I.—7a

60

how it was paying. We caused a transcript from the rough book into this other book. There was no system of " calling back." My experience is that when you ask a man to transcribe he will transcribe more correctly into another book when he knows it is not to be called back. If I asked a clerk to transcribe I would not expect him to call it all over. There may have been a system of " calling back " elsewhere, but " calling back " was no part of our system. 214. It is said that Bridson would have the order-book while he (Jenkins) invariably had the journal. He went to Bridson, and both compared what he read with the order-book ?—That might have been so. 215. If that were so, can you account for the fact that all the alterations, with one exception, are in Jenkins's handwriting ? If Jenkins's account is true would he not have to take the orderbook from Bridson and write in the alterations ?—I do not know such a system at all in connection with my business. 216. Assuming that we find alterations in the order-book, in Jenkins's handwriting, Bridson must have passed the order-book from himself to Jenkins, and Jenkins written it? —Yes. Bridson has only marked this book : all that is required is to show that it is entered, he puts in the folio, say, 21: this marking shows that no entry has been passed. He was to see that the entry was in the journal. 217. I want you to describe the events leading up to the discharge of Jenkins?—ln Melbourne his brother spoke to me about him ;he understood that I had him in our employment. I said, "Yes," that was so; that we had, partly on his account, engaged him. He said he was sorry, although he was his brother. I asked him why, and he answered, " Because he was not much good." This was the first intimation I had of Jenkins being anything but an honest man. When I came back to Wellington with this in my mind I thought he required looking after. When I came back I allowed my manager to go to Gisborne on business for a fortnight, and during his absence I took up his duties. Once Mr. Ibbetson was with me discussing some matters connected with the contract; and afterwards Jenkins said he thought it would be policy for me to make terms with Mr. Ibbetson. I indignantly repudiated the idea, and said I would not make terms with Mr. Ibbetson or anybody else. I had Mr. Jenkins under a sort of supervision; I was not exactly watching him, but, with what I had heard in my mind, I came to the opinion that he was in collusion with people in the Government employment. He has stated he was in communication with Mr. Dawes. Having formed that opinion I came to the resolution to discharge him. 218. What did he say with regard to Ibbetson ? —He said he had had a conversation with Ibbetson; that he had been putting things to Ibbetson, and he thought it would be better to make terms with him than thwart him. 219. Was that in a sinister and improper way?— Yes; it struck me as an improper way. It annoyed me very much. I went to lunch. After luncheon I called Bridson, and asked him if we could dispense with Jenkins's services—if he could carry on without Jenkins's assistance. He said he could carry on without him, and he has carried on without him ever since. On the Friday Newbold waited on me, and said that Jenkins had asked him for an advance on his salary. As I would have to give Jenkins a week's salary in lieu of a week's notice, and a week's salary would be coming to him the day following, I told Newbold he might advance him £1 10s. ■ 220. That was on the Friday ?—On the Friday morning. 221. What next ?—On a return to my office on Friday afternoon 222. What time would it be?— Some time in the afternoon—probably, from 4.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. 223. Was it after he got his £1 10s. ?—Yes; after he got his £1 10s. He wrote to me. I understood that Bridson had told him we were going to dispense with his services. 224. You received a letter ?—Yes ; I received a letter. 225. You dismissed him on the following morning ?—Well, I told Newbold the next morning to hand Mr. Jenkins the ss. remaining on his week's salary and a week's salary in lieu of notice, and to tell Jenkins that we did not require his services any further. 226. Did he come for his ss. on the Saturday ?—He did not come. 227. Then, on the Monday?—Newbold told me on Saturday that he had not come for his salary. I told Newbold to write him a note, and when he came on the Monday he got his ss. and his week's salary in lieu of notice, and left our employment. 228. You have had no communication with Jenkins since except by letter ?—I have not spoken to Jenkins since. [Jenkins's letter read.] I replied to that that I would inquire into it. 229. Is it true that Jenkins had any conversation with you on the subject of his letter, or the matters referred to in his letter ? —No ; none whatever. 230. Do you remember Jenkins complaining to you of Mr. Bridson ? —Yes ; prior to my going to Melbourne Jenkins asked me whether he was under Mr. Newbold's control or Mr. Bridson's control. 1 told him he was under Mr. Bridson. He said he was sorry, because he thought he could not get on well with Mr. Bridson. I told him that if he could not get on with Mr. Bridson he must leave; that that was all the employment we could give him, and if he could not work with Bridson he had better resign. 231. On that occasion, did he make any complaint of any improper system?— None whatever. 232. All the entries in the yard-book are perfectly correct? —Yes. 233. None of them are excessive ?—No. 234. Some of them are under, if anything ? —Yes ; under, if anything. 235. There are only six items in the journal that appear in the handwriting of any one other than Jenkins ? —That is so. 236. I would call your attention to the first item, 20ft. lead pipe ?—Yes. 237. The amount charged, 201b., it is suggested that should be 161b., making a difference, it is suggested, of 41b. ?—I think the weight there is altogether wrong; lead pipe (ljin.) would weigh 51b. a foot. Anybody that gave the least attention to the subject would see that it must be wrong.