H.—s

40

Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull sworn and examined. 872. The Commissioner.] You are a merchant, are you not ?—Yes. 873. Will you tell me if you ever saw the original letters from Colonel Fox to the Premier, or any copy or draft of them ? —Never. 874. Was anything, purporting to be a copy or a draft of the original letter or letters, read out in your presence by Colonel Fox ?—No. Ido not know Colonel Fox personally. I may say I have not even seen what purported to be a copy in the Evening Post. Jesse Huett sworn and examined. 875. The Commissioner.] What are you ?—Acting Chief Messenger and Housekeeper. 876. Do you recognise this book [produced] ?—Yes; it is my own book. 877. What do you use it for ? —For a record of all letters delivered in town by Government messengers. 878. Do you notice, under date 4th April, an entry " Evening Post" ? —Yes. 879. What does an examination of that entry show ? Does it show that on the morning of the 4th April, 1894, at 10.10 a.m., Mason took out several letters for delivery, and amongst them was one addressed to the Evening Post ? —Yes. 880. Do you recollect if, on 4th April, any letter passed through your hands or under your observation addressed "Evening Post" ? —Not one. Not that one itself. 881. Is there no note in the margin to show where that letter came from ?—No. 882. I presume you do not know where that letter came from?—No. Matthew West sworn and examined. 883. The Commissioner.] What are you ?—A Government messenger. 884. What is this book [produced] ? —lt is used for entering the letters received from offices to be delivered outside the Building, in town and suburbs. 885. Do you notice, under date 4th April, 1894, the entry " Evening Post " ? Also, the entry, " W.H. Atack"?—Yes. 886. What would an examination of those entries purport to show you ? —That on the 4th April, 1894, at 10.10 a.m., I gave out all the letters within that bracket, to be delivered. 887. Who did you give them to ?—To Mason. 888. And among those letters was there one to the Evening Post, and one to Mr. Atack ? —Yes. 889. Can you remember anything about those letters ?—I remember the letter to Mr. Atack, through my attention being called to the name. It passed in my mind at the time that he was the man to attack. That is how I came to remember. It was in a note-size envelope. 890. Was it in an official envelope ?—No, it had no official marks about it. It was private, unless it had a mark over the seal. 891. Was it a square envelope?—No. 892. Can you recollect anything about the one addressed to the Evening Post ? —No, I cannot. I know there was one, only because it is entered. 893. In whose handwriting are these entries ?—ln my handwriting. 894. Can you recollect who brought you in Mr. Atack's letter ?—No. 895. Can you recollect who brought you the Evening Post letter ? —No. 896. Can you recollect the sort of envelope the Evening Post letter was in?—No; I have no distinct recollection of the Evening Post one at all. We have so many for that address that, no doubt, it misses one's notice. 897. What sort of writing was the envelope to Mr Atack addressed in? —As far as my memory serves me, it was written with a soft pen, probably a quill. 898. If you saw similar writing would you recognise it ?—I do believe I should know it again, that is the address that went out. 899. If you saw similar writing on another piece of paper would you recognise it ?—Very likely I should. Ido not remember the remainder of the address. 900. Do you recognise this document [produced] as the duty-plan for the week ending 6th April ?—Yes. 901. Where were you during that week ?—ln the messengers' room, receiving and sending off correspondence that might come in for delivery. 902. I notice here in the margin you put down in some cases " Eailways," " Police," " Patents," &c. What does that mean ? —lt shows they come from those departments. When there is nothing written there, it shows there was nothing on the envelope to show where the letter came from. 903. Where do you get the notes that appear in the margin?—From the foot-note at the bottom of the envelopes. George Asplin sworn and examined. 904. The Commissioner.] Do you recognise this book [produced]?—Yes; it is the book that is kept down-stairs for letters sent out into the town from about here. 905. Look at the entries on the 4th April; look at the second entry on that date?—Yes, "Evening Post." 906. Do you know whose writing that is ? —I think it is West's ; but I cannot say for certain. 907. Do you notice a letter entered lower down addressed " Mr. Atack " ?—Yes, I see there is one there. 908. Do you recognise this document [produced] ?—Yes; it is the duty-plan for the week for messengers; that is, provided the messenger had no duty to do down-stairs ; as mailman, for instance.