H.—7a.

RICHARD TRUMAN.]

7

At Mr. Kennedy's request, the Head Attendant withdrew. Dr. Levinge (to Mr. Kennedy): Ido not know the date on which you were reported to have been in the bakehouse. 1 think it was the day previous to your suspension—Monday, the 29th August —that I was told about it. I believe you were in the bakehouse the previous week, one or two days before the statement as to the baker's hours of duty appeared in the paper. You repeatedly denied being there at all. Attendant Newport (to Dr. Levinge): 1 was present at the interview you had with Kennedy when you asked him if he was present in the bakehouse the week before last. He denied it, and said he had not been there all the previous week. He said, "not to my knowledge," or "not lo my recollection," two or three times, and afterwards absolutely denied it. Charles Edward Davis, Baker, examined. Witness (to Dr. Levinge): 1 recollect having an interview with you when you asked me if I remembered Kennedy being in the bakehouse the previous week. Dr. Campbell and Mr. Russell were present at the time I said Kennedy had been present in the bakehouse the previous week, and that (a patient) had been there at the same time. (To Mr. Kennedy): I heard from the patient who is working for me that you had come there after a mouse-trap. Ido not know for certain, of my own knowledge, that you were there. I was off duty myself that day, but the patient told me you had been there. John Edmund Russell examined. Witness (to Dr. Levinge) : I was present at the interview with the baker that has just been referred to, and heard Kennedy had been in the bakehouse the previous week. The baker said nothing about having been off the previous day and having obtained this information from a patient. Dr. Campbell corroborated this statement. Mr. Davis, baker (to Mr. Beetham): Ido not know of my own personal knowledge that Kennedy was there in the bakehouse. (To Dr. Levinge): Since this occurrence you have given me notice to leave. You told me you had evidence to prove that Kennedy was there. (To Mr. Kennedy): Dr. Levinge asked me if you were in the bakehouse, and I said, "Yes, to the best of my belief, last night." The reason I said so was because I was told so by a patient. Edward Harris examined. Witness (to Dr. Levinge): I have been employed in the Asylum sixteen years and a half. Kennedy asked me to sign a petition that was sent to Colonel Pitt. When I refused to sign it, Kennedy said it was because I had not the moral courage to do so. (To Mr. Kennedy): You did not try hard to induce me to sign it; you simply came and asked me if I would do so. I always understood you were the leader in getting up the petition. In my actual knowledge you have not been untruthful to me. Thomas Blower examined. Witness (to Dr. Levinge): Kennedy asked me to sign the petition to Mr. Witty and others in regard to getting an Appeal Board or a Commission of Inquiry into attendants' grievances. He also asked me to sign a paper with reference to getting up a union amongst the attendants. I was not asked to sign the round-rcbin. I signed the first petition with reference to an Appeal Board, shorter hours, &c. I did not read the petition myself; Mr. Kennedy read it to me. I was not ,;old anything about any accusations against the management of the Asylum. I understood that the petition dealt simply with the questions of shorter hours, more pay, superannuation fund, and Board of Appeal. (To Mr. Kennedy): I think you did ask me to sign the round-robin to the Minister. I signed it, and I understood clearly what I was signing. You were not the only one who spoke to me about petitions, but you asked me to sign. You spoke to me about the union paper. I did not see any paper; I could not say whether or not there was one. Charles H. Sykes examined. Witness (to Dr. Levinge): Kennedy approached me with reference to signing these petitions. The first one was the petition to Mr. Witty demanding an inquiry. It had reference to attendants getting higher salaries, shorter hours, alternate Sundays off, superannuation fund, and one or two other things; also a Board of Appeal and Commission of Inquiry. I read it and signed it. I was asked by Kennedy to sign a second petition, but refused, because I was not allowed to read it. I signed the paper with regard to a union. , (To Mr. Kennedy): You were the only one who asked me to sign these petitions. Ido not know who drafted these petitions. (To Dr. Levinge): I believe that in consequence of these petitions there was a feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction amongst the attendants. The staff was unsettled through these petitions. (To Mr. Beetham): I believe these petitions unsettled the staff; they unsettled me. I read the petitions I signed and knew what I had signed. (To Mr. Kennedy): I was not dissatisfied with my conditions before I was asked to sign these petitions. I had been dissatisfied with regard to the sleeping-hours and had complained, but I have got used to them now. I was dissatisfied with sleeping in the afternoon instead of' in the morning. We are still sleeping in the afternoon. lam not dissatisfied now. Thomas Bowen examined. Witness (to Dr. Levinge): I was approached by Attendant Kennedy with regard to signing these petitions that have been going about for shorter hours, superannuation fund, &c. I knew at the time to whom they were addressed, but cannot recollect now. It was to some of the members