is a waste-paper basket. I might put it in there. 3592. It is rather an unusual thing to go and*buru a thing unless you have a particular object in it ?—I do not think so.