H.—l9.

Please be particular to say whether or not the French Consul was present, and whether he in any way objected to the interview taking place, or protested against it. Yours truly, A. M. Smith, Esq., Wellington. Geo. Fishee.

Mr. A. M. Smith to the Hon. Mr. Fisher. Sir,— Wellington, 21st September, 1888. In reply to your letter of yesterday's date, I would state that on Saturday, 11th August —the day on which the "Wakatipu" left Wellington with Gasparini on boarci—l happened to lunch at the Occidental Hotel, and there met Messrs. Ames and Maginnity. After lunch we went for a stroll on the Queen's Wharf, and met you on our w ray there. You made the remark that you were going to see Gasparini embark, and that, owing to the pressure of parliamentary work, you had not had an opportunity of seeing him. We joined you and w 7alked together to the " Wakatipu." On the wharf we met the French Consul, and you entered into conversation with him. Presently a cab drove up, having Gasparini and Detective Walker inside; and you left the French Consul and, joining Mr. Robertson, went up and spoke to Detective Walker; and, as far as I could see, you spoke through the interpreter to Gasparini. The conversation lasted but a few minutes ; and all the time you were speaking to Gasparini the French Consul was standing near Mr. Maginnity and myself. He seemed to take no notice whatever of what you were doing, and certainly did not appear to be annoyed at your conversing either with the detective or with Gasparini. After a short time the detective and Gasparini went on board the "Wakatipu," and I left, and you went away with the French Consul. I might add that I certainly did not go down to the wharf with the idea of seeing Gasparini. Another steamer was leaving by which some friends of, mine were going to Auckland, and I went down to say "Good-bye" to them; but when I heard Gasparini was going to embark, my curiosity was aroused to see him, and I went to the " Wakatipu " instead. I have, Ac, The Hon. G. Fisher. AmElius M. Smith.

Enclosure 6 in No. 7. Hon. Mr. Fisher to Inspector Thomson. Sir,— Wellington, 21st September, 1888. In your report upon the Gasparini interview at the wharf, which I have already said is very correct, there is one word which is misleading. You say Mr. Jellicoe approached Gasparini " accompanied" by the Italian Consul. It is true we together approached him when he got out of the cab ; but the use of the word " accompanied " would imply that Mr. Jellicoe and I went to the wharf together specially to meet the prisoner, and that Mr. Jellicoe was connected with me, or was acting for me. As a fact, I did not go to the wharf with Mr. Jellicoe, and had no previous knowledge that he would be there. Will you therefore kindly say whether, by the use of the word " accompanied," you mean that Mr. Jellicoe and I accompanied each other to the wharf, and that it appeared to you that he was acting for me ? I have, Ac, Inspector Thomson, Wellington. Geo. Fisher.

Hon. Mr. Fisher to Inspector Thomson. Sir,— Wellington, 20th September, 1888. Please inform me whether, on the occasion of the interview 7 with Gasparini on the wharf on the 11th August, the French Consul made any form of protest to you against myself or Mr. Jellicoe speaking to Gasparini, or whether he referred to the subject by way of objection in any manner whatever. I have, Ac, Inspector Thomson, Wellington. Geo. Fisher.

Mr. Inspector Thomson to the Hon. Mr. Fisher. Sir, — Police Department, District Office, Wellington, 22nd September, 1888. I have the honour to state, in reply to your memorandum of the 21st instant, that on the occasion of the interview held by yourself and Mr. Jellicoe with the prisoner Gasparini on the Wellington wharf the French Consul made no protest or objection to me against such conversation being allowed. Immediately after the conversation was ended I went on board the " Wakatipu," and did not come ashore again for at least ten minutes, at which time the French Consul had left the wharf. With reference to your query re that portion of my previous report wherein it is stated that " Mr. Jellicoe, Gasparini's solicitor, accompanied by the Italian Consul (the Hon. Mr. Fisher), and " Mr. George Robertson, interpreter, came up and spoke for a few minutes with the prisoner," I would now state that I used the word " accompanied "quite inadvertently, as, to be correct, I should have written that you both approached Gasparini together, for I was not in a position to state that Mr. Jellicoe and yourself were in company ; and, as a matter of fact, upon my passing that portion of the wharf a few minutes previously, Mr. Jellicoe was standing some distance away from Mr. Robertson and yourself, and, so far as I could observe, not in company with you. I have, &c, J. Bell Thomson, The Hon. Mr. Fisher. Inspector Ist Class.

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