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was made before the inquiry was held, but it was unavoidable owing to the fact that several of the witnesses are living many miles apart, and during wet weather the tracks were impassable, so that the witnesses could not be brought together. J. Hickson, Inspector. I reported on the 2nd November, 1894, that this man was evidently unfit to have charge of a station, and that he should be brought into a centre under an Inspector. 562. Mr. Taylor.] What became of him ?—He was brought into Auckland. I telegraphed on the 22nd December, 1894, ordering Constable Eyan from Eaglan to Auckland at once, and Constable Tapp to proceed from Onehunga to Eaglan. On the 11th February, 1897, I recommended him for charge of Taupo Station. He went there, and is there still. 563. Was that recommendation made at the instigation of any Minister or outsider?—No, he was senior man without a station, and he had been three or four years without a station, and I thought that had been punishment enough. 564. It was not made as the result of any application to you ? —Not that I can remember. 565. Was there no petition from Eyan for removal from Auckland?—l suppose he asked. I do not see it amongst the papers. 566. I wish to know if there was no man of intelligence and character in the Police Force to whom the appointment at Taupo would have been a suitable reward for services rendered—whether there was no man more worthy of this appointment than this man who had been proved guilty of theft ? 567. The Chairman.} Put it this way : You, having two years before reported he was unfit to have charge of a station, what induced you of your own motion to place him in charge of a station?— That is very simply answered. I considered that he had been sufficiently punished for what he had done, and that he ought to have another chance ; and I am glad to see that my successor agrees with me, as he has since promoted him. 568. Mr. Taylor.} When was he promoted to first-class?—On the 15th February, 1898. 569. Is he a Protestant, or a Eoman Catholic?—He is a Soman Catholic. 570. And was not this man's case at any time brought under your notice by any member of his Church, or by any Minister of the Crown?—-Not that I can recollect. 571. No one interviewed you on his behalf?—l do not think so. If there had been a letter, it would have been on this file. 572. Ido not refer to a letter so much as a personal interview ?—I cannot remember it. A great many people speak to me about this sort of thing. I thought he had been sufficiently punished. 572 a. I would like to ask Colonel Hume this : Was there no man in the Force in New Zealand of sufficient character and intelligence, and length of service ? 573. The Chairman.} You can fairly put it this way : In promoting this man, after what had happened about him, do you think you were behaving fairly to the rest of the Force ?—Yes, or else I should not have done it. 574. Mr. Taylor.] Have you the papers relating to Constable Mayne's exemption in connection with the Court orderly at Dunedin ? Mr. Tunbridge: I cannot find any papers at all on the subject. As a matter of fact, as far as I understand, there is no regular Court orderly at Dunedin. 575. Mr. Taylor.] Have you the papers relating to the removal of O'Donovan—that is the case of Hannon-O'Donovan referred to yesterday ?—I want to know when Sergeant Hannon waa removed from Stafford to Masterton ?—I said yesterday I thought my memory was all right. He went to Otaki. 576. When was that?— That was reported as carried out on the 4th February, 1891. The telegram ordering it was dated the 29th December, 1890. 577. At the time of his removal he had been in charge of Stafford for some time ?—I could not say how long at all. He was not sergeant in those days. 578. When was he promoted ?—On the Ist February, 1892. 579. How long was he away from Stafford at Otaki ?—He went from Otaki to Masterton. Ido not know how he got to Masterto'n, but he was at Masterton. He was acting-sergeant. 580. When was he re-transferred to Stafford?— The order was given on the 29th December, 1891. 581. How long was that after his removal from Stafford ?—He left Stafford in February, 1891. 582. Is he now in Stafford, in charge of himself as sergeant?—-Yes. 583. That is very unusual for a sergeant to be in charge of a station without any man under him ?—I do not think there is another case ; but Stafford is a very peculiar place. He is Eeceiver of Goldfields Eevenue, and he has two Courts to run. 584. Who was the Minister who ordered his re-transference to Stafford ?—Mr. Seddon would be in office then. 585. Have you any Ministerial memorandum bearing on his re-transference—was it on petition of the man himself, or was it a direct order from the Minister ? —I cannot tell yon. I see my memorandum ordering it, but I cannot tell you what led up to it. 586. It is scarcely the kind of transfer you would have made without instructions ?—I cannot tell at all. I cannot remember the case. 587. Are there not first-class constables on the goldfields who are acting as Eeceivers of Goldfields Eevenue in charge of stations ?—Yes. 588. So that it does not require a sergeant necessarily ?—Oh, no. 589. While he was away from Stafford Constable O'Donovan I think was in charge ?— Constable O'Donovan. He went from Stafford to Boss. He is in the same list of transfers. 590. When was Constable O'Donovan made sergeant—was it not immediately after he had relieved Sergeant Hannon? —He was made sergeant on the 15th February, 1892.