I—lα.

104

[c. mackat.

258. Howling about the streets at night is not a very trifling matter ? —Two boys about the streets at night is not a case where I should consider that I should lay an information and bring them before the Court. 259. If you had any doubt at any time as to whether you should take action or not was it not your duty to report the matter to me ?—Yes ; you misled me, or endeavoured to do so, on one occasion, which I will endeavour to prove presently. In my opinion, you did so. 260. Is that an excuse for you not reporting anything in any case ?—I did not consider that I should submit reports on by-laws to you. 261. If a nuisance is committed in any part of the place by boys or others shouting and yelling —a great number of them—and you not being able to put it down ?—I did put it down. I made the place very much quieter than it was when I went there. 262. You sent Burrell up to Waimea Street on account of some larrikinism? —Yes. 263. Did he report the result of his visit when he came back?—No, he did not always do so. 264. I mean at this particular time? —No; he would often tell me on returning. 265. Did you ask him what was the result ? —I was not always present when he came off duty. 266. I refer to this particular time ?—I cannot say that I was present when he came off duty at that particular time. 267. Did you at any time ask him the result of his visit there? —Not to my knowledge on that particular occasion. 268. He made no report to you ?—Not that I am aware of. 269. When you sent the man there specially with reference to larrikinism was it not his duty if he noticed anything wrong to report to you ?—Yes. Burrell was not the only one sent round to these places ; others were sent as well. 270. lam not talking of the others at all ?—I have no recollection of him speaking to me on that particular occasion. They all took their turn at it. 271. You knew of it, at any rate, when reporting to the Commissioner?— Yes. 272. Did you then call upon Burrell for an explanation as to why he did not report at the time what was reported then?—l told him to make a report of the circumstances, and it was forwarded to Greymouth. 273. Did you call upon him then to report why he had not furnished you with a report at the time ?—No, not to my knowledge. 274. When old Mr. Wilson complained of larrikinism did he make any complaint against these particular boys-—Cox, Neve, Burns, and Simpson?—No. 275. Did he know who were annoying him at the time ? —I do not think he did. 276. Now, in reference to the complaint against yourself, sergeant, of going for a basket of eels with Constable Kemp ?—So you stated, as nearly as I can recollect. I was charged with that. 277. Did I say so? —I am under the impression it was you. 278. Was it I who stated that ?—I am of the opinion that it was you. You were the cause of it in connection with these charges. 279. How ? —By bringing forward ex parte statements. 280. Was not the charge investigated?— Yes. 281. Do you not know the substance of it?— The charges were already made. 282. Do you not know who reported the matter ?—I am of the opinion it was you. 283. And yet you were at the inquiry?— Yes. 284. And heard all about it? —According to the charges. lam of the opinion that the charges which were formulated against me were taken out of some reports forwarded by you. [These questions were objected to as being irrelevant.] 285. I was going to ask you this in connection with the charge against you about tampering with the diary ?—I did not do anything further than enter the date of my going up the river with Constable Kemp for my own information. I went up the river with Kemp on that morning for the purpose stated. 286. lam referring to the diary ?—I did make an entry in the diary. 287. And I discovered it ? —I admitted it when you asked. You asked, " Was that entry there ? " and I said I had made that entry. 288. Did I not for a little time examine that entry with a magnifying-glass ?—I did not see you with a magnifying-glass. 289. And you were silent all the time ? —I was at the other desk until I looked round. 290. Did you not hear me speak out about the diary ? —I knew you had the diary there. 291. Did I not hand it to the Commissioner—put it on the table in front of him—and did he not have it for some time without passing any remark, you standing looking on?—I would not say for some time ; I should say a second or two. 292. Was it not after he had had it, as I have stated, without passing any remark that you said, " I admit I altered the diary," or something to that effect ? —I said that I made the entry. 293. Did not the diary show that an attempt had been made to alter the hours of duty for Constable Kemp?—Not a bit. That did not affect the hours of duty in the slightest degree. 294. Does not the diary even now show that an attempt was made in the first place to alter the hours of duty ?—Nothing whatever, except an entry in the margin to show that Constable Kemp went up the river with me on that particular morning. 295. There was an attempt to alter the hours of duty ? —No; the book will speak for itself. The only entry that I made was, " Kemp and lup the river." I made that entry when I saw the date on which we were charged with going up the river. 296. There was no entry in the diary about going up the river before you made that entry?— No. I entered it when I saw the date on which we went up the river—just for my own information. It cannot be construed to mislead, because there is nothing there to mislead.