I.—lα.

52

("c. macdonell.

261. Mr. Graham.] How do you know that?— Because I have reason'to believe you made a complaint against me in connection with it. 262. I have made no complaint against you ?—I can tell who the woman is, but Ido not know her name. 263. Mr. Maginnity.] Did you make any inquiry into the general character of Stapp, Blincoe, Eemnant, or Eeed ? —Yes ; into the character of Stapp and Blincoe. 264. What was the result?— They were said to Be decent fellows. 265. From whom did you inquire :do you remember ? —I think I inquired from Mr. Bannehr, who gave me their names. I refer to Blincoe and Stapp. 266. What was the result of the inquiry ? —-That they were supposed to be decent fellows. I did not know where to find them, but I found the father of one of them in the post-office in Nelson, who told me where his son was, and I went there. I went direct from him to the other man before they could communicate, so as to satisfy myself whether there was truth in what they said or not. 267. Did you find out anything about Eemnant and Eeed?—Eeed is the man at The Port. 268. What did you find out about him ? —That he was up for using obscene language. 269. Then, he did not bear a very good character ? —I believe he is given to drink. 270. And you know that he was had up for using obscene language ? —I think that was by the constable at The Port—not one of these constables. 271. Did you make any inquiry about Eemnant ?—No, not any particular inquiry, except what was stated at the Commissioner's inquiry. 272. But you heard ?—Yes; I had some inquiry made of his employers, and they gave him a fair character. 273. He was with Neil and Hannow?—Yes, I think so. I did not see them personally. 274. Who saw them ?—I forget which of the constables it was. 275. Either Constable Bird or Constable Williams?—l am not sure. 276. You got it through one of the constables ?—That is my impression. 277. Would it be either Constable Bird or Constable Williams?— Yes, if any. 278. How many people did you interview in Nelson, Inspector, with regard to the general conduct of the police there? —A good many in reference to the allegations made. I was hearing fresh complaints there day after day. 279. Are they all embraced in those that you sent on to" the Commissioner ?—Well, mention is made of all, except one. 280. Those are the eight complaints; the other one we cannot deal with, because it is not on the record ?—I mentioned some other man at The Port who was alleged to have been assaulted, but whom I could not see, and a man named Atmore. I went twice to his father's office, but could not see him. The names of these two are mentioned in the report. 281. But you did not see them ?—No. 282. Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.] You mean that they were assaulted by these constables?—-They were said to have been. Atmore was one ; I forget the name of the other, but it is mentioned in the report. I also say there that I did not see them. I may say that I also made a little inquiry into an assault said to have been made by Burrell on two or three young fellows. 283. Mr. Maginnity.] Is that in these papers ? —I think it should be referred to in this way: that I was given to understand that an attempt was made to tamper with a witness. 284. Is it in connection with one of these charges ?—No. Mr. Maginnity : Then, I submit, Mr. Chairman, that that should not appear in the evidence. Witness : Wilson is another man who alleged that an attempt was made to get him to tell an untruth in connection with an assault that took place there. 285. Mr. Maginnity.] I think you said that you did not see Atmore ?—That is so. 286. Atmore was one. Who else did you go to ?—I do not remember the other man's name, but it will be in the papers. 287. That was two. Who else?—A young fellow named Coles. There is no report about that. 288. But there was as to the general conduct of the police ?—lt is wrong saying that I went to him. He and his brother came to me. 289. Did you inquire into their characters?— Not farther than what they told me themselves. I asked the young fellow whether he had been in trouble or not and he told me frankly that he had been. 290. Did he tell you how often ?—Twice, I think. That is my impression. 291. Did he tell you how often his brother was in trouble ?—No. 292. Did you say his brother was present ?—Yes ; when he was talking to me. I was not inquiring about the brother. 293. Did you go to the police office and look up the records in regard to the Coleses ?—No. 294. Would you be surprised if I told you they were two of the biggest nuisances to the Police Force of Nelson, and have been so for the last six or seven years ? Did you not hear so ?—No, I did not until you said so just now. 295. Who beside the Coleses did you go to ?—A number of people. I cannot give their names from memory —people whom I never saw before. 296. You cannot tell us who they were ?—No. 297. Did you go to any of these people : George M. Eout, a Justice of the Peace?—No, I did not. 298. Mr. Austin H. Bisley, of Bisley Bros, and Co. ?—No. 299. Mr. William Eout, jun., of W. Eout and Sons?— No. 300. Mr. Henry Cock ?—No. 301. Mr. Albert Pitt, solicitor ?—No.