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1008. The Chairman (to Mrs. Kose).] Were any steps taken previously to your consulting Mr. Gully ?—None. 1009. 2lr. Grimmond.] When did Miss Warburton arrive in the colony—before the 27th February ?—No. 1010. How long after ?—I cannot say. Ida Peince re-examined. Miss Prince.: I wish to say that Miss Barber has stated that I expressed a wish that the money should go to Mrs. Livingston. I did nothing of the sort. Mrs. Eose informed me that the money had no business to come to me, and should go to Mrs. Livingston. That is what she said. Ido not remember whether Miss Barber was there or not. And when at Mrs." Gordon's, Mrs. Gordon did come into the room. What I said was that Mrs. Eose could take the trust account if she liked until Miss Warburton's return. 1011. The Chairman.] And you say that Miss Barber was mistaken when she said that y&u told her that you were troubled about this money being left to you, and could not rest at night ?— I said I could not rest, and was troubled; that is quite true. 1012. The Chairman (to Miss Barber).] Have you anything to say, Miss Barber, on what Miss Prince has said?—l only wish to confirm what I have already said.

APPENDIX. Petition. To the Hon. the Speaker and the Members of the House of Eepeesentatives of the Colony of New Zealand in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of Ida Prince, of Wellington, showeth, — That a letter, containing my Government bank-book, in which £500 and interest appeared to my credit, and a letter of instructions from my late protector, Mr. B. A. Livingston, were intrusted to Mr. Salmon, a clerk in the Blenheim Post-office, for delivery to your petitioner in the event of any accident, such as sudden death, happening to the said E. A. Livingston. That the said Mr. E. A. Livingston died suddenly on the 22nd December last, and that immediately afterwards Mr. Salmon placed the documents, which were intrusted to him for delivery to your petitioner, in an envelope and posted them to your petitioner's address, care of Mr. Kirkcaldie, to whom they were duly delivered. That very shortly afterwards the chief clerk of the post-office, Mr. Hoggard, came and asked for the parcel, took it, and delivered it to the Inspector of Post-offices, Mr. Hose, who delivered it to his wife, who opened it without the permission of your petitioner, and has since kept possession of it, to the great inconvenience of your petitioner, who, but for kind friends, would have been left without means. That your petitioner's letter, intended for her eyes alone, and which she has not yet received, has been read by the Post-office Inspector, by the Post-office Inspector's wife, by Mr. Gully, the lawyer, and has been communicated to Miss Combs. That your petitioner wrote to the Hon. the Postmaster-General regarding the above facts, and he has stated that he will not interfere in any way to give relief to your petitioner. Your petitioner, therefore, is compelled humbly to appeal to your honourable House, and to ask you to afford such redress as in its wisdom it may deem fit. And your petitioner will ever pray. Wellington, 27th August, 1889. Ida Pkince. [Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,400 copies), £3125.]

By Authority : George Didsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB9. i 7—l. 2a.