F.—B.

100

F. H. BUSH.

14. Such as the edge of a flap, for instance? —Yes. 15. Could it miss feeling that? —It might. 16. You do not think it likely?—l do not think it likely. 17. Take that one, for instance. You see a mark there: we have been told that represents the mark of the back roller of the stamping-machine. Do you agree?—lt certainly agrees with what I have seen of the stamping-machine. 18. That obviously, then, was posted with the flap out? —I would certainly come to that conclusion if it came under my notice. 19. And that has gone through the post?— Yes. Mr. Ostler: The point is, we say it was full. 20. Mr. Gray.] That is not the question. That went through the stamping-machine with the flap out, and unless the letter-carrier noticed it and took the trouble to tuck it in, it would have gone right through in that way?— Yes. 21. Is it not quite possible it would go through the letter-carriers' sorter's hands without notice? —An envelope of that size—it is possible. 22. Mr. Ostler.] If wdien you are sorting you find a number of circulars have been sent through the post with the envelopes open and the flaps out, but still the envelopes have contents, I suppose you do not stop to tuck in all the flaps?— No. 23. You would leave the flaps : your business is to see, as you sort them, that they contain something? —If my attention was attracted to them in that way 1 would certainly examine them to see they had contents. 24. And if you found they had contents, and had the flaps open, you would not waste time tucking them in : it is no part of your duties, is it?— No. 25. 1 understand you to say that if an envelope comes through your hands like that empty and with the flap out it is not likely you would miss it?—lt is not likely. 26. Mr. Gray.\ Though it is quite possible it would be done?—lt is possible, but-not likely. 27. I want to ask a question that does not arise out of the cross-examination : do you recollect that an English and soldiers' mail came to hand by the Main Trunk between 6 and 7 a.m. on the morning of the 3rd July ?—I do not have any clear recollection : 1 have been told of it. 28. Assuming that a heavy English mail was expected by the morning train between 6 and 7 o'clock on the 3rd July, would not a special effort be made to get ready for it—to clear the mail-room and clear all the mail-matter before it arrived? —It is only under exceptional circumstances that the sorting is not clear in the letter-carriers' branch when the Main Trunk train arrives. 29. We must take it that it almost always happens that all the matter has been disposed of before the mail comes in between 6 and 7 o'clock ?—Yes. 30. Then we must suppose that the letter-carriers' sorters are very busy before the Main Trunk train conies in ?—They are fairly busy, but, except under special circumstances, not hard pushed. 31. Would you have any time to interfere with the contents of letters if you were so disposed? —No, Ido not think so. William Albert Abercrombie, Letter-carriers' Sorter, Auckland, examined. 1. Mr. Gray.] Your name?— William Albert Abercrombie. 2. You are a letter-carriers' sorter in the Auckland Post-office?— Yes. 3. How long have you been engaged in that office?--About thirty years. 4. How long in your present duties? —About ten years. 5. We have heard from the last witness the process adopted for sorting letters. Did you go on duty at 5 o'clock on the morning of the 3rd July ?—Yes. 6. You were not on early morning duty on the sth?—No. 7. In the early morning of the 3rd was the usual process of dealing with mail-matter adopted? —Yes. 8. Who were engaged in sorting?— Myself and Mr. Bush. 9. No others?— Not till after the Main Trunk came in. 10. Before the Main Trunk came in had you disposed of all local matter?— Yes. 11. Then only you and Bush were engaged in dealing with that?— Yes. 12. Was anything special done with it—anything out of the common?— No. 13. For yourself, are you able to say whether there was any interference with any of the letters ?—No, none. 14. Are you able to say from your experience as a, sorter whether it is possible or impossible for sorters to miss seeing that the contents of envelopes posted as circulars are full or empty?— It may be possible to miss them if the envelope is stiff and thick. 15. How would you describe these square envelopes—they have been handled a good deal?— It is quite possible to put one in like that without contents and not notice it. 16. You would pass that kind of paper more readily than thinner stuff?— Yes. 17. Would you pass it, as readily as that, for instance?— That is fairly stiff, too. 18. One is as liable to pass as the other?— Yes. 19. Mr. Ostler.] Did you have instructions to hold the correspondence of box 912 for the Censor?—No, I do not remember it. 20. You never had instructions?—l might have, but Ido not remember. 21. Did you sign any of those orders in the order-book after having seen them?-—— . Mr. Williamson: They do not sign it.