E. MACKAY.]

103

I.—lα.

221. Did you make an entry in the diary to that effect at any time? —No. I do not know of any other diary where that is shown. 222. The diary would not show any entry about getting up during the night and going round to see whether the men were on duty. Do you- not think it a proper thing to show that in a diary ? —No, Ido not think so. I never knew it to be done. 223. Will the diary show that the single men were let off duty early—at any rate, three times for the once the married men were let off?—As to doing extra duty ? 224. Whether extra duty or not, will the diary and the watch-house visit-book show that they were let off frequently during the night compared with once for the married men ?—The diary will show where the single men, having done extra duty the previous day, had been let off early. The single men's names will probably appear more frequently in that book than the married .men's, because when asked to do so the married men did not care about it —going to the theatre, and so on. I have asked them to do it, and they have objected. Therefore I put on the single men who were willing to do it. 225. Did you say the married men were not willing to go to the theatre ? —Certainly. 226. Will you tell us which of them ?—Williams, and also Bird. McGrath also said he did not care about it. That was on Saturday night. They would go off at 3 o'clock on Sunday morning. However, I considered that was a matter for me. 227. You know that the regulation requires that the duty be given fairly to the men all round ?—Yes, I am aware of that fact, and I do not think anybody in Nelson will complain that it was not. 228. In reference to complaints against the constables for assaulting people, you said, I think, that you heard no complaint from any one ?—None whatever with regard to an assault. 229. Of any description—disputes, or rows in the streets late at night ?—lt has not been reported to me that an assault has been committed on any person. 230. Did Constable Jeffries, at The Port, at any time tell you that a man from The Port went home one night and complained to him ?—No. 231. He never mentioned it?—No, according to my recollection. 232. I think it was Eeed that was mentioned in the matter? —I do not know; I never heard about Eeed. 233. You say that Jeffries never mentioned the matter to you, nor reported it in writing or verbally ?—That is so. 234. With regard to the character of the Postboy Hotel, did you ever play cards there with any of the constables?— No. 235. Never? —Not to my knowledge. 236. Not with Burrell ? —No, not to my knowledge. 237. Nor with Aldridge?—No. I have no recollection of playing cards there with Aldridge. 288. Did you know a girl who had the reputation of being not too good—did you mention it to anybody at any time ? —Did I know a girl ? 239. Or a woman, in the Postboy Hotel—a widow?—No, I did not know of any person not too good there. 240. You never mentioned to any one that she was a good mark if any one was on ? —No, never. 241. Not after playing cards there one night?—l say, no. 242. You only say you do not remember being there with any one playing cards ? —I do not remember being there playing cards with any one, or saying the woman was a good mark if any one was on. 243. Now, with regard to the boys Cox, Neve, and two others, you said they were among a lot known to be nuisances. Were any of them brought before the Court for being nuisances ?—Seven were brought up, but I do not think the four were amongst them. 244. You know that these four made a complaint? —To whom? 245. To the Commissioner, I think. It went through you afterwards for report, did it not ?— Yes. 246. You remember the report made by Burrell ?—I do not. I know that he made a report. Probably it went through me. 247. You do not remember what he said ?—No. 248. In the report he blamed the lads for misbehaving themselves ?—I believe him, if he did say so. I have seen Cox and Neve out late at night bellowing through the streets and making a disturbance. I have gone after them, but they were too quick for me. 249. Did you know them ?—Yes. 250. Could you not summon them afterwards for singing-out in the street?— No. 251. Could you not? —I am aware of the fact that if a person disturbs the neighbourhood we can bring him up. 252. If they were bellowing out in the street why were they not prosecuted?—l did not do it on that occasion because they were two among many. 253. Do you not know that one good check checks a great many ?—Yes. 254. If these young fellows did anything wrong, will you say why they were not brought to the Court?—-For the simple reason that I did not catch them. I did not feel disposed to bring them before the Court on that charge, it being so frequently done there. 255. Was not that all the more reason why they should have been punished ? —No. The whole lot in that neighbourhood were a nuisance, and the idea was to get the whole bunch of them and bring them up. We did get seven of them. 256. But is it not the best check of any to bring them before the Court ? —Yes, I think so. 257. One being sharply checked checks perhaps a dozen ?—-Yes ; but when one brings young fellows before the Court one wants something to charge them with.