XLVI

H.—2

The Commissioners and Mr. Tunbridge then inspected the quarters of the men, and examined the official books in use at the station. The Mount Cook and the Manners Street Stations were then visited, and the men and quarters inspected. The Commissioners addressed the men at each station. At 5.30 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10.30 o'clock to-morrow.

Tuesday, Ist Maech, 1898. The Commission sat at 10.30 a.m. Present: Messrs. Wardell, Poynton, and Colonel Pitt. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Colonel Hume, Mr. Tunbridge, and Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.H.E., were in attendance. Complaint of George Neale, ex-constable, against Inspector Pender:—Mr. Neale and Inspector Pender were in attendance. George Neale, ex-constable, at present boardinghouse-keeper, Napier, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. At the conclusion of his giving evidence, Mr. Neale called the following witnesses, viz. : Colonel Hume ; Peter Pender, Inspector of Police; and William Thomas Mason, Sergeant-Major, Police Force, Wellington : and they were each sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. At 5 p.m. the Commission adjourned until 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.

Wednesday, 2nd Maech, 1898. The Commission sat at 10.30 a.m. Present: Messrs. Wardell, Poynton, and Colonel Pitt. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Colonel Hume, Mr. Tunbridge, and Mr. T. B. Taylor, M.H.E., were in attendance. Complaint of George Neale, ex-constable, against Inspector Pender :—Upon George Neale being called to attend, the Secretary stated that Mr. Neale had called at the ofiice before the hour for the meeting of the Commission, and stated he did not mean to attend the Commission further, for the reasons disclosed in his letter to the Chairman. The following letter, addressed to the Chairman, was read : — SIR __ Wellington, 2nd March, 1898. ' ' I beg to draw your attention to a charge made by me against Inspector Pender and Constable Cullen, for suppression and obstructing a charge of murder in re Boyd case, concealment of a birth of a child in Christchurch in 1883 The opening proceedings on the Ist instant by the Royal Police Commission were as follows, viz.: solely to confine myself to the charge preferred by me against Inspector Pender, and that other charges brought by me would be dealt with by the Commission. I have already now submitted to the Commission the names of those subpoenaed in the above case that were subpoenaed to give evidence, and I have also been subjected to a cross-exami-nation not at all relevant to the case in question. Further, the reports appearing in the public Press of the Ist and 2nd March, 1898, at Wellington, are not consistent with the evidence taken, which is misleading in the above case on the Ist March, 1898. Farther, I beg to draw your attention that I shall be doing an act of injustice to myself and family by attending a Royal Commission as set up, and also at my own expense, for the benefit and welfare of the community at large. I remain, &c, The Chairman, Police Royal Commission, Wellington. Geoege Neale. There being no appearance of George Neale, the Chairman inquired of Inspector Pender if he desired to give any further evidence. Inspector Pender, being reminded he was still on his former oath, gave evidence, which was taken down by the, reporter. During his examination Inspector Pender handed in a copy of the certificate of the registration of death of Amy Dyson, and it was marked as Exhibit No. 14. Inspector Pender not desiring to call any further evidence, the Chairman intimated that, as Mr. Neale had not attended, the case was closed. Case of Sergeant-Major Moore : —Miss Elizabeth Moore wrote complaining of the evidence given by Colonel Hume concerning her father. Resolved, That Miss Moore be informed that the Commission would sit at Napier on a future date, when the Commission would be prepared to receive her evidence. Colonel Hume attended, and, being reminded he was on his former oath, gave further evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. At 5 o'clock p.m., the Commission adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.

Thursday, 3ed Maech, 1898. The Commission sat at 10.30 a.m. Present: Messrs. Wardell, Poynton, and Colonel Pitt. The minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. The Commission perused and replied to a quantity of correspondence. At 11 o'clock a.m. the taking of evidence was continued. Colonel Hume, Mr. Tunbridge, and Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.H.8., were in attendance. Colonel Hume continued bis evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. During the evidence of Colonel Hume, Mr. Taylor raised the question as to what was Mr. Tunbridge's position on the Commission. The Chairman stated that Mr. Tunbridge was present as head of the Police Department, and that the Commission had agreed to his being so present, with the right to cross-examine witnesses or to defend his department.