F.-8.

L. H. STAINTON.]

27

5. Was it addressed to you? —It was addressed to me. 6. Did it have any contents?—lt had nothing in. 7. How was the flap—was it open like that or turned in? —Turned out. 8. Like that? —Yes. 9. Did it have a notice on it, " If unclaimed within seven days please return to box 912," like that?— Yes, it did. 10. What did you do in consequence of the receipt of this empty envelope? —I received it amongst a number of other letters, and in the afternoon my daughter spoke to the postman about it. 11. Were you there ?—I was there. 12. What was said?—We asked the postman why we had received the empty envelope, and he said, " Oh, I know what was in it. It was about an Orange meeting. I had a number on the round that were empty." 13. What did you do with the envelope, Mrs. Stainton? —I put it in the rubbish-box. 14. You destroyed it? —Yes. 15. Mr. Gray.] Did the postman hand it to you yourself in the morning, Mrs. Stainton? — He handed it to my daughter. 16. You did not see it?— Yes, I was close by. 17. You saw it delivered and you are able to state that when it came there it was empty, with the flap turned outwards?— Yes. 18. Did you make any complaint to the Post Office authorities about -it? —I only spoke to the postman. 19. What did the postman say?—He said he could tell us what was in it because he had a number on the round that were empty. It was about an Orange meeting. ~. 20. What did you say to that—did you make any remark?— No. 21. You let it go at that?—My daughter made a remark, though. 22. Mr. Ostler.] Is your daughter here, Mrs. Stainton?—Yes. Miss Edna Leila Marion Stainton examined. 1. Mr. Ostler.] You are the daughter of the last witness? —I am. 2. And you live with her?;— Yes. 3. At the address which she gave?— Yes. 4. Did you hear your mother's evidence?— Yes. 5. You could hear all that she said? —Yes. 6. Is it true? —Quite true. 7. Mr. Gray.] It was you who spoke to the postman, Miss Stainton?—Yes. 8. What did he say?—He said he had a number on the round, and that he could tell me what was in them. 9. Tell us all he said? —He told us what was in it. He said it, was about an Orange Lodge meeting. 10. Did you ask how it came that the letter was delivered empty?—No; he said it was about an Orange Lodge meeting. 11. But you must have asked some question?—l said in the first place, why was it empty? 12. And he said? —Why, he had a number on the round the same. 13. That was not an answer to your question. He said there were a number on the round that were empty?— Yes. 14. Do you know his name?— No. 15. Did you receive the letter in the morning?— With a number of other letters. 16. And did not notice it was empty?— No. 17. Mr. Ostler.] Was any one else in the house with you and your mother? —Yes, my sister. 18. What is her name?— Mrs. Lockie. 19. Is she here? —Yes. Mrs. Eva Lilian Winifred Lockie examined. 1. Mr. Ostler.] What is your full name, Mrs. Lockie?—Eva Lilian Winifred Lockie. 2. And what is the name of your husband ?—Charles Joseph Walter Lockie. 3. What is his occupation, Mrs. Lockie? —He is a clerk in the Post-office. He is now on active service. 4. And you live with your mother at the address she has given ?—Yes. 5. Did you hear the evidence of your mother ?—Yes. 6. Is it true? —Quite true. 7. Were you present at the conversation between the postman and your sister?— Yes. 8. Mr. Gray.] Were you there when the letter was delivered in the morning?— Yes. 9. With your sister? —Yes. 10. And you examined the letters when you got them —looked through the bundle?— Yes. 11. How many were there? —Several. 12. Half a dozen? —Maybe, more than that. 13. And did you notice the state in which this letter was?— The flap was out. 14. Then you were with your sister again in the afternoon when the postman called: what did he say ? —We took out the envelope to him, and said we could not make out what it was. 15. You knew it was an envelope? —Well, there was nothing in it. It had "Return to box 912." He said he had several on his round like that. We asked, did he know what it contained. He said he had several on his round like that.