155

H.—2

286. There are two doorways in the side street, which one was it ?—The one they went into was the top door, nearer to the street. 287. And only those going in that door you counted, not those going into the gateway below? —Only those going in by that door. We did not see any going in the gateway. 288. Was there anybody watching at the corner of the hotel to see if the police were coming? —Yes. 289. A man ?—Yes. He left about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and returned about 5 ; but he was there all the morning, and there on watch at night. 290. Did people going into the hotel seem to know he was there?— Yes. 291. And speak to him going by ?— Yes. 292. Generally?— Not generally; a good many did. 293. Did you see the police visit the hotel during the day ?—Not visit the hotel; there was one went by. 294. Did you see the police speaking to this man?— No. 295. Was there anything to lead you to suppose that the police were in league with the people at the hotel ?—No. F y 296. Did this man, when he saw a policeman coming, do anything to indicate the policeman was coming: did he signal to the people inside ?—When we saw the policeman coming he was coming round by the Bank Hotel, and the man went inside and came out again before the policeman had passed by. 297. Was there an exodus of people from the hotel when the policeman hove in sight ?—No, sir. 298. Were there any inside at that time, do you know?—No, I could not swear there were. 299. You do not know if those people going there who might not have been lodgers were asked if they were bond fide travellers or not ?—No, sir. 300. For all you know they might have been asked ?—For all I know they might have been asked. 301. Colonel Pitt.] Can you say positively that no policeman visited the hotel during the Sunday you were watching there?—l can say no policeman visited the hotel from 8 a.m. to 8.20 p.m. 302. The Chairman.'] You only saw a policeman go by? —There was only one policeman went by in uniform. 303. Was there any man on beat going up and down occasionally ?—We only saw one go by on the side of the street the hotel was on. We were not in a position to see the other side of the street. 304. You could only see one side of the street ?—Yes. 305. Were you in such a position that you could see with clearness and distinctly people going in and out of the door ?—Yes. Pkecy Dbnton examined on oath. 305 a. The Chairman.] What are you, and where do you live ?—Watchmaker; residing in Woolcombe Street, Wellington. 306. Mr. Taylor.] Did you assist in collecting information as to the amount of Sunday trading that was carried on? —Yes. 307. When was it ?—ln 1893 ; but Ido not remember the date. It was on a Sunday. 308. The Chairman.] Whom were you assisting ?—A young fellow named Eobb. 309. Mr. Taylor.] Is he in Wellington now ? —No ; he is down South somewhere. 310. What hotel were you collecting information about?— The Panama, at the corner of Taranaki and Vivian Streets. 311. You knew that the information was being collected for the Prohibitionist, and not for police purposes ? —That is so. 312. What was the total number of visitors at the hotel?— One hundred and thirty-three. 313. How long were you there ?—I got there at a quarter to Bin the morning, and I left at six minutes to 8 in the evening. 314. Did any of them have any bags or kits, or anything with them to indicate that they had been fetching liquor away ?—Yes. 315. Did any of them show signs of intoxication ?—A few; yes. 316. Were there any women amongst the visitors ?—Yes. 317. Did they look like travellers? —No ; they did not look very much like travellers. 318. Were they low-class women?— Yes; I think so. 319. The Chairman.] How many women were there ?—Five. 320. Mr. Taylor.] Were there any boys ?—Yes ; eight boys, and three girls. 321. The Chairman.] Included in the 133?— Yes. 322. Mr. Taylor.] Have you made any systematic observations since?— No. 323. You have taken no particular notes of the Sunday trading since?— No. 324. Have you occasionally seen evidences of drunkenness on the streets since?—Oh yes, occasionally. 325. You are not in a position to say that any actual sales were made in the house that day? —No, I could not say. 326. But you were quite able enough to see clearly the number of people who entered and left ?—Yes. 327. Mr. Tunbridge.] Any one watching outside?— Not all day. There was in the early morning, just as the church people were going by. After that there was no one at all. 328. Did you see any police during the day?— No. 329. Did you see any in the street at all?— No.