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394. What was the period when this was going on ?—I cannot remember the exact dates, but this was in September, 1896, and until I left there in June, 1897. 395. Do I understand that the visits of these police for the purpose of getting liquor were particularly about 6 o'clock in the morning?— Yes, when they came on relief. 396. On an average, how many police constables used to frequent the house ?—Sometimes two and three in the morning, and sometimes one. 397. I mean the average during the whole time you were there ; would there be a dozen different coming for refreshment ? —I cannot say exactly. 398. You know the names of some of them ? —Yes. 399. Do you say there were six different men during the whole time you were' there ?—There were six. 400. You are certain there may have been six ; but may there not have been more than six ?— There might have been. 401. Can you remember six names, if you were called upon to do so ?—Yes. 402. Why was that electric-bell installation made?—To give notice inside when the police were coming. 403. At whose request ? —The landlord ; and he asked me where I thought it would be best to put it, and I told him. 404. The window you mention commands two streets ?—Yes ; it is at the corner. 405. Which way did the men come in as a rule, by the front door or by the back door ?—They used to come in by the back door, and by the right-of-way. 406. Did they come up a right-of-way from Lichfield Street?— Sometimes they did on Sundays. 407. You must have done a good deal of trading on Sundays to necessitate all these precautions ?—We did a pretty good trade sometimes. 408. Do you remember if at any time when the police constables visited the premises there were ordinary citizens in buying liquor? —No, because they used to ring the bell so that the customers might clear out when the policeman went in for a drink, so that the police should not see them, and the police should not be seen by them. 409. The Chairman.} How did you know the police had drink?— Because I used to follow them in and see them drink. 410. Mr. Taylor."] Have you had any experience in connection with hotel work except in Christchurch ? —I was in Timaru as second waiter in the " Grosvenor." 411. Was anything similar carried on in the " Grosvenor " ? —No, it was shut up on Sunday. 412. The Chairman.'] When those men went in, you say you followed them in?— Yes. 413. And what then ?—And give them what they wanted. This was on Sundays. 414. Then this ringing of the bell did not apply on ordinary mornings?—No, because the doors were open. I have seen one constable sit down in the small tap-room in his uniform. 415. Mr Taylor. ,] It was on Sunday you rang the bell, before they went in?— Yes; for Sunday work only. 416. Colonel Pitt.] And you say constables went in on Sundays and had something to drink ? —Yes, if they wanted it. 417. If a constable would do that, what was the object in ringing the bell to give notice to the people inside ? —Because you cannot trust a policeman any more than anybody else. 418. You trusted him ; what did you give him drink for ? —To keep his mouth shut. 419. Suppose he went and lodged an information against you ?—That was the landlord's lookout. I should like to say that Ido not think it is the fault of the police altogether. Whenever a policeman comes on a beat the first thing a publican does is to try and get friendly with him. I have seen a lot of people in the bar, but not lodgers. They had boarders in busy times, but depended on the bar-trade, unless it was holiday time. 420. The Chairman.] Since you left this hotel have you been employed in any other hotel ?— No. 421. Have you changed your habits in life, or your opinions on these matters?—l was in the hotel because I could not get work, and I had to take what came along. 422. You were assistant waiter at the " Grosvenor " ?—Yes. 423. What was the interval between that and taking work at the Al Hotel ?—Seven years. 424. And was the Al Hotel the only house in which you were employed as barman ?—Yes. 425. What is your age now? —I am twenty-eight. 426. Colonel Pitt.] When did you first speak to any one of this practice being carried on at this hotel ? —I cannot say. 427. Is it long ago? —Everybody knew of it in Christchureh. They always used to flock down there on Sundays. They knew they could get drink there. 428. Mr. Puynton.] How did you leave the hotel; did you leave of your own accord?—lt was through a watch being stolen there from a man, and the publican thought I knew too much about it, and said he did not want any damned private detectives in the house. There were a man and woman who had been in the house, and who had no money in the day-time, but they had money at night, and I accused one of these of stealing the watch. That was what led to the landlord saying he did not want any private detectives in the house, and he told me I could go. Then I left, and came to Wellington. 429. Mr. Tunbridge.] Were there any barmen in the house besides yourself ? —Yes, one. 430. Give me his name, please.—A barman named Stewart, an old gentleman. He is there now, I believe. 431. Was he there the whole time you were there ?—Yes. 432. Any other barmen?—No; there were two barmaids. 433. What were their names ?—Miss McCrae and Miss Stevens.