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2699. Now, have you told us about all the jewellery?— Yes. 2700. Then, how was the jewellery and wearing-apparel taken from your house ?—I was told to take an inventory of the effects. Before we opened the boxes, we were told by Mr. De Castro to take an inventory, after the woman died. 2701. And you did so ?— No. We found the jewellery, and I came down with the jewellery, and gave it in. 2702. Then you are quite sure you took the jewellery from the box?—l took it down, and gave it to the Public Trustee. Mr. Ha.merton told me to take it to Mr. De Castro, which I did, and handed it to him. 2703. Mr. MacdoJiald.] If Mr. De Castro tells us he took the jewellery from the box in Thomas and Co.'s, that is incorrect? —It is not correct. I have got the receipt from Mr. De Castro. I will look and try and find it. 2704. When you handed the jewellery to Mr. De Castro you handed the smaller piece of lace with it? —Yes, in the jewellery-box. 2705. And that smaller piece of lace you were led to believe was worth about £20?— Yes. 2706. Do you remember a valuable bracelet being among the jewellery ?—Yes. 2707. And do you remember a bangle?—No; I do not remember that. It might have been amongst the jewellery, but I do not remember. I am not sure whether there was a bangle, but there was a thin wire-looking article, I think. 2708. Will you describe the bracelet which you say was of value? —It was a gold bracelet —a large, heavy gold bracelet, with stones laid into it. Ido not know the value of the stones, but by the finish and the weight of it I should think it was very valuable. 2709. And you are sure that it was a heavy gold bracelet ?■—Yes. 2710. It could not be mistaken for a bangle ?—Oh, no ! 2711. You know what a bangle is ?—Yes ; one of those wire things. 2712. You are quite satisfied about it ?—Yes. 2713. Do you remember the colour of the stones ?~-Yes. 2714. What were the colours ? —I think they were clear—something like dull glass. I think there were two classes of stones, light-coloured, more like a pebble. 2715. To what country did Mrs. Dallon belong?—lreland. 27.16. They may have been Irish stones?—l do not think so. 2717. Were they Scotch pebbles?— No. 2718. You. think the stones were valuable?—l think they were. lam not an expert in stones, but the general finish of the w Tork led me to believe that it was a very valuable bracelet. It was splendid workmanship, and the gold was very heavy. It would weigh your hand down. You were surprised at the weight of it when you took it into your hand. You did not expect it to be so weighty. It was a very old family relic ; not a modern thing at all. It had that appearance. 2719. Well, what did you say to Mr. De Castro, or he say to you, when you finally left the jewellery with him ?—I asked him to let me know when the jewellery was to be sold, and he said he would. I intended to buy some of the things. 2720. Did he say he would ?—Yes. 2721. And did he let you know?—No; I never heard anything about it. I got a watch and albert about a year ago to send to the son. It w ras the son's own watch. 2722. Which the son had left in the safe custody of his mother ?—Yes. 2723. Did you and Mr. De Castro, when you handed him the jewellery and the small piece of lace, have any discussion about the value of the jewellery? —No. 2724. Then, was that the only communication you had in respect to the jewellery and the lace ?—That was all. 2725. Until recently, when you found it necessary to write a letter on the subject to Mr. Hamerton ? —Yes. 2726. You did write a letter to Mr. Hamerton? —Yes, about a week or a fortnight ago, in the early part of this month, to know what had become of it. 2727. Did you get any reply?— Yes. He said it had been sold, and no record had been made of my wish. 2728. And so you lost the chance of bidding at the auction ?—Yes. 2729. Mrs. Dallon appears to have lived for some time in your house ?—For about six months before she died. 2730. Was she a very respectable woman? —As far as I know. 2731. And lived very quietly ?—Yes. 2732. Did she die suddenly?— Yes. She was taken ill on the Friday, and she was dead on the following Monday afternoon. 2732 a. Did she make any request as to her effects to you before she died ?—No. 2733. She was not aware that her end was so near, perhaps? —No. She was out on the Friday all round town. 2734. Did she often speak of her son? —Yes. 2735. She was very much attached to him?— Yes. She came out from England to him. lam not sure wdiether she was in a situation, but she came out to him, and intended to go away to Queensland the next week to look after him. I have looked at the account sales of George Thomas and Co. I see no mention therein of the bracelet or either piece of lace. They could not have been sold. I was at the first sale at Thomas's, when the furniture and wearing-apparel was sold. There was no bracelet or lace sold that came «nder my notice. The wearing-apparel was sold in pieces. [Account sales of the furniture and effects produced.] 2736. Why did you not take an inventory wheji you brought the jewellery to the Public Trust ? —I was told to take an inventory before the boxes were opened. When we found the jewellery I