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Fbidat, 14th July, 1899. Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Minister of Marine, further examined. Mr. Travers : Yesterday Dr. Pindlay referred to an examination of Captain Jones, of the " Duco," which had taken place ten years ago. It is supposed that Mr. Jones can neither read, write, nor do a sum. Captain Edwin informs me that the whole of the answers, writing and arithmetic, were done by Captain Jones, of the " Duco," in his own handwriting, and I would ask that the papers in that case of examination should be brought before the Commissioners. Judge Ward : The case was this. I stated that apparently, from the evidence before us, Captain Jones, of the " Duco," could not write his own name. It appears he wrote his own name ; but you could not blame the Commissioners for not believing that he could write, after reading his own declaration. Mr. Travers : It is the wish of Captain Edwin that the papers should be produced in order to show that Mr. Jones, although not a very good writer, was able to fill a considerable number of sheets in a manner sufficient to satisfy the Examiners. Judge Ward : It is simply to combat the implication against them that you want the papers to be produced ? Mr. Travers : Yes. Mr. Hanlon : I will undertake to do that, your Honour. 1. Dr. Giles.] There is one question I should like to put to Mr. Hall-Jones before commencing the cross-examination, just to complete one part of his evidence. If Captain Allman had brought back your memorandum with a report to the effect that he had looked into the regulations, and that Captain Jones might be permitted to go up for examination, would you then have given a permit upon his report, or would you have examined the regulation yourself to see that it was right in your opinion?-—ln all probability I should have been guided by his recommendation, seeing the responsibility he had as Chief Examiner and as Nautical Adviser. lam inclined to think that had the matter come back to me with a proper recommendation that there was a provision in the regulations for Captain Jones to be examined, and recommending that he be allowed, in all probability I should have given the permit. 2. Judge Ward.] You would have trusted Captain Allman in the matter?— Well, a Chief Examiner occupies a very responsible position, and, apart from that, he is Nautical Adviser. 3. But Nautical Adviser hardly means adviser as to the meaning of regulations ? —Of course Ido exercise my discretion in these matters. I exercised my discretion the other day where evidence of service did not appear to be sufficient, and I did not approve of the recommendation of the department. 4. Mr. Hislop.] You did not ask Captain Allman to report in writing ?—No. 5. And are you prepared to swear that he did not report verbally?— Yes ; if he had reported his report would have been in writing. 6. Your words were, " Take this—this will be a reminder to consider the question " ?—No; it was, " Take this as a reminder." 7. Was there any agreement to report in writing?—No; but he would follow the usual practice of my officers and write the report. 8. You will notice that on the papers, although you had previously dealt with them, there is no memorandum of yours in writing?—No, no memorandum. 9. And you did deal with the papers without any recommendation in writing, and without having made any memorandum yourself ? Have you noticed that in the file there is no report from the officers?—l looked through the file and satisfied myself that he (Captain Jones) was not entitled to the service certificate, and when Captain Jones saw me I told him so. 10. You spoke to Captain Allman about it ?—Yes. 11. Whatever happened between you and Captain Allman was not in writing ?—There was no report. A report is one thing, and an officer's opinion is another. 12. You knew that the matter was before you for reconsideration, and you were satisfied with Captain Allman's statement that there was no alternative ?—That is so. 13. How many times did you deal with the question before the telegram came from the Premier ?—Once. 14. Was it reopened before the Premier left ? —I thought that I had made it clear in my opening that Captain Jones called on me and stated his grievance with the department, and I promised to look into the matter. I sent for the papers, and when he came for his reply I told him he was not entitled to the certificate. 15. You have already told us that you had settled the matter. After that and prior to receiving the telegram did you reopen the question?—l only had the matter before me once. 16. Then no deputation waited upon you?— No. 17. Then the Premier is wrong when he swears that a deputation waited upon you ?—No deputation waited upon me. 18. Then, if the Premier said that he knew a deputation had waited upon you, he was incorrect? —I can only support what I say. lam responsible for what I say. 19. And you are positive that no persons spoke to you in the interest of Captain Jones's certificate ?—-Certain. Judge Ward : You mean the service certificate ? Mr. Hislop : Yes, we are referring to the service certificate. 20. When you received this telegram of Mr. Seddon's, what question was to be settled ?— That is what I wanted to know. Probably the Premier would not be aware that the matter had been before me. 21. You see, he telegraphs as if you and he both knew that something was to be settled.— Well, apparently, he knew that Jones had an application in, and he knew I was Minister of 9—H, 26,