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4603. If you turn to the Duuediu agency, how many do you find there? — Not one. 4604. Do you think your agents having power to charge procuration-fees keeps you from making advances from this office ?—lt may have ; doubtless has that effect to some extent. 4605. The Chairman.] Does it not open the door to a pernicious system of blackmailing? -It may do so. Ido not defend the system; I cannot defend it.

Tuesday, sth May, 1891. The Rev. Charles Daniel de Castbo further examined. 4506. The Chairman.] Do you wish to say something to the Commissioners, Mr. De Castro ?— Yes; I saw Mr. Geary this morning, and told him about producing the bracelet to you this morning. He says he will not part with it to anybody. He will not give it to me, but will produce it to you at any time. He says he has it at his house. 4607. Who is Mr. Geary ?—He is a dealer. He tells me it is a band made of links. The mistake has been in the auctioneer putting it down as a bangle. Geary told me this morning that it was not worth ten-pence, but was a good imitation, and might have taken anybody in. 4608. If that has been the mistake, does it not occur to you that the mistake was not the auctioneer's but that of the Public Trust Office? —I did not know the difference between a bangle and a bracelet. 4609. Mr. de Castro, you cannot be too particular in dealing with other people's effects in the way you describe them, particularly as you are the custodian of such property for the Public Trust Office. And, referring again to the Christchurch agency, had you ever occasion to go to Christchurch in connection with that agency ?—Yes. 4610. When were you last at Christchurch ?—I was there when Acland and Barns were appointed agents, just to put them in the way of keeping the papers, and so on, and instructing them generally. 4611. Then you handed over the business to them as you found it?— Yes; Colonel Lean sent the papers over, and I put them in order. 4612. You, in fact, handed the business of the Public Trust Office over to Acland and Barns? —Yes, for the Trust Office. 4613. How long did you remain in Christchurch ?—I do not recollect; not very long. 4614. Were you away a week?—l could not say exactly. 4615. Is there anything about the atmosphere of the Public Trust Office that affects people's memories, because I have observed failing memories among all of the chief officers of the department ?—My memory has been very bad lately. 4616. Can you tell me whether you were away a fortnight or a week?—l should say not more than a week. I put the papers in order, and gave them general instructions as to how to conduct the business. 4617. And did you see Acland and Barns every day?— Yes, for a certain portion of the day. 4618. Do you remember the instructions you gave them ?—Yes, as to the correspondence. 4619. Had you ever occasion to check their accounts in connection with the Public Trust Office ?—No. 4620. Was that the only occasion on which you visited Christchurch in connection with the Public Trust Office business ?—I had to go down to the Supreme Court once to give evidence. 4621. Was that after you had handed the business over to Acland and Barns? —Yes; some time after. 4622. How long ago was that last visit of yours to Christchurch ?—Three or four years ago. Judge Johnston w 7as the Judge. 4623. What was the case ?—I cannot recollect names. 4624. You must have found your memory very inconvenient in your position as chief clerk of the office ? Can you recollect the amount of money involved ?—I cannot say. 4625. Is your memory as unreliable and treacherous in connection with the sums of money as it is in connection with names? —I have very little to do with sums of money. 4626. I ask you the question, if you cannot remember names you can perhaps remember sums of money ? or can you rely on your memory, either in names or matters of account ?—Not at the moment. 4627. You have not had to go to Christchurch so often that you should fail to remember this particular case? Were there any other cases?—No ; only the one. 4628. And you do not remember it.—No. 4629. Do you remember the amount of money involved ?—No ; I think it was not money, but something in regard to a question of land. 4630. Do you remember the value of the land, or where it was situated ?—No. I can get the full information for you from the papers. I will not be sure it wras land. 4631. Was it personal effects?—No, it was not. It may have been the proceeds of personal effects, but I cannot tell; I will find out for you. Mr. R. C. Hamerton, Public Trustee, further examined. 4632. The Chairman.} Mr. Hamerton, have you found anything out since you were before us regarding Randerson's estate, in Auckland ?—Yes. It is no longer a mortgage. We sold, and we bought in. . 4633. Will you state the history of that mortgage from the beginning?— Yes. It was originally an application by Mr. Randerson for £3,600 on certain properties in the suburbs of Auckland, which were then valued at £7,443 by H. W. Heath, a valuer in Auckland, .whom we have employed two