53

F.—B.

H. H. SEABROOK.

73. You and your friends are content that Mr. Elliott, not having made that inquiry, should say in public that the censorship has been established in the interests of the Roman Catholic Church?—lt all points that way. 74. Do you say so still? —I believe that is so. 75. Did you hear Mr. Salmond, Solicitor-General, give his evidence on Saturday?—l did. 76. Are you not content to take his assurance that he is not the author ?—I want to know who is at the back 77. Will you please answer my question? Are you not content to take the statement of Mr. Salmond as to the reasons for the establishment of this censorship [Solicitor-General's memorandum read and question repeated]?—l must accept what the Solicitor-General stated. 78. And you do not dispute that the reasons which he gave were (he correct reasons? Ihs Worship: He does, with a reservation: he suggests that the Roman Catholics were behind it. 79. Mr. Gray.] Do you venture to suggest that the Solicitor-General was moved by any Roman Catholic?—[Witness reiterated his remarks about wanting to know who was at the back.] 80. You heard the Solicitor-General say here that a copy of the pamphlet had been sent to the Government, and that the Attorney-General referred it to hint without any instructions at all?—I do not know about no instructions. 81. If Mr. Salmond said that, do you still suggest ?—I have got faith in Mr. Salmond. 82. Do you accept Mr. Salmond's assurance that he was the author and originator of the censorship on this literature?—l must do that, I suppose; I think I must give way to that. David Goldie examined. 1. Mr. Ostler.] Is your full name David Goldie?—Yes. 2. You are a timber-merchant? —Yes. 3. And you reside?—Pitt Street, Auckland. 4. Did you receive a letter containing two tickets or a ticket for admission to the platform of this Protestant meeting? —1 do not know whether it was a platform ticket; I received a ticket and a notice. 5. You received a ticket and a notice asking you to apply for tickets? —Yes. 6. Did you apply for a ticket?— No. One I had would answer my purpose. 7. Did you ever receive a letter containing a ticket admitting you to the platform?— No. 8. Mr. Gray.] Did you apply to anybody for a ticket? —No. 9. Did you expect to receive a ticket at all? —No. 10. When you received a ticket on the first occasion you did not respond to that invitation, and did not expect to get a ticket?— Quite so. 11. Mr. Ostler.] 1 understand, Mr. Goldie, you are chairman of the Orange Lodge Trust here?— Yes. Rev. Howard Leslie Elliott further examined. 1. Mr. Ostler.] Of the witnesses who have given evidence as to receiving empty envelopes in this inquiry, how many of them are members of your congregation?— Nine of them have been members of my former (Congregation, 2. Mr. Gray.] You had advertised, Mr. Elliott, or some of your friends had advertised, for persons who had not received envelopes ? —That is so. 3. And you do not know of any more instances than those in respect of wdiich evidence has been given ?—We have no evidence, but we have reason 4. Will you please answer my question? You have no evidence of any more persons other than those?— Not evidence; but we have reason to suppose a great many more, who are afraid of the Court 5. You put in a report published in the Waikato Times of your meeting at Hamilton, which report you say was more accurate than the one telegraphed to the Auckland Star. Did you not tell us that the Waikato Times report is fairly accurate?— For a newspaper report. 6. Did not the Waikato Times publish a, leading article on the subject of your meeting?—l believe so. 7. Did you read it?— No. 8. Have you seen it? —No. If you are interested in these leading articles I can supply you with a lot of them. 9. I am about to ask. whether this article in the Waikato Times fairly expresses the result of your meeting. This is four days after the meeting. [Article read.] Was that brought to your notice ?—No. 10. Do you admit that that comment by a paper in the town where you delivered this inflammatory speech was provoked by the sentiments to which you gave utterance?—No; it was provoked by the Roman Catholics shutting up the Protestant opinion of this country. 11. I quoted to you the other day articles from the Auckland Star, a Taranaki paper, the article I have quoted to-day, an article in the New Zealand Herald, and a great many more, all condemning your action?— Every one. 12. In all they considered you stirred up strife and divided the community into camps?— The best evidence that it has divided the community into camps is that last Thursday I was advertised to speak again in Hamilton, and the Town Hall was not large enough to hold the crowd, and we had a perfect meeting. I am absolutely proud of uniting the Protestants of this country into a-great fighting organization.