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compensation, which to say the least seems a more severe punishment than the offence deserved after a service of nearly fifteen years, which was served with only a reprimand. Please inform me if lam entitled to a discharge or any thing that would enable me to join some of the Forces in the Australian Colonies, also whether the Police would raise any objection to me holding a publican's license in this Island. I replied to that:— Sib,— 16th February, 1895. In reply to your letter of the 12th instant, I have to inform you that you are labouring under some delusion as regards compensation, as members of the Police Force who resign are not entitled to compensation. I am, of course, quite in ignorance as to what Inspector Emerson may or may not have said to you, but the evidence forwarded by him here was of so conclusive a kind that it would have been only a farce your pleading anything but guilty. As regards your query re a discharge, I have to inform you that, having been dismissed, you are not entitled to a certificate of discharge, and I am not aware that the Police would raise any objection to your holding a publican's license in any part of the colony. 760. That implied that the police would not raise any objection should he apply for a license ? —Certainly, and I do not think there were grounds for refusing, or I should not have acted as I did. 761. On the strength of that letter, he entered into agreements considerably involving him in some ways in connection with the transfer of a license to him?—l saw him, and he told me he had taken a " bush pub." somewhere; I think he said in the Hawke's Bay District. 762. Acting on the assurance you had given him?— Quite so. 763. When the question of a transfer came before the Licensing Committee, the local police there, I believe, objected to the transfer?— Yes. 764. This was without your knowledge ?—That is so. 765. On the ground of his dismissal from the Police Force?— That is so. 766. This objection was brought to your knowledge after it had been made ? —Yes. 767. You then, feeling that there was no valid ground for the objection, endeavoured to communicate with the Inspector of the district, asking him to withdraw the objection ?—I sent the following urgent telegram to Mr. Emerson on the 11th May, 1895 : — Inspector Emerson, Napier. Ex-Constable Lawliss is applying for a license for a bush house in the Napier district, and I understand the police are opposing it. Why ? Is it because he was dismissed from the Force ? If so, this looks like persecution. If necessary, let the Committee know why he was dismissed from the Force; but it appears to me that he should not be hounded down. Immediate action should bo taken, as the case is to be decided on the 14th. I hope you will be able to see your way to withdraw the objection. A. Hume, Commissioner. His clerk replied as follows, on the 12th instant:— Be Lawliss. —On the 16th ultimo Mr. Stanford, S.M., applied to Police for a report as to Lawliss's character and fitness to hold a license. Inspector Emerson wrote that he could not express an opinion, and that Lawliss had been discharged from the Force for immoral conduct. In consequence of this report I understand Mr. Stanford has refused to issue a certificate under section 12 subsection (2) of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act. Inspector Emerson is, I believe, at Galatea, and there are no means of communication with him. Please instruct what you wish me to do. I would suggest your wiring to Mr. Stanford. S. P. Norwood (for Inspector). 768. Was your telegram sent by order of any Minister, or did you send it yourself?— That particular telegram I imagine I sent myself; but I may have spoken to a Minister before I sent it. lam not sure. lam quite willing to take the responsibility. 769. What is stated in the telegram you entirely agree with ?—Yes. 770. You did at the time, and still agree with it ?—Yes. 771. The Inspector did not get that telegram?—No, in the meantime he had gone to the Kingountry. 772. Did you then, owing to the Inspector's absence, wire to the.Stipendary Magistrate?—l did, as follows, on the 11th May, 1895 : — R. L. Stanford, Esq., S.M., Palmerston North. The Defence Minister wishes me to invite your attention to the case of ex-constable E. J. Lawliss, who is applying for a publican's license, but I understand it is likely to be refused becaus9 he was dismissed from the police. Inspector Emerson is at Galatea, and therefore I cannot communicate with him and do not know what he reported. But it seems Lawliss paid the penalty of his improper conduct by being dismissed, and if the police are going to hound him down and prevent his obtaining a livelihood it looks like persecution, and I trust you will take these matters into favourable consideration before deciding the matter on the 14th. A. Hume, Commissioner. I am positive I showed the papers to the Minister before I sent that telegram, because I had no authority to telegraph to a Stipendiary Magistrate without a Minister's consent. 773. Do you say that you recommended that telegram ? —Yes. 774. And you take the responsibility for it ? —Undoubtedly. 775. The Chairman.'] Were the instructions given to you by the Minister to do it?—l merely got his permission. 776. Colonel Pitt.] You say that the " Minister invites me " ?—That was the only way in which I could communicate with the Stipendiary Magistrate to show that I had the Minister's authority to do so. 777. What was Lawliss's offence?—He went away travelling round the country with an unmarried girl while on leave. I may state that he was a constable from the 7th October, 1879, till the 21st January, 1895, the date of his dismissal, and he had only one offence against him during that time, —on the 14th March, 1894, —of allowing a prisoner to escape out of his custody. He was severely reprimanded for that but not otherwise punished; and he has got two entries on his merit-sheet, one for services rendered in connection with a sly-grog selling case in July, 1585, and in June, 1891, he got a reward of £5 for intelligence and sagacity displayed by him in discovering and sheeting home a charge of housebreaking, for which the offender got three years' penal servitude. I may state that I knew the man well, and considered him a very good constable. 778. In sending that telegram, and making that recommendation to the Minister, was there any other idea in your mind than that of doing what you considered right and just towards the man