LXVII

H.—2

General efficiency of the Force :—The following witnesses attended, and, each being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter—viz., Barrett Eutledge, constable, Taradale, and Alfred James Mitchell, sergeant of police, Napier. At 4.30 p.m. the Commission adjourned until to-morrow, at 10 o'clock a.m.

Tuesday, 31st May, 1898. The Commission sat at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Messrs. Wardeli, 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 T. E. Taylor against Inspector Emerson: —The following witnesses attended, and, each being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter viz., Francis Logan, solicitor, Napier ; John Cullen, Inspector of Police, stationed at Greymouth ; Walter Williams, Woodville; William Coughlan, constable, Clive ; Samuel Percival Norwood, constable and district clerk, Napier. At 2.30 p.m. the Commission adjourned until to-morrow, at 10 o'clock a.m.

Wednesday, Ist June, 1898. The Commission sat at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Messrs. Wardeli, Poynton, and Colonel Pitt. 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. T. E. Taylor against Inspector Emerson :—The following witnesses attended, and, each being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter viz., Herbert John Bennett, constable, Wairoa; James Hannah Smyth, toll-keeper, Wairoa; Arthur Hume, ex-Commissioner of Police; Harry Bolls, tailor, Napier; George Bickerstaff, shop-assistant' Napier. General efficiency of the Force :—Walter Williams, constable, Woodville, attended, and, being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Complaint of Constable Gillespie : —John Bennett Tunbridge, Commissioner of Police, attended and, being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. At 5 o'clock p.m. the Commission adjourned until to-morrow at 9.30 a.m.

Thursday, 2nd June, 1898. The Commission sat at 9.30 o'clock a.m. Present: Messrs. Wardeli, Poynton, and Colonel Pitt. The minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Colonel Hume, Mr. Tunbridge, and Mr. T. E. Taylor were in attendance. Complaint of Mr. Taylor against Inspector Emerson : —The following witnesses attended, and each being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter—viz., John Cullen (recalled) ;' William Heslop, Omarunui, J. P., formerly president, Town and Suburban Eacing Club, Taradale ' Sarah Erskine, confectioner and caterer, Gisborne; William James Quigley, architect; Arthur John Cooper, bootmaker, Gisborne ; John Eugene Whitby, produce merchant, Gisborne ;'Cecil Francis Lewis, general merchant, Gisborne; Eobert Little, farmer, Gisborne; James Harris, livery-stable keeper, Gisborne ; James Price, cab-driver, Gisborne ; Annie Parkinson, widow, Napier. After the completion of the day's evidence, the Commissioners, accompanied by Mr. T E Taylor and Mr. Cresswell, solicitor for Inspector Emerson, visited the premises of Mrs. Annie Parkinson, and inspected the same in connection with the evidence. Mr. Taylor then closed his case, and Mr. Cresswell asked for an adjournment until 9.30 a.m to-morrow before calling evidence. At 3 o'clock p.m. the Commission adjourned till 9.30 o'clock to-morrow.

Fbiday, 3ed June, 1898. The Commission sat at 9.30 o'clock a.m. Present: Messrs Wardeli, Poynton, and Colonel Pitt. The minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Colonel Hume, Mr. Tunbridge, and Mr. Taylor, M.H.E., were in attendance. Complaint of Mr. Taylor against Inspector Emerson : —Mr. Cresswell, solicitor for Inspector Emerson, called the following witnesses, each of whom, being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter—viz., Thomas Edward Taylor, M.H.E.; Frederick Sutton,' commission agent, Napier ; Percy William Menzies, medical practitioner, Napier; De Berdt Hovell, Dean of Waiapu, Napier ; James Gillies Paterson, clergyman, Presbyterian Church, Napier; Hyman Phineas Cohen, auctioneer, Napier; Charles Hugh Cranby, merchant, Napier; Samuel Carnell JP photographer, Napier ; Henry Williams, ironmonger, Napier; Fairfax Frederick Fenwick manager . Bank of New Zealand, Napier; John Griffin, contractor, Napier; Eichard Thomas Walker editor'

x—H. 2.