I.—lα.

84

[c. g. daniell.

758. When you got there you were present at the interview between Messrs. Bannehr, jun. and sen. ? —Not the first interview. Of course, Mr. Hamilton and I waited outside. 759. In your presence did the Bannehrs say that they were going to demand an apology ?—I do not remember them saying that. 760. Have you ever heard anything against Constable Durbridge other than this ?—No. 761. You do not know anything about him at all?— No. 762. You do not make friends with the police, T suppose ? —No ; it does not pay. 763. You had one supper that night? —No. 764. You had nothing at all ?—No. The others might have had the supper, I did not. 765. Do you think, in your hearing there was a conversation between Mr. Bannehr—-that is, young Bannehr's father —and the constable about an apology at the station?— Yes, I believe there was. 766. Did the constable in your hearing succeed in proving that Mr. Bannehr and his son owed the constable an apology ?—No. 767. Then, anything of that, of course, was inside the room where you say they retired to ?— Yes, anything of that kind was inside the room they retired to. Charles Edward Aldridge examined. (No. 14.) 768. Mr. Skerrett.] What is your Christian name ?—Charles Edward Aldridge. 769. What are you? —Inspector of Factories, stationed at Nelson. 770. Were you at one time a police constable stationed at Nelson ?—I was. 771. Will you tell me the period?— Prom 1900 to 1902. 772. A period of about two years ?—From December, 1899, to February, 1902. 773. To what period? —From December, 1899, to the latter end of January, 1902. 774. Who was in charge of the station at Nelson ?—Sergeant Mackay. 775. You were not senior constable, I think ?—No. 776. Who were your seniors ? —Constables Bird and McGrath. 777. During the period you were stationed at Nelson did you notice that a difference was made in the manner in which the men performed their beat duty ?—Yes, at times. 778. Now, will you explain what the difference made was ?—Well, at times some men were kept religiously to duty, and others were permitted to do it almost as they chose. 779. What did you observe to be the cause of the difference ?—Well, the sergeant would always take one man into his confidence, and when he had that man in his confidence he could do apparently as he chose. 780. When a particular man was friendly with the sergeant was he permitted to go to the police-station and remain there when he ought to have been on his beat duty ?—As far as I could see, he was. 781. Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.] Do you know a man in Nelson named Remnant ? —I do. 782. It has been stated to the Committee that he is a man with a bad reputation : what is your opinion of him ?—As far as I have seen him he is a very steady man. He is driving a cart for Messrs. Neill and Haddow. 783. Has he been in that employment ever since you remember?— Yes. 784. Is he a man of drunken habits ? —I have never seen any sign of drink on him. 785. You know nothing against his reputation whatever ? 786. Do you know a man named Blincoe ?—I know nothing against his character. 787. You heard of a case of alleged abortion :do you know the person I refer to? Do you know a girl named ? Do you know if either of the constables who petitioned the Committee was acquainted or kept company or was out with her? —Yes, one of the constables did keep company with her —Durbridge. 788. How do you define "keeping company " with her?—l understand he went to the hotel to see her, and I saw him out once walking on the street with her. I was walking along the street with him one day 789. In uniform ?—No; in plain clothes. 790. Do you know the Bush Tavern in Nelson ?—I do. 791. How far is that from town?—l suppose it is probably three-quarters of a mile from the centre of the town. 792. Are you aware of the occasion when certain men entered that hotel after hours?— Only by hearsay. 793. Do you know of a football match being held on that day ? —Well, there was a football match held nearly every Saturday throughout the season. 794. This ground being three-quarters of a mile from the hotel, was the match held on the town or the country side of the hotel ?—The town side. 795. Anybody going away from that football match would be going away from the hotel?— Yes. 796. Do you know Woodward who keeps the hotel?— Yes. 797. What reputation does he bear?—A very good reputation. 798. Have you any reasons to doubt any statement he made ?—No. 799. How long were you in Nelson on your duties ?—A little over two years. 800. Was it the practice for the constables to go in there and get their tea during the night?— I have been told so. I was never in the station after 9 o'clock at night. 801. You cannot tell the Committee whether the constables were in the habit of coming into the station during the time they should have been on their beat? —Not of my own knowledge, sir. 802. Were there any cases of assaults that came under your knowledge while you were in Nelson ? —I only knew of them from hearsay.