LIX

H.—2.

Complaint:—George Hastie, constable, Lyttelton, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Complaint:—W. M. de Weston, of Christchurch, settler, attended to give evidence in reference to a complaint he lodged. He was informed that, as the matter had been already adjudicated on in a Court of law, the Commission was barred from inquiring into the charge. General inefficiency of the Police Force : —The following witnesses—viz., Lillie Broadwood, wife of John Broadwood, of Christchurch ; Thomas Barrett, constable, Christchurch ; Thomas Broham, Inspector of Police , Christchurch ; Thomas Edward Taylor, M.H.E., Christchurch ; Lillie Broadwood (recalled) —attended, and, each being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. G. S. Fleming's charges:—The following witnesses—viz., George Laurenson, of Lyttelton, merchant; Gideon Henderson, farmer, Diamond Harbour; John Robert Henderson, farmer, Diamond Harbour; George S. Fleming; Charles Eutledge, sergeant of police, Lyttelton; Thomas Joseph MoCormack, constable, Lyttelton —attended, and, each being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. Weston, on the conclusion of Mr. Laurenson's evidence concerning the charge against Inspector Broham of being of domineering manner, stated he would not proceed further with the matter, and asked that the evidence should be expunged. The charge against the police of neglecting to make inquiries regarding alleged cruelties to a horse was withdrawn by Mr. Weston at the conclusion of the evidence given by the police. Charge of Mr. T. E. Taylor re Constable McGill : —Mr. J. A. Cassidy, solicitor, appeared for Constable McGill. Mr. Cassidy taking exception to the want of definiteness in the charge, it was altered as follows: " That Constable Patrick McGill is of intemperate habits, and on the 9th and 16th April, 1898, was in a state of drunkenness on the public streets. Also that, in connection with the collection of the dog-tax in Sydenham, he has displayed gross carelessness in registering dogs in Sydenham which ought to have been registered in the Spreydon and other districts. In the case of an intended visit of inspection re, kerosene licenses he informed the person concerned—viz., one Bowden—of the intended visit." Mr. Cassidy was offered the right of an adjournment to give him time to meet the altered charge. He decided to hear the witnesses called in support of the complaint, reserving his right of cross-examination at a future time. The following witnesses attended, and, each being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter—■ viz., Alice Matilda Wallace, spinster, Christchurch ; Annie Watters, wife of Thomas John Waiters, of Christchurch ; Henry George Ell, of Christchurch, salesman ; William Oswald, salesman, Christchurch ; Robert William Jewiss, draper's assistant, Opawa; and Ernest Trist, tent-maker, Opawa. At 5.15 p.m. the Commission adjourned until 9.30 o'clock a.m. to-morrow.

Thursday, 28th Apkil, 1898. The Commission sat at 10 o'clock. 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.R., were in attendance. Resolutions : On the motion of Colonel Pitt, it was resolved, —1. That, having regard to the terms of the Royal Commission appointing this tribunal, the members of the Commission resolve that in future no charge or matter will be entertained or dealt with by the Commission which has arisen or happened, or which shall arise or happen, after the 4th day of February, 1898, being the date of the Royal Commission herein. 2. That, having regard to the public notice published in all the daily papers of the colony calling upon persons having complaints in respect of matters to be dealt with by the Commission to lodge such complaints in writing with the Secretary of the Commission by a certain date —namely, the 10th day of March, 1898 —and to the special notice given at the opening of the sittings of the Commission in Christchurch, and having regard, further, to the already lengthy period during which the proceedings of the Commission have been continued, the members of the Commission resolve that no charge or complaint brought before the Commission by any person or persons will be accepted, investigated, or dealt with by the Commission in Christchurch which is not now before it; and that at other places where the Commission may sit, no charge, complaint, or matter will be investigated or dealt with by the Commission unless such charge, complaint, or matter, with reasonably detailed particulars as to names of persons, dates, and places of occurrence, be forwarded in writing to the Secretary of the Commission (and so as to be received by him) within twenty-four hours aftsr the commencement of the sittings of the Commission at each such place. Complaint, Mr. Taylor against Constable McGill : —The following witnesses attended for cross-examination by Mr. Cassidy ; each gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter : Annie Watters, Alice Matilda Wallace, Henry George Ell, William Oswald, and Robert William Jewiss. Benjamin Throp (called by Mr. Taylor), Inspector, Borough of Sydenham, attended, was sworn, and gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. After the evidence of Mr. Throp, it was pointed out that the alleged offence of Constable McGill having communicated his intended visit of inspection regarding storage of kerosene had been already dealt with by the Inspector, and, Constable McGill being already punished in connection therewith, the Commission, on satisfying themselves that this was correct, refused to go further into the matter. General condition of the Force : —The following witnesses attended, and, each being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter—namely, Thomas Broham, Inspector of Police, Christchurch; Samuel Flewellen, constable, Bingsland ; and Walter Martin, Clerk of the Court,

ix—H. 2.