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408. Did you pass any hotels then ?—Yes. 409. Which ?—I went via Taranaki Street to Oriental Bay, but I was not paying much attention. I did not go out to look, and I did not pay much attention. 410. You express the opinion that Sunday trading is just as bad, and you say you were walking last Sunday and passed several hotels ; did you see any people passing in or out ?—All I can truthfully say is this ; that I never looked for it. 411. On the previous Sunday to that ?—I cannot tell you. 412. Then, why did you make a general statement just now that Sunday trading seems equally as bad as in 1893 ? —Because I have noticed it at different times between 1893 and 1898. 413. When was the latest date ? —I cannot give a date. 414. How long ago ? —During the last six months perhaps. 415. Can you say within the last three months ? —I cannot definitely say. 416. Then you would like to correct your previous answer to the effect that it seems just as bad right down to the present as it used to be ?—My remarks were not to a day. 417. Well, to three or six months: do you wish to say, not a general statement like that, but something more definite ;up to what period ? —I will tell you why I was prompted to say that. When I was doing that work of which I have just given evidence, of course, I would naturally look for these things, and I have done so up to within, we will say, the last three months. 418. And you have not taken any notice of it since?—No; in fact, I have been ill since the beginning of December. 419. The Chairman.] You express the general opinion that things are just as bad as ever; and when pressed you show how little your observation is worth?—l can assure you that my observations up to about three months ago are true, but I have not been about since. 420. Mr. Taylor.] As a matter of fact, there have been no systematic observations made since 1894 ?—No. 421. And that was systematic observation? —Yes. 422. And were you not surprised at the number of people going into that hotel ?—Yes. 423. Suppose anybody had told you that that number of people went in in that time, you would have been dubious about it ? —Yes. 424. Have you noticed, on Monday morning, in Wellington, during the past six months, there have been quite a considerable number of cases of drunkenness dealt with in the Magistrate's Court? —I have noted that. 425. Colonel Pitt.] Were these observations of yours made just previous to the local-option poll ?—lt was in connection with the prohibition question. 426. Do you remember if it was in connection with the local-option poll ?—I cannot definitely say it was made for that purpose. What I understood was that it was generally believed there was not a large amount of trade on Sundays, and the prohibitionists wanted information on the subject. 427. Inspector Pender.] Did you communicate at all with the police as to what you had seen ?—Not to the police at headquarters. 428. Did you inform any policeman ?—Yes, I mentioned it to one. 429. Who was he ?—Constable Gray. 430. What case did you mention to him ? —I mentioned the incident that occurred at the Eoyal Tiger when he was coming along. 431. Did you tell him what you had seen ?—Yes. 432. Where was he stationed at that time?—l do not know what particular station he was sent from. 433. And did he take no steps, or do nothing?—He just remarked that it was very hard to catch them. 434. He did not go into the house ?—No; of course he did not know until a week or two afterwards. 435. That is the only one you spoke to about it ?—Yes. 436. Do you not think it would have been right to have reported the matter to the police, and told them ?—I was not there for that purpose. 437. What does your information, or what you saw, tend to prove, supposing you were called upon to go into Court. What would you be able to establish in connection with a breach of the licensing law ?—Simply this : that the class of people who went in were not lodgers. 438. You do not know how many boarders were in the house ? —Not in the least. 439. Do you know any of the people who went in ?—-Yes ; most of those I knew are down on my notes. 440. When did you see this thing ?—ln 1893. 440 a. Do you think it is quite right to bring up these things now, when the people have no means of checking or meeting the cases. Do you think it is English? —I know when I was subpoenaed I sorted my notes, and there they are. 441. There are no means for me to show that such a thing never occurred ? —No. 442. Do you think a man gets a fair chance?—l am satisfied that is correct. 443. Colonel Hume.] You say there have been no systematic observations since 1894 ?—Not so far as I know. 444. Well then, you are of opinion that if you were to go from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to the Royal Tiger Hotel next Sunday you would see about eighty people going in ?—I would not mind trying; I do not think I would be very far out. 445. Then, you are of opinion you would find about the same number?—^es. 446. You say you have not been observing much? —No. 19— H. 2.