I.—lβ.

E. WALKED.]

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110. Mr. B. McKenzie.] Are you familiar with the electoral law of this colony ?—Somewhat; I cannot say I am familiar with it all, but I have read it. 111. You know the mode of getting ballot-papers printed and getting rid of them afterwards? —Only from what I have observed from coming into contact with Returning Officers. Heney Alexandee Wilmoe McKenzie sworn and examined. (No. 10.) 112. The Chairman.] You were employed in connection with the last licensing election ?— Yes. 113. Were you in Mr. Thomson's office prior to the election ?—Yes; in and out of the office, but I was mainly in the old Official Assignee's room. I should have to go into Mr. Thomson's office frequently. 114. Did you see Mr. Isitt at any time before the election in your office ?—No. 115. Did you see him in attendance anywhere ?—I have an idea that I saw him about the place on several occasions. 116. You did not see him either in your office or room or in Mr. Thomson's office ?—No, I do not think so —not prior to the election. 117. Mr. B. McKenzie.] Will you look at that ballot-paper. [Document produced and handed to witness.] Did you ever see that before ?—I would not swear to it. 118. Look at the back of it—there are some indorsements there ?—I did not take any particular notice of it when the Commissioner showed it to me. I told him that these papers were no good. A printer could go into the office or into a booth and look at it, and reproduce it by the hundred. 119. Are you satisfied that it is one that was taken from a parcel, or was one intended to be used in that election ?—lt has the appearance. It is exactly like the others, as far as my memory serves me. 120. You do not know of any markings by which you can identify it ?—No. 121. Did you make a statement to the police in connection with the matter? —Yes. 122. Can you give us any information as to what you said ?—I just told Mr. Dinnie about the general procedure. I told them that no one had access, to my knowledge, to any ballot-papers, because the papers were locked up after being placed in the boxes—in fact, they were doublelocked—and they went to the booths in charge of Mr. Smith, the Government officer who took charge of the boxes. 123. Where did he take charge of them ? —At the Courthouse, and they were taken to the booths the night prior to the election. 124. Did you go with them ?—No; Mr. Thomson went out to the booths to see whether the keys were right. 125. Did they all leave the police office at the same time ?—No; one express would go to Thorndon, and another one to another booth. 126. Did you see them put in the express ? —Yes. 127. Was Mr. Thomson present when they were put in the express?—l think he was. I would go back into my room, and Mr. Thomson possibly would be present. 128. Did they all go the same day ?—Yes. 129. And at the same hour ?—No; the men would be away at different times delivering them. 130. They went out at different times ?—Yes. 131. Did you see each load ? —Yes ; I saw each load go away. 132. And was Mr. Thomson present all the time?—lt is more than probable that he was, but I could not swear it, because it is so far back. Mr. Thomson took great interest in the matter— more than I have seen any one else in conducting elections. He was much more particular than others. 133. The elections were on Wednesday, were they not: do you remember that ?—No. 134. You do not remember whether the election was on Wednesday or Thursday ?—I could not swear to the day. 135. Did Mr. Isitt ever visit your room when you were connected with the election ?—No ; I have never spoken to Mr. Isitt, although I have seen him on one or two occasions. 136. Did you know him by sight ?—Yes ; I knew him about that time. 137. Did you ever see Mr. Isitt in Mr. Thomson's office about the time of the election ?—I saw him once or twice in the Court buildings. Mr. Thomson's office is isolated, and people would have to go down the corridor to it. 138. Did you ever make a statement to the police, Commissioner Dinnie, or any one else to the effect that Mr. Isitt was having interviews with Mr. Thomson at that time ?—-I might have seen Mr. Thomson speaking to him, but I do not know whether it was before or after the election. 139. Did you ever make a statement to the police about Mr. Isitt interviewing Mr. Thomson about this time ?—I might have mentioned that 1 saw Mr. Isitt speaking to Mr. Thomson at or after the election. 140. I mean when the ballot-papers were in Mr. Thomson's charge ?—No ; I had all of the papers in my charge, and they were locked up in a room, and double-locked. 141. Do you think it possible that Mr. Isitt took a bundle of ballot-papers away?—l would be more inclined to think the paper would come from the place where it was printed, because it is useless as it is. It has to be initialled and numbered by a Returning Officer, and have the Government stamp. 142. But afterwards the initials are turned down on the paper?— Yes; but no one can get the Government stamp but the officials. 143. Could not a person get an imitation of the Government stamp made ?—I have known in other things that an imitation stamp has been made of cork ; but that would be done by experts.