I.—2b

4

136. Look and see if you have a letter of the 16th July, from Mr. Wrigg to yourself ?—I have a letter here [letter produced—Exhibit No. 5] of the 16th July. I do not know whether it is in answer to the one you mentioned or not. 137. Just look and see. Does it acknowledge receipt of the former one?—l believe it is in reply to mine. ' 138. Mr. Hutchison (to Mr. Wrigg).] That is your letter, Mr. Wrigg?—Yes. 139. Did you get a certificate from Judge Wilson, as indicated in that letter? —No. 140. Why?— Because he refused it. 141. Why did he refuse it? l —Because he is of a jealous nature. 142. What did Judge Wilson reply to your application for a certificate?— Judge Wilson said he could not give a certificate. He was not there. As far as I remember, he thought these ambuscades were laid for him instead of the mailman, and he considered he ought to have the Cross if it was conferred upon any one. 143. He refused you the certificate ?—Yes. 144. About " the friend from Wellington " that you refer to in that letter—was that Mr. Tregear ?—I object to bringing an old Government officer's name into the matter. I decline to answer that question. 145. You got a certificate from Captain Bower. It is in print in the parliamentary paper dated 24th July, 1897. [Parliamentary paper showing printed certificate put in—Exhibit No. 6.] 146. About this time also, Mr. Wrigg, you applied to other gentlemen for certificates?— Yes, and submitted my papers, of course. 147. Will you say what the papers you submitted were? —They were the camp orders, with indorsement. 148. What else ?—There might have been Captain Bower's letter also. 149. You got a number of certificates ?—Yes. 150. And they are all in print in this parliamentary paper H.-31 — twenty-two certificates altogether ?—Yes, there are about twenty-two. • 151. And all but four of these are from gentlemen who certify on perusal of documents?— Yes. 152. The first of the four exceptions is that of Captain Bower's, which we have just read, dated 24th July?— Yes. 153." Then there is another one from Leonard Simpson, dated the 2nd August [Exhibit No. 7]. Did yon get that in reply to a communication sent to him?— Yes. 154. The third is from Captain Percival, dated the 4th August [Exhibit No. B]. How did you get that certificate—was it in response to a communication from yourself?— Yes. 155. Was it sent to you—sent to you for the purpose of being sent on?— Yes, and it was addressed to the Minister of Defence. 156. What rank did Captain Percival hold in the Colonial Forces ?—He was a captain of the Colonial Forces at the time, as well as captain in the 55th Regiment. 157. Was he in Opotiki in June, 1867?— I cannot swear to that; I believe he was. He was Paymaster of the Forces. The ambuscade was laid for him. 158. I want to know whether you can say if Captain Percival was in Opotiki in June, 1867 ?— I knew Captain Percival on the East Coast. I believe he was in Opotiki in June, 1867. 159. The fourth is from Mr. G. H. Leaning, dated the 18th August, 1897 [Exhibit No. 9]. Did you see him on the subject of a certificate—did-you call on him ?—No; I sent a message. 160. By a mutual friend ?—By a friend of mine. 161. And you got this document signed by him ?—Yes. 162 Do you know what Mr. Leaning means by saying he was a " voluntary trooper " ?—I cannot say. 163. Was he a member of the Bay of Plenty Cavalry ? —Yes, 164. And in Opotiki in June, 1867 ?—Yes. 165. You do not know what he means by saying he a was a voluntary trooper ?—Hβ means that he was a trooper in a Volunteer corps. 166. What does he mean by associating your name with " the disturbances of 1867 and" 1868 " ?—Because he covered the ground. 167. You were not in Opotiki in 1868 ?—He says, " In the disturbance in 1868." 167 a. He says, " I certify that I was a voluntary trooper in the Bay of Plenty Volunteer Cavalry when Bennett White and the mailman were murdered, and when Cornet Wrigg stepped forward and volunteered to carry despatches in the disturbances of 1867 and 1868," What is Mr. Leaning now ?—He is an undertaker or carpenter in Auckland. 168. Did you see any members of Parliament in this case ?—Yes. 169. Sir Maurice O'Eorke and Mr. Holland ?—Yes. 170. What others?—l did my best to get the thing through, because in these days men cannot get things through unless they work for them. 171. You saw other members of Parliament besides Sir Maurice O'Eorke ?—-Yes. 172. You saw Hon. Mr. Jennings ?—Yes. 173. Hon. Mr. McCullough ?—Yes. 174. Did they promise to interest themselves on your behalf ?—Yes. 175. Did you also see the Defence Minister in Auckland?— Yes, I did, and who gave me very little encouragement. 176. Did you receive a letter from the Defence Department declining your application ?—No. 177. Not towards the end of 1897—last year?—No; it went through Captain Bower. 178. Did you receive it, directly or indirectly ?—I did indirectly, through Captain Bower. 179. The Defevice Office then refused the application ?—Yes. 180. When was that ?—Some time in 1897.