157

H.—2

373. Did he join yon again?—He joined me again shortly. 374. And you continued your walk ? —We continued our walk down towards the Esplanade. 375. Where did he next go to?—He went and had another drink as he passed Dealey's Bailway Hotel. In this particular case he went in by a side door. 376. Did you wait for him ?—Yes, I waited till he came out. 377. What was the next stopping-place ? —We proceeded down to the Esplanade and had a sit down. 378. Did he show any signs of liquor on him at that time ?—Yes. 379. Was he different in his manner at that time to what he was when you started to walk with him ?—Yes. 380. What did you argue from that ?—When he said he had had some drink I believed it from his rather excited manner. 381. What time would elapse between his joining you and your getting down to the Esplanade ? —A little over half an hour. He only stayed a short time in each hotel. 382. Were you simply strolling about that afternoon ?—We were just walking down the Quay. 383. Has any other fact come under your notice since you collected this information in 1894 to show that Sunday trading was carried on ?—No other fact. 384. You have really made no regular observation since 1894? —No. 385. Mr. Tunbridge.] Can you say what the date was when you were with this man?—l could not say what the date was; I should say it was about four Sundays ago. 386. Will you give me the name of the man please ?—I would not like to commit the man. 387. I want you to give me his name, that is all. The man has probably committed no offence ? —The man's name is George Myers. 388. Where does he live?—He lives somewhere off Tinakori Eoad. 389. Where is he working?—He was working the last time I saw him for some plumber in town, putting in conections in a small street that runs down off Molesworth Street. 390. During the time you were with him he had three drinks ? —Yes. 390 a. Did he say how he got into the hotels—did he represent himself as a bond fide traveller, or what ?—He did not say anything. I watched him walk in. 391. At the Eanfurly, did he not pass someone when he was going in at the door?—lf I remember rightly there were two or three people standing round the door. 392. Was the landlord of the Eanfurly at the door?—No, I did not see him on the door. 393. Did you see anybody who belonged to the house about the door ?—Nobody that I knew. 394. The Chairman.] Did he speak to the people at the door as he passed in ? —No, he passed them. 395. Mr. Tunbridge.] As to the Eoyal, did he speak to any one there?— There was nobody at the door there. 396. He walked straight in ?—Yes. 397. The same at the Eailway ?—At the Eailway Hotel he went round to a side door. 398. Are you an abstainer? —Not a strict abstainer. 399. Have you ever visited these hotels yourself on a Sunday? —No, I have never been in any hotel on a Sunday. 400. He never made any statement to you as to how it was he got inside the hotels, whether he made any representations as to who he was or anything of that kind ?—He merely said he had been in and had a drink. 401. Did you stay with him any time on the Esplanade ?—We were together about an hour on the Esplanade. 402. Where did you go after that?—We walked down towards the town again. 403. Any more drinks ?—He had another drink at the Eailway Hotel by the side door. 404. He gave you io understand he was going in for another drink ?—I understood he had another drink. 405. Where did you go after that ? —We walked up the Quay just past Bowen Street, where we parted. He wanted to go further up the street with me, and I tried to persuade him to go home. 406. Was he sober when you first met him?—He was just sociable. I would not say he was drunk. I was under the impression he had had a drink. 407. He did not tell you where he had been before?— No. 408. Colonel Pitt.] Did you see any police about any of these hotels ?—I do not remember seeing any police about. Albbet Tones examined on oath. 409. The Chairman.] What are you, and where do you live ?—Saddler, Thompson Street. 410. Mr. Taylor.] Do you remember helping Mr. Herron to collect information as to the number of visitors at the Army and Navy Hotel in 1894 ?—Yes. 411. Do you remember what hours you were there ?—From 8 a.m. to about 5-30. 412. What was the total number of visitors to the hotel during that time ? —About 107. 413. You worked together that day, taking notes and observations ? —Yes. 414. Were some of the people carrying kits or bottles into the hotel ?—About one, that I remember. 415. There was more than one, I suppose ?—I only remember one. 416. What class of people did they appear to be —did they just appear to be passing in and out of the hotel ?—Yes. 417. Did they stay very long?— Not as a rule. 418. You understood at the time the information was not being collected for police purposes ? —Yes.