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prisoners were brought in to the foot of the table near the door. This woman, Harper, was brought up for being drunk and disorderly, I think, and, after her case had been disposed of, she stood back a little from the end of the table towards the corner. Constable Foley was standing at the opposite side of the table close to the door, and a short distance away from her. There was some talking in the Court—l do not know whether by their voices or otherwise—and I looked round, and I saw the constable conversing with this woman. I looked towards him, and nodded my head, aud he ceased speaking, and went back to where he had been standing. Soon after, a few minutes probably, there was another interruption of some sort, and I looked round, and again saw the constable speaking to this woman. I stood up in my chair and said, not in a loud voice nor in anything like an insulting tone, because the Justices were sitting at the time, " Do not speak to that woman." He drew back again, and went to where he had been standing before. That was all that took place. I thought no more about it, and the Court was concluded in the usual way. The next day I believe I got the constable's complaint, as the report will show. I believe Sergeant-major Ramsay was present and saw and heard all that took place, and several others whose names Ido not recollect —constables and others. When I got the constable's report about my speaking to him in the Court in the way I have described, I immediately wrote a report on it to the Commissioner, sending on the constable's report. It came back from the Commissioner I think the next day or the day after, reprimanding the constable. I went away to Pahiatua or up-country somewhere, and returned on the night of the 10th, and on the morning of the 11th I sent the Commissioner's decision with all the papers out to the sergeant-major to inform the constable. On the 12th another report came from the constable objecting to the decision in some way, and asking for a further inquiry. That I sent on immediately to the Commissioner again, and the Commissioner returned it to me with no delay I think, and the constable was informed that he did not feel disposed to alter his decision. That was all I had to do with it, and I think it will clearly show I did not delay the correspondence. I did not see Colonel Hume about his decision; Ido not think I ever spoke to him about it. As to the procedure, to my knowledge it has been done frequently by the Commissioner in all services. 51. We are not inquiring as to what took place in the Court, but as to whether he should be put in charge of the station?—l had nothing whatever to do with the appointment to the Manners Street Station. It was entirely done by Commissioner Tunbridge. 52. Was Foley in charge of the Manners Street Station alone when this took place ?—Cairns and he were working together, waiting for the station to be built, and the thing was altogether a temporary arrangement. I received some complaints about a man not being on the spot at Manners Street, and I sent these two men to live up there so that they would be about the locality. Foley had no charge, but he had been there I think before Cairns, but he had no more responsibility than Cairns had. 53. Had you anything to do with Cairns's appointment to Manners Street?— Nothing whatever. I had no animosity whatever against Foley and never had. He is a very good constable, and a sober, steady, respectable man, and I had not the least idea that he thought I had any feeling against him. The Court incident passed away and I thought no more about it. It was nothing to me that the reprimand was struck off his sheet. As for Colonel Hume having any animosity, so far as I know in any conversation with Colonel Hume, nothing of the kind took place. 54. Constable Foley.] Do you know how long I had been in charge of the station before Cairns came ?—You were there on duty. There was a lockup but no station. You did not live in the quarters. The sergeant on night duty visited there a couple of times every night. 55. The Chairman.] Who was in charge of the lockup ? —Well, the lockup was just temporary until the place was built. The lockup was partly in charge of the sergeant. 56. When Foley was there he had charge of the lockup?— Yes. 57. Did he keep the books there?— Yes; the watch-house book. He locked up the place and went on duty during certain hours of the day in the street. 58. What is the difference in his position there and the position of the man who is there now, except that the one is living in the house and the other was not ?—Nothing at all. They were equally in charge of the station. 59. Then Foley was in charge of the station ?—Yes. 60. Constable Foley.] You said, Inspector, that I had entered into conversation with the woman, and desisted when you made signs to me ?—Yes. 61. Do you know, sir, whether as a matter of fact she asked another constable to ascertain for her the question she asked me ?—No; I do not. 62. And the other constable did so ascertain for her ?—I did not know that. You were the only one I saw speaking to her. 63. Is it not the custom for Inspectors to recommend men for stations to the Commissioner ?—■ Latterly, the Commissioner has spoken to me. 64. Colonel Pitt.] Since when?— Since Mr. Tunbridge arrived. 65. Constable Foley.] Were you consulted in this case as to who should be put in charge in Manners Street ?—I did not recommend Cairns. My recommendation was that a single sergeant should be sent there. There was no single sergeant available, and Mr. Tunbridge fell back on the senior man. That is how it came about. 66. Did you ask any other man in the station to apply, and you would recommend him ?— Constable Foster was senior on the list, and senior to Constable Cairns, and I think I told him if he was anxious to get a station to make an application, and I would forward it. He was the senior man, and was a competent man. 67. Did you ask any other constable?— No. 68. Did you ask Constable Abbott ? —No. I am not sure, I think it was about some other place that I spoke to Abbott.

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