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finch, died in February, 1895. I asked the Chief Clerk, Mr. Evans, the best way he thought of filling up the vacancy in the office, and he wrote me the following letter: — Sib, — Police Department, Wellington, 19th March, 1895. Referring to the recent death of Mr. J. M. Goldfinch, in compliance with your request that I should make a suggestion as to how the work of this office can in my opinion best be earrietl on, I beg to make the following remarks : (1.) That I should take over the accounts, the duties lately performed by Mr. Goldfinch, receiving the same salary as drawn by him. (2.) That Mr. Tasker, who efficiently edits the Police Gazette, continue to do so, receiving the salary attached to the position of second clerk, in addition to which he will assist me with the accounts and general work of the office. (3.) That a member of the Police Force who has had experience in a district office be attached to this office, with an allowance, to take up the record work under my supervision. The length of service of Mr. Tasker and myself,enables me to place these suggestions before you with every confidence. I have, &c, John Evans. On receipt of that letter I addressed the Hon. the Defence Minister as follows :— Sic, — Police Department, Wellington, 20th March. With reference to the vacancy for Accountant in this department, through the death of the late Mr. Goldfinch, I have the honour to recommend that Mr. Evans be appointed on a salary of £240 per annum. This officer has served in the departmental office since the 15th September, 1881, and has always given entire satisfaction. He is steady, thoroughly reliable, and painstaking, and feels himself competent to undertake the duties recently performed by Mr. Goldfinch. Mr. Tasker, the junior in the office, is, I consider, well qualified for the position of second clerk, and I recommend he gets Mr. Evans's present salary—viz., £225 per annum. Mr. Tasker has been in the office since the 16th April, 1882, and gives every satisfaction, and the manner in which he compiles the Police Gazette is most commendable. As regards filling Mr. Tasker's vacancy, I recommend that third-class constable William McGill, now employed as assistant in Mr. Pender's office, be appointed, and that he be granted first-class constable's pay so long as he is employed in the office. These arrangements to take effect from the first instant. That is minuted, " Approved.—E.J.S." Now, it was perfectly correct not to gazette Constable McGill's promotion ; he is merely first-class so long as he is in the office, and if he was to leave the office to-morrow he would revert, I imagine, to his position in the third or second class, whichever it is. He is now district clerk at New Plymouth. 143. Was he not appointed to the Commissioner's office in Wellington ?—Tes ; and transferred from there to the New Plymouth office. 144. He is not now in the office to which he was appointed ?—No ; but he has first-class pay so long as he is in the office. 145. As a matter of fact, he was only recommended for a first-class constable's pay ; has he not been gazetted a first-class constable ? —No. He gets a first-class constable's pay ; he is in the roll of first-class constables. 146. Is that roll the basis of further promotions?—l should say that is a matter for consideration when he goes out of the office. 147. The Chairman.] He ranks in the Force as a first-class constable, and gets first-class pay ?—Yes; but if he left the office to-morrow I imagine he would revert to his old place. 148. Mr. Taylor.] Was he absolutely efficient to be appointed a first-class constable ; had he been discharging clerical duties before ?—He had been doing this work in Inspector Pender's office before this, and he received extra pay when coming into my office. 149. Why?—He had a great deal more work thrown upon him, and I did not expect him to go into my office and do the work required of him there on the pay of a third-class constable. 150. You mean his salary was insufficient'?—l mean, otherwise he would have had no increase in my office. 151. What prospect is there of him reverting to the rank of third-class constable?—l cannot say. 152. Is there any prospect at all?—I should not think so. 153. The idea you threw out that he would revert to a third-class constable does not apply? —He is only a temporary first-class constable. 154. The Chairman.] Do the clerks in the offices all rank as constables, or is he the only one?— Several rank as constables, and in one or two offices they are sergeants. 155. They do not draw any pay as clerks in the offices ?—No. Their pay is based on their rank as constable. 156. Mr. Taylor.] Take the-district clerk at Dunedin or Christchurch ?—ln Dunedin he ranks as sergeant, and in Christchurch as a first-class constable, 157. Was he promoted when he took charge as district clerk ?—I think he was a first-class constable before that. 158. Would this promotion from third to first class be gazetted ?—McGill's was not; but his probably was gazetted, because he was made a district clerk straight away. This man was not. 159. Do you gazette all ordinary promotions?— Yes. 160. And in any out of order there is a special reason given for it ?—Yes. 161. Was McGill gazetted as having been promoted to the rank of first-class constable? No, because he was not promoted to first-class constable. " I recommend that third-class constable William McGill, now employed as assistant in Mr. Pender's office, be appointed, and that he be granted first-class constable's pay." That is what was done, and thus he goes to the first-class list because he is getting first-class constable's pay. It is certainly not gazetted. 162. You cannot disrate him to rank of third-class constable unless he commits some offence ? —That is right. 163. When Constable Staunton was told off to do district clerk's work did he receive any additional pay?—He was made first class. 164. You did not ask that he should have sergeant's pay ?—No. The man here does not get sergeant's pay. He was only promoted the other day. 165. Colonel Pitt.] Do I understand he was a first-class constable when transferred to Christchurch ?—Yes.