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86. Can you toll me whether any one else besides Trooper McDonald wont with them together? —I believe there was an escort of troopers. 87. You say that on oath ?— J Uoliove thtji'c was tui escort of troopers. 88. You believe he was accompanied by mi escort?- -Yes. 89. When you say you behove it, do you believe is that your knowledge of what occurred?— Major St. John was a man who never sent anybody on a dangerous mission without some one accompanying him. 90. Do you admit it was a dangerous mission?— For about four miles, when you got on the beach after leaving Opotiki and passed tho Waiot'-ihi and got across the Ohiwa entrance. That was the only dangerous part of the expedition. 91. Will you admit thai six miles was a dangerous part?— That was the only part in which there any danger 92. Was there any lady accompanying them ?—That is whom I made a mistake. I beg to withdraw that—that is, that marriage business. 93. The Chairman.] Would you make a statement on that point ?—I made a mistake there where I said McDonald was about to get married: "Trooper McDonald was about to be married. His intended wife accompanied him, and some of his comrades of the Bay of Plenty Cavalry corps accompanied him to get him over the most dangerous part of the beach." I wish to withdraw that. 94. Mr. Wilford.] Why do you wish to withdraw that? —Because it was on another occasion. 95. Then, when you declared that io be true it was a mistake ?—Yes. 9(5. Did you depend upon your memory for that fact, or was it a suggestion from some one else? On that occasion you found your memory played you false? —Yes, just on that occasion. 97. You admit openly now that you stated that McDonald was about to be married, and there was no minister at Opotiki, and his intended wife accompanied him?— Yes. 98. You muddled that part up with another occurrence?— Yes, that part I did. 99. I suppose it is quite possible you muddled other parts up?—l may have. 100. Will you tell me whether a camp order issued by Captain Gwynnoth directed to a trooper in the Bay of Plenty Volunteers to carry despatches, could in the ordinary sense of the word be deemed to be an order of the commanding officer? — Well, it should be mentioned by the commanding officer that he desires so-and-so. 101. Did you know Captain Gwynneth ?—He was in charge of the Survey Department down there, surveying confiscated lands. 102. Was Captain Gwynneth a man skilled in military etiquette and discipline?— No. 103. Would he be a man in whom you would expect to find some irregularity in technical matters? —Yes. I remember a row between him and the commanding officer, Major St. John. 104. About some irregularity? —Yes. 105. Taking into consideration the fact that Captain Gwynneth was a man who, as you say, was not skilled in military matters, would you consider it a very wrong thing if he called the order that he issued " an order from the commanding officer " ?—Oh, yes ; that is all right. 107. It could bo done ?—Yes; the commanding officer sees the order. 10S. If Captain Gwynneth issued an order, would it be very wrong for the trooper to say he was carrying an order from the commanding officer?—He goes to the orderly-room for his instructions. 109. If ho got his orders from Captain Gwynneth he would not necessarily go into the orderly-room ?—No, he would not. 110. The authority that he had received from his superior officer being sufficient warranty for him to leave the district, it would not be necessary for him to communicate with the commanding officer ?—Not according to your way of looking at it. 111. Would you consider that an order in these words, signed by Captain Gwynneth, would be sufficient authority for a man to leave the lines at Opotiki and proceed to Tauranga, viz.: " Opotiki, 28th June, 1867. —Cornet Wrigg and Trooper McDonald will proceed to-morrow to Tauranga with despatches to Colonel Harington, or officer commanding the district, and await his reply (if any). Report themselves to him, and return with all speed, taking two days' rations with him.—(Signed) John Gwynneth, Captain Commanding B.P.V.C.'?—Well, I would consider it a breach of discipline. It would be a breach of discipline. 112. I will repeat the question : Would it be sufficient authority for the trooper to go?—He could go if he liked. 118. Would he be hauled up for it ?—lf anything happened the captain would. 114. It was sufficient authority for him, but wrong of the captain ?—Yes. But you must consider that the place was under martial law all the time, and the commanding officer was the supreme head of everything. 115. Taking it as a fact that this camp order was issued by Captain Gwynneth, that it did direct Wrigg to go from Opotiki to Tauranga, ami that it was usual for Major St. John, his commanding officer, to sign the despatches, would you consider Wrigg had made a mistake in saying he had carried St. John's despatches, but those from the subordinate officer? If he carried them straight from Captain GwymieUi, would not he. bo right in saying he waft carrying the commanding officer's despatches?-- Well, there must have been two despatches. 116. Do you know whether any despatches wore taken to Major Mair?—There may have been. 117. Do you know whether Trooper McDonald carried any despatches on that occasion to Major Mair ?—No; all 1 know is that he came to the orderly-room for despatches. 118. Do you know to whom they were addressed? You do not know to whom the despatches were to bo carried that Trooper McDonald was carrying?- -[ understood they were to he carried to Colonel Harington. 119. I askod you whether you knew who those despatches were carried to?—I understood they were carried to Colonel Harington. 120. l (, Tom whom?- —From Major St. John.