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3648. Now, Mr. Hamerton, you have heard the evidence given by your second in command, and knowing the position you hold as head of the Public Trust Office, it is for you to act as you may think best. We thought it our duty, as Commissioners, to let you have the earliest information of such evidence that to our minds appeared so startling and revolting ?—Might I ask for a copy of that evidence ? 3649. Yes ; I think you can have a copy of his evidence. He is not to be allowed to interfere with it ?—No. 3650. Mr. Loughrey.] Were there any fires lighted in the office yesterday?— Not that I am aware of. 3651. If there were fires, would you know?— Not necessarily. I seldom go out of my room. Mr. Moginie further examined. 3652. The Chairman.] Mr. Moginie, do you remember when you first saw Mr. De Castro in this building yesterday morning? Was he here when you came ?—No, Ido not think he was. It must have been about a quarter-past 9 when I first saw him. 3653. Do you remember if you had any fires in the office yesterday?—No, I do not think we had, with the exception of perhaps a kerosene-stove used for heating water; but that is not a fire exactly. 3654. Not a fire you can burn or throw papers into ? —No. Mr. A. J. Gross, Messenger, further examined. 3655. The Chairman.] Do you remember at what time yesterday morning you first saw Mr. De Castro on the premises? Was he rather earlier than usual ?—No; I could not tell. 3656. You did not notice him?— No. 3657. Mr. Loughrey.} Were there any fires lighted in the building yesterday ?—No. 3658. Mr. Macdonakl.} Who is the first obliged to be here in the morning ? At what time do you appear yourself ?—Generally about half-past 8. 3659. About what time were you here yesterday morning?—At twenty-five minutes to 9. 3660. Who was the first clerk you saw here?— Mr. Stanley Hamerton and Mr. Arthur de Castro, a son of the Bey. Mr. De Castro. I saw them both. 3661. At what time?— About twenty-five minutes to 9. 3662. Do they usually go to the office as early as that ? —They have been coming down to put the records away in the safe. Mr. Aethub de Castko examined. 3663. The Chairman.] At what time were you at your office yesterday morning?—Halfpast 8. 3664. Do you usually come at that time ? —No. 3665. Did your father come down to the office with you ?—No. 3666. At what time did he come ? —I do not remember. Mr. Stanley Hamerton further examined. 3667. The Chairman.] Mr. Stanley Hamerton, you were in the office early yesterday ? —At half-past eight o'clock. 3668. At what time did you see the Bey. Mr. De Castro in the office ?—lt was about halfpast 9. 3669. Was he not here earlier yesterday than usual ?—No, he was later than usual. 3670. Then, how soon after he came to the office yesterday did he hand you that parcel of lace ?—About 10 o'clock, I think. Pie gave me the lace just before I came up. 3371. Where did he give it to you? —In the passage downstairs. 3672. And then it was he told you the story about its having been in his office drawer?— Yes. 3673. Did he not say, as we understood from you the other day, that there were some other tilings with it? —Not in the same parcel. 3674. But in the same drawer ? —Nothing else. 3675. Are you perfectly sure about what he stated to you in respect to the parcel having been in the office drawer continuously from the time the jewellery was sold? —Well, I should not like to be sure about that. 3676. Well, state again to us what he really did say ?—As I was coming upstairs I had the parcel I had the day before. I asked him if I should bring up the small parcel too. 3677. Mr. Macdonald.] One moment, before you go any further. You say you asked him whether you would bring up the small parcel too ?—Yes. 3678. How did you know anything of the small parcel at this stage ?- -Because I had seen it in his hands a few moments before. 3679. Had you any conversation with him about it ? —No. 3680. How did you know what parcel it was? —It was marked " Mrs. Dallon." 3681. You must have been very close to him? — I passed him several times in the same room. 3682. Was he holding the parcel in his hand in the same room ? —Yes. 3683. Which room ? —ln the record-room. 3684. You said it was a parcel belonging to the Dallon estate he had in his hand ? —Yes. 3685. The Chairman.} Did you see him or communicate with him in any way on the previous evening?— No. 3686. Sent him no message ?—No. 3687. No communication that you are aware of was sent to him from this office?— No. I was coming upstairs with the large parcel, and I asked him if I would bring up the small parcel at

room.