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378. Mr, Taylor.] I would like to ask what member of the House interfered ?—Mr. Millar, member for Dunedin. 379. I think within the last two years a special order was issued that all constables who were fitted to take charge of country stations should be employed as Court orderlies in rotation : do you remember that order?— Yes. I find it is as follows : " Court Orderlies. —The appointment of Court Orderlies will in future be held for three months only, and Inspectors, in selecting men for the post, will choose those who are likely to be appointed to charge of a station where they may be required to perform the duties of Clerk of Court, as it is considered their service as Court orderlies will give them a certain insight into the duties required of a Clerk of Court, and so be beneficial to the service.—A. Hume, Commissioner of Police.—Wellington, 18th May, 1896." I found that men were fixed permanently as Court orderlies, and I said they should be relieved occasionally. 380. Was Constable Mayne Court orderly at that time ? —I do not know; he was at Dunedin at that time. 381. Do you know whether any special correspondence took place about Constable Mayne being a Court orderly?—l do not think so. I may have said, " Make him a Court orderly at Dunedin," for some reason or other. 382. As a matter of fact, was he not ordered to do street duty, and declined, and appealed to headquarters, and a telegram was sent down saying the order was not to apply to Constable Mayne? —I do not remember. I will look up the papers. 383. Is there no record of Constable Mayne having protested against that order and having been exempt ?—I do not think so. I cannot find anything. He would protest to his Inspector, and it would not go any further. You can inquire from Inspector Pardy when the Commission is in Dunedin. 384. I should like to ask you, Colonel Hume, whether you know of any cases of officers of any rank who have been retired upon compassionate allowances and subsequently reinstated in the Force ?—I do know of a case, but the man is not living now. Inspector Moore was retired as an officer on compensation, and about five months after was appointed as sergeant-major. 385. Did he refund his compensation ?—No. 386. Do you remember what he got as compensation ?—About £700. 387. Colonel Pitt.] When was this?—On the Ist December, 1891. 388. The Chairman.] I should like to know how he came to be reappointed sergeant-major : Did he apply ?—I did not recommend him ; I was simply told to take him on, and send him to Gisborne. 389. Mr. Taylor.] I would like particulars in connection with the appointment of Constable Fane Strange Cox ?—He was one of those night-watchmen I described yesterday. He was taken on by me for special duty, and I promised them both—there were two appointed —that if they did this duty of looking after the Government Buildings satisfactorily I would do my best to get them appointed to the police through the Permanent Artillery. They were both appointed to the Permanent Artillery, and Cox, after serving one year and three months there, was transferred to the police. He is now acting as detective in Wellington. 390. Did he ever do street duty?—l cannot tell. 391. Were there not some exceptional circumstances in connection with getting him into the Permanent Artillery : Was he not too short ?—Yes, I think by a quarter of an inch. 392. That obstacle was overcome? —Yes; because he had done good service as nightwatchman. 393. Did you interfere specially for him ?—I could not say. I think I said I would recommend, if he did this special duty well, as I was very nervous myself at the time. 394. Do you know if he had any previous training as a policeman before he did this nightwatchman's duty?—l am not sure he had not. 395. And yet he was made a plain-clothes constable?—l do not know whether he was appointed plain-clothes constable right away. 396. That is a position usually filled up by men having experience ?—No; that matter is entirely and solely in the hands of the Inspector of the district. If an Inspector likes to put his youngest man on detective duty lam not going to interfere. He is responsible, and not I. 397. Was he made a plain-clothes constable on the recommendation of the Inspector?—He was made so by the Inspector. 398. What detectives were sent over to Blenheim in connection with the Satherley case ?—■ Detectives Broberg and Cox. 399. That was ari important case was it not?— Very. 400. Involving a question of murder ? —lt is a matter of opinion ; I do not think it was murder myself. 401. That was supposed to be the issue?— Yes. 402. Was Detective Broberg an experienced detective ?—He is a very good man. 403. Do you remember how long he has been in the Force ?—He was appointed on the 7th January, 1895. However, I think another man went over first. Here, again, you see these are questions which should be put to Mr. Pender. He runs his own district. 404. The Chairman.] It is a matter of detail in which you do not interfere ? —Yes; the only thing I happen to know of the case is that I saw the report afterwards. I saw Inspector Pender's report, and I saw that Cox was over. 405. Mr. Taylor.] Was he not very soon made a plain-clothes constable also?—I think so; very soon afterwards. I think he came from the South first. 406. It will be a matter for the Inspector entirely to choose the men sent over to investigate the Satherley case ?—Yes.