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OAM ABU. Wednesday, 13th April, 1898. The Commission opened its proceedings for public business at the Supreme Court Buildings, Oamaru, on Wednesday, the 13th April, 1398, at 10 o'clock a.m. Present : Messrs. Wardell and Poynton. , ~ ~ Colonel Hume, Mr. Tunbridge, and Mr. T. B. Taylor, M.H.E., were in attendance. General efficiency of the Force:—Thomas O'Grady, sergeant in charge police, Oamaru, attended, and, being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Complaint of Mr. T. B. Taylor, M.H.8., :_Mr. T. E. Taylor, MHE handed in the following complaint :'■ That Sergeant O'Grady is of intemperate habits and has been during the MS and neglectful ol his duty as a police officer" The following are some of the Fnstances of neglect of duty on Sergeant O'Grady's part: The loss of a watch by Mrs. Jane Isabel Youn- the breaking of public lamps reported by - McLaren ; the theft of various articles from one McLaren ; the failure to suppress the lamkm nuisance. Complaint of Mr T. B. Taylor, M.H.E. :—Mr. T. E. Taylor handed in the following complaint ■ " That Constable Mullaney frequents licensed houses, and conducts himself m such a manner as to interfere with the efficient discharge of his duty. Complaint of Mrs. Simpson, handed in by Mr. T. E. Taylor M.H.E. :" I hereby charge Serjeant O'Grady with kasitig acted in an improper manner towards me m the following ways, w D H. did bring two men to my house in Reid Street about three years ago and propose to me £ tfiy should enter my house for immoral purposes. He said they had plenty of money, and I was to'lake them pay will. 1 refused them admission He has on various occasions suggested immora connections to me, and on other occasions has threatened to force me to leave the town.E SS-E - Street, Oamaru, 13th April, 1898,-Witness to signature-George Dash." . . , . Withdrawal of case -.—Thomas Mayne, plain-clothes constable, wrote desiring to withdraw his application to lay his case before the Commission, and his application was granted. Complaint of Mr. Michael Haunon:—Michael Hannon, hotelkeeper, Oamaru; Constable Michael Greene, Sergeant Thomas O'Grady, Mounted Constable Henry George Hunt, Constable WUI am Christie, Constable Edmund Charles Trehey, Constable Patrick Cotter, and James Albert Sheard, hairdresser, Oamaru, attended, and, each being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. , -, At 2 30 o'clock the Commission inspected the police quarters and men on parade, and examined'the official books in use at the station. The men were addressed by the Chairman, and invited to lay any suggestions before the Commission that they might think desirable. Suggestions -.—Constable Edmund Charles Trehey attended, and, being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Failure of the police to carry out the licensing-laws in the Waimate district:—George Dash coachbuilder, Waimate, attended, and, being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the leP ° At 5.30 p.m. the Commission adjourned until 10 o'clock to-morrow.

Thursday, 14th Apbjl, 1898. The Commission sat at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Messrs. Wardell, Poynton, and Colonel Pitt. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Colonel Hume, Mr. Tunbridge, and Mr. T. B. Taylor, M.H.E., were in attendance. Complaint-—Constable David Hannifin, of Port Chalmers, attended to give evidence in reference to certain evidence given by Sergeant Conn at Dunedin. Ernest Page Lee, barrister, appeared for Constable Hannifin. David Hannifin and Christopher Conn, sergeant of police, attended, and, each being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter. Complaint of Mrs. Mary Simpson : -Mr. Lee, solicitor, handed in the following written document: " 1 hereby withdraw the charges made by me to the Police Commission against Sergeant O'Grady.— Maby Simpson. Witness—lvon A. Barton." Complaint of Mr. T. E. Taylor:—Mr. Taylor handed in the following complaint: "I hereby charge Sergeant O'Grady with having acted in an improper manner towards Mrs. Mary Simpson in that he has on various occasions suggested that he should have sexual intercourse with her and that on one occasion he brought two men to her house in Eeid Street, Oamaru, and asked her'to have improper relations with them, telling her that they had plenty of money, and she was to make them pay well for it, and that the sergeant on these various occasions was under the influence of liquor." Complaint of Hugh McLaren :—Mr. McLaren attended, and said he desired to withdraw the charge. Permission granted, and charge withdrawn. Complaint of TE. Taylor against Sergeant O'Grady :—The following witnesses attended, and, each being sworn, gave evidence, which was taken down by the reporter, viz. : Henry Richmond, librarian, Oamaru Athenseum; Ernest Page Lee, barrister, and secretary to the Athenasum ; Thomas Edward Taylor, M.H.E., land and estate agent, Christchurch; David Smart, Ardgowan Oamaru ex-constable; Michael Greene, police-constable, Oamaru; Isabella Young, wife ot