F.— 8.

34

[a. m. STUAKT.

11. Mr. Gray.] Do you know the letter-carrier's name, Mrs. Stuart?—No, I do not know his name. 12. Is he the man who was in the habit of delivering letters at your house?— Yes. 13. Would you mind telling me again what he said when you suggested something had been taken out?—l said I had a letter I thought something had been (alien out of. He said, "No one has taken it out. It is something to do with the Orangemen. I have delivered a number of them." And, sir, 1 did not know anything about tickets being issued for (lie meeting, so 1 put it on the mantelpiece. 14. He said it had not been taken out?—He said, " No one has taken i( out. I have delivered a number of them to-day." 15. And you understood he meant a number of envelopes similar to yours?— Yes, I thought he meant that. 16. Mr. Ostler.] Can I ask one question thai did not arise out of the cross-examination. Mrs. Stuart, did a detective subsequently wait on you?—No, sir, a gentleman came, but I do not know who he was. 17. Did he say whether lie came from the Post Office or not?—No, sir, lie did not say who he was or what was Ins name. 18. What was his business?—l do not know what was his business. He asked me if I received an open envelope. 1 said " Yes,'' the same as I told you. lie went away anil said nothing. Mr. Ostler: Was thai a Postal official, Mr. Gray? Perhaps Mr. Williamson can tell you? Mr. Gray: Yes. 19. Mr. Gray.] Then this inquiry was made by somebody you did not know, just, to ask whether you received an empty envelope, and you (old him just what yon have told His Worship? —Yes. Rev. Howard Leslie Elliott further examined. 1. Mr. Ostler.] Mr. Elliott, do you know of your own knowledge or not of an attempt having been made by a, Catholic! organization to stop anti-Catholic literature going through (he post ? —Yes. Mr. Gray: Well, sir, how is that relevant? Mr. Ostler: I am saying (his censorship is established in the interests of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Gray: Pretty far-fetched. His Worship: Put the question again. Mr. Ostler: I asked him whether he knew of his own knowledge of any attempt to stop antiCatholic literature going through the post. /lis Worship ruled thai I he reason for the contention could be given. Witness: Yes, on their own statements as appearing in the Press from the Roman Catholic Federation. Mr. Ostler: An admission by the Roman Catholics themselves that they have stopped The Menace [paper put in |. Hit Worship: What paper is il out of? Mr. Ostler: The Auckland Herald. 20th May, 1914. Mr. Gray: Before the War. His Worship: Ido not sec any objection, Mr. Gray. It can go in for what it is worth. Mr. Gray read the first sentence, and Mr. Ostler emphasized the words "assails the Catholic Church." 2. Mr. Gray.\ Mr. Elliott, you describe yourself as a Baptist Minister. Have you a charge? —No, I have not a charge. 3. How long is it since you had a charge?— Since the end of June. 4. This year ?—Yes. 5. How came you to give it up?—] accepted appointment as national organizer and lecturer for the Protestant Political Association. 6. Quite so; you are the paid lecturer, I suppose, of the Protestant Political Association, about whose objects we heard something yesterday. You are engaged now, 1 think, in a sort of lecturing lour throughout New Zealand, with a view of establishing branches of thai association and disseminating your association's and your own personal views ?—My association's view's. 7. And your personal views, I suppose?— No. 8. Then, may I say thai everything you say on the public' platform represents the views of the Protestant Political Association ?—-I am the representative of the Protectant Political Association. 9. May we take it that all you say on the public platform represents the views of the body of which you are (he paid servant?— You cannot dissociate me from Hie office I hold, and what 1 say 1 say in a representative capacity. 10. Do we take it that your association is to be held responsible for your utterances?—My association must, be responsible for-my utterances. 11. You have already delivered a number of lectures in the North Island of New Zealand? —Under what auspices? 12. Either on your own account or on behalf of the association, I suppose?—ln view of your previous question you must distinguish. 13. I am unable to do that. You have, as a matter of fact, delivered a number of lectures in public on the propaganda? —No; in the North Island only two addresses. 14. Two addresses—-where ?—At Auckland and Wanganui: Auckland on the lllh July. Wanganui just a little later—l cannol recollect the dale without looking for it. 15. Did you deliver a lecture at Hamilton at the end of February? Yes; but that lecture in Hamilton was a lecture I delivered myself