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287. Will you explain how it was Simmons came to leave the country?— Well, there was a penalty of £50 for having taken work whilst he was a member of the Council, and to evade that he left the colony. 288. Was he threatened with proceedings ?—Oh, yes, I think, by a man named Stewart. 289. In what year? —I think it was the following year. 290. Is Simmons still alive ?—Well, I saw him about ten years ago in Melbourne. 291. Do you remember this promissory note for £98 10s. being given to Nathaniel Seddon ?— No, I cannot say. 292. Was it for wages: would it be possible for the Council to owe anything to Nathaniel Seddon for anything other than wages? —No. 293. Do you remember this signature to the promissory note: is it yours?— Yes, that is my signature. 294. Was the promissory note filled up when you signed it ?—lt was filled up, of course. 295. Was the Council in the habit of giving promissory notes for wages? —Oh, no ; not in the habit. This was an exceptional case, I think. 296. Do you remember any other promissory note ? —No. 297. Mr. Graham.] You did not sign these vouchers before they were filled in?—Oh, no; but I was not particular about filling in the date. 298. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon.] It was impossible for Wylde to know the nature of the auditors' report ?—I cannot say. 299. If he had seen the reports first he might have had a chance to remove documents, but he only saw the nature of the reports in the papers?— Yes. 300. The same would apply to the removal of the pages from the book ? —Yes. 301. Do you remember the local auditors reporting that a change in the method of keeping the accounts was necessary ? —Yes. 302. It-has been suggested that the borough was in credit, and had balances at the end of the year: was it not possible that in 1881 and 1882 cheques were sometimes given and held until there were funds to meet them ? —Yes ; and about that time there was some arrangement made with the bank. 303. Do you remember sometimes a cheque being given for payment, and then a new cheque taking its place ? —Yes. 304. As chairman of the Finance Committee you know that this was owing to the condition of the Council's funds ? —Yes, that was so.

Wednesday, 26th Octobee, 1898. Geoege Eudkin further examined. 1. Mr. Duthie.] At the last meeting Mr. Graham, in cross-questioning you, asked you a question in reference to some vouchers that I had mislaid, as to the vouchers being applicable to the time, when you were under cross-examination? —Yes. 2. You have a voucher there of the 22nd July for £7 18s. ?—Yes, I have that voucher. 3. Six pounds of that is for Mr. N. Seddon, and £1 18s. for sundry individuals?— That is so. 4. On the 22nd April, 1881, there is a voucher for £19 ss. ?—Yes. 5. The amount of that payable to Mr. N. Seddon was £9?— Yes. 6. And the balance to various people ?—Yes. 7. So that the questions I asked you were quite accurate under cross-examination?— Yes. 8. And there are cases where the total amounts on the cheque do not agree with the payments made to Mr. -N. Seddon?—That is so. 9. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon (through the Chairman).] That voucher for £19 ss. is a blank voucher, is it not? —Yes. 10. But if a cheque had been given for it it would show that there were three different persons who had received payment ? —Yes. 11. Mr. Duthie.] But there isa receipt from Mr. N. Seddon for £7?—lt is a blank sheet. 12. There is a loose sheet at the back, is there not ?—There is no receipt of any one attached to that voucher. 13. It is represented there as a payment to Mr. N. Seddon of £12? —Yes. 14. And the other has a receipt attached for £6 ? —The other One is receipted. 15. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon.] Are there two amounts, or is it one receipt ?—The only receipt upon it is the amount for £6 for Mr. Seddon. The small amounts are not receipted; they are sums of 10s., and so on. James Wylde sworn and examined. 16. The Chairman.] What are you? —A civil engineer. 17. Where resident ?—ln Kumara. 18. You were Town Clerk as well as engineer there at one time, were you not ?—I was. 19. For how long ?—I was appointed first by His Excellency the Governor on the 27th July, 1877. I resigned some time in 1882. 20. You know the purpose of this inquiry in a general way ? —Yes. 21. Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon.] You were, previous to going to Kumara to take the engineership, Assistant Provincial Engineer in Canterbury ? —Yes. I took the whole charge of the works when Mr. Dobson was appointed to the railway. 22. You were Town Clerk, Treasurer, and also Borough Engineer?— Yes. I have a list of the offices I held given in the following letter : —