LI

H.—2

Wednesday, 30th March, 1898. The Commission sat at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Messrs. Wardell, Poynton, and Colonel Pitt. The minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Colonel Hume, Mr. Tunbridge, and Mr. Taylor, M.H.R., were in attendance. Complaint of Mr. Henderson : —The following witnesses attended, and, each being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter — viz., John McAlister, solicitor, Invercargill; A. C. Henderson, solicitor, Invercargill; James Torrance, medical practitioner, Bluff; James Young, medical practitioner, Invercargill; William Bernard Mcllveney, plain-clothes constable; William Warring, sergeant of police; Godfrey Cornelius Jeffery, constable; Ewen Macdonell, sergeant of police; and the Hon. J. G. Ward. At 5.45 p.m. the Commission adjourned until 10 o'clock to-morrow.

Thursday, 31st Makoh, 1898. The Commission sat at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Messrs. Wardell, Poynton, and Colonel Pitt. The minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Colonel Hume, Mr. Tunbridge, and Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.H.E., were in attendance. Complaint of Mr. Henderson : —Lavington George Eoope, of Invercargill, brewer, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. John McDonough, constable, North Invercargill, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. During the examination of Mr. Eoope, certain evidence was given by Mr. Eoope which practically amounted to a charge against Constable McDonough, and to which he was entitled to twenty-four hours' notice, but which he waived, and the matter was proceeded with. Ewen Macdonell, sergeant of police, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Complaint of John James Meikle:—John James Meikle, farmer, Wyndham, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Jumes Kelly, M.H.E., Invercargill, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Eobert McNab, solicitor, Invercargill, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. William Graham Pox, collector of rates, Southland County Council, and ex-Inspector of Police, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Hon. Joseph George Ward attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. James Danvers Leece, constable, South Dunedin, formerly of Mataura, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Suggestions:—William Graham Fox, ex-Inspector of Police, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Complaint:—Arthur Henry Weddas, hairdresser, Invercargill, attended, and lodged a written complaint against Constable Howard. The Chairman informed the complainant that, as the matter had already been inquired into by a Court of law, the Commission were debarred from inquiring into the matter. Evidence in respect of Constable Thomas Mayne : —Ewen Macdonell, sergeant of police, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. At 5.15 o'clock p.m. the Commission closed its proceedings at Invercargill, and adjourned till 4 p.m. to-morrow, at Balclutha.

BALCLUTHA. Feiday, Ist Apeil, 1898. The Commission opened its proceedings for public business at the Courthouse, Balclutha, on Friday, the Ist April, 1898, at 4 o'clock p.m. Present: Messrs. Wardell, Poynton, and Colonel Pitt. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Colonel Hume, Mr. Tunbridge, and Mr. Taylor, M.H.8,, were in attendance. Sale of liquor within the Clutha District: —Mr. Daniel Douglas Macdonald, solicitor, Dunedin, appeared on behalf of the following witnesses, who had been subpoenaed : George Thomson, J. P., James Thomson, John Dunne, J. P., Dr. Smith, J. P., and William Wilson. Mr. Taylor called— Alexander Scott Malcolm, schoolmaster, Kelso, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Thomas Greenwood, Eailway Stationmaster, Tapanui, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Bertrand Edgar De Latour, surgeon, Tapanui, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Andrew Christie, constable, Mosgiel, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. At 7 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 9.30 a.m. to-morrow.

viii—H. 2,