D.—33

5

1. Mr. Campbell.] After receiving the money my mind was never directed to the subject again until I received the letter (A) from Mr. Seaman. I was at that time engaged as clerk to the Eden Terrace Eoad Board; also as house and land agent. I did not keep a bank account. I was Inspector of Public Works for Government before 1886 ; also in the Property- and Land-tax Office. I often signed vouchers for my salary in those offices. I sometimes received payment when I was up country without signing a receipt—perhaps for a twelvemonth at a time. My acknowledgment would be in the next letter I wrote about the works. It would be a weekly salary paid monthly. I think it was £4 10s. a week. 2. I only signed my name once in the transaction with Mr. King, which I have already described. I never sent a voucher to Wellington. I do not recollect going with Mr. King to Mr. Edmiston's office in the Arcade. I certainly did not do so on that day. I did not tell Mr. King I wanted the money at once. I should not have asked him for it if he had kept it two or three months longer. I will not undertake to say what form of voucher I may have signed when I was drawing pay. [This was said on being shown a pay-abstract and a contingency voucher.] When I signed for Mr. King I put my name at the bottom. So far as I can remember, the form was not like the one now shown me [contingency voucher]. 3. I first knew what amount Mr. King was going to pay me when he gave it to me. When I signed I did not know what I was signing for, and had no curiosity to know. I did not tell Mr. King I wanted the money at once; nor do I remember his saying it would cost me a little to get it. He did not tell me he could get an advance upon my voucher for me. He never asked me to sign an authority to Mr. Edmiston, nor did he give into my hands a cheque for £17 11s.

Monday, 16th January, 1893. P. H. Heighway's examination resumed. Since the date of my previous evidence I have seen the original voucher, which I have now in my hand. I recognise the signature to the particulars of claim as mine, but the address " Victoria Arcade , , Auckland," is not in my writing, and I believe the particulars of claim have been filled in since I signed it. I think it was blank when I signed it. I also recognise my signature on the back of the voucher ; that form was blank when I signed it; it was signed in Mr. King's office ; I think in August. lam sure it was on the same day that I got the money; I am sure I did not sign my name twice on that day. I cannot remember the occasion of my signing the particulars of claim, but I think if they had been filled in I should have noticed the amount. I never signed my name, that I know of, except at Mr. King's office. lam sure I did not get the money soon after the work was completed ; it must have been three months or more. Mr. J . C. Campbell.] The writing in the authority enclosed is not mine. I cannot be sure whether the words " eighteen pounds ten shillings " are in my writing ; the writing seems similar. I never went to Mr. Edmiston's office with Mr. King on 27th May, 1886. I never produced the voucher to Mr. Edmiston, and asked him to discount it for me; I had no need to do so. I was never in his office. I never knew the amount of the bill until I saw it in Court. I did not receive on 31st May from King and Whewell a cheque for £17 11s. [On being shown the butt of cheque G11914] : I never saw such a cheque. The whole of the work was completed on 17th April. I had no conversation with Mr. Seaman after I got his circular —not a word except in writing. 2. The Court.] Prior to getting Mr. Seaman's memorandum of 20th July, I heard nothing, of the matter, nor did I communicate with any one about it. I have received numerous payments from Government and local bodies for services rendered, but I never on any occasion asked any one to make me an advance or to discount my account. There was no necessity for me to do so on this occasion if Mr. King had kept the money until now. I was not in want of money. 3. In Mr. King's office, when I signed the voucher, he asked me if I would purchase some papers which he had in his hand, saying they were promissory notes, and of good value. I declined, and he asked me questions about my money—whether it was invested on mortgage or fixed deposit. William Eobbet Edwaed Bbown sworn and examined. I was until recently Eegistrar-General of the colony. I recognise the file of papers now produced (91/255) as an official record of the Begistrar-General's office. Mr. Seaman employed Mr. King in collecting census information in 1891. Mr. King had been employed as enumerator in 1886. Ido not know of anything done improperly or inaccurately by him on that occasion. Upon Mr. King's appointment in 1892 to collect agricultural statistics I strongly objected to his appointment on account of his being such an expensive officer. If Mr. King caused the schedules to be left blank, as stated by Mr. Mitchelson in Hansard (bottom of first column, p. 720), I did not discover it, nor had I any means of doing so. David Buenside sworn and examined. lam a farmer residing at Woodside, Great South Eoad. In the year 1886 I was employed by Mr. King in collecting census returns in March and April. I made out an account in writing for my services. I think the account was nearly £40. I got paid after the voucher was returned from Wellington. I think I received close on £40. Mr. King paid me, I think by cheque. I cannot say whether I signed a receipt for it. I believed I signed a voucher as a receipt. I think that was before the money was paid. I drew the money myself. No one was authorised to draw it for me. I cannot speak certainly to the amount; it may have been £35. No one was authorised to sign the receipt instead of me [after seeing the voucher]. I asked for an advance, and went with Mr. King to Mr. Abbott, who advanced it. I think Mr. Abbott made a deduction, but I