E. MACDONELL.I

45

I.—lα.

45. Mr. Maginnity .] Did you get information from Constable Bird about the conduct of this house ? —I think so, but I am not positive. 46. You are not positive. Did you get any information about the house from any person besides these two constables ? —I did. 47. How many other people ?—I remember two. 48. Tell us who those two were ?—They are not members of the Force. Mr. Maginnity : The Committee ought to know who they were, because those informants may be informants in connection with some other charges, and I may possibly have to represent to the Committee the character of those informants. Therefore it is only fair that the Inspector should tell the Committee who those other two were. Some discussion took place at this stage as to whether the source of police information should be disclosed. Commissioner Tunbridge stated, in reply to a question, that he thought the names should be given to the Committee in this case, and eventually it was decided that the names should be disclosed, the question of whether they should be printed in the evidence to be determined by the Committee later on. 49. Mr. Maginnity.] Now, Inspector, will you please tell the Committee the names of the other two persons who gave you information about the Postboy Hotel? —Remnant was one. 50. Who was the other ?—The other was a lady. lam very loth to mention her name. 51. We must have it: who was the lady ?—Am I compelled to answer that, Mr. Chairman ? The Chairman : It has already been decided that you must. Witness : Very well, then. Mrs. Trask was the lady. 52. Mr. Maginnity.] Did you get an official report from Constables Williams and Bird about the hotel ? Did you ask them for an official report in writing ?—No. 53. You just acted upon the verbal statements made by them and by this lady ?—I did not act at all. I simply mentioned the fact in my report. 54. That the house bore a bad reputation ?—Yes. 55. Do you remember how often these constables remarked to you that the Postboy Hotel was a house of bad reputation ? —No. 56. Did they more than once ?—They may have, but I could not say. 57. Did you seek out Mrs. Trask to get information in regard to the conduct of this house?— No. 58. Where were you, then, when you got the information from Mrs. Trask, because she is not in the habit of visiting the hotel?—l was at her house. 59. Her statement, then, could only have been on hearsay, could it not ?—I should think so. But before going further I would like to explain why I went to her house. 60. We do not want any explanation ?—I shall give it in some shape or form. 61. Later on, probably, the Chairman may ask you for an explanation of something. At present we are not asking for an explanation. You have given your answer, and you say that Mrs. Trask's knowledge must of necessity, in your opinion, have been on hearsay ?—I said that probably it would be. I know nothing to the contrary. 62. You considered, then, that the statements made by this lady and these two constables were sufficient for you to put in an official report " This house bears a bad reputation " ?—Yes ; for the purpose of further investigation. I mentioned it in the report to my superior so that further investigation should take place. 63. If that was your object, why did you not make the further investigation—you were there on the spot ? —I have explained that in reply to the Commissioner already, that from my experience in Nelson on a former occasion I did not think it desirable to go fully into the matter. Besides, the Commissioner was 64. Because of your experience in a former matter?— Yes. 65. Was that a matter connected with che Postboy Hotel ? —No. 66. What was that matter connected with on account of which you deemed it your duty not to make further investigation yourself while you were on the spot ? Let me put this to you : Would it not have been simpler for you there, with these constables at your elbow, and you almost next door to the Postboy Hotel, to have made an inquiry yourself as to whether this statement was true or false instead of sending an official report to the Commissioner? —I do not think so, because I was not inquiring into the conduct of the Postboy Hotel. It is only mentioned in connection with the other eases. I mentioned it verbally to the Commissioner when he arrived in Nelson to investigate—when the investigation was proceeding. 67. When and where did you first hear of the unsatisfactory condition of the Police Force in Nelson ?—I stated before that I got one or two anonymous letters. 68. Tell us, first of all, where —we will divide the question —you first got information ?—ln Greymouth. 69. Do you remember when ? —No. 70. Who from ? —I said it was an anonymous letter. 71. lam not going to deal with anonymous letters at all. Did you get any information about the condition of the Police Force in Nelson from any person in Greymouth?—At any time? 72. Prior to your going to Nelson at Jubilee time did you get any information at Greymouth, and, if so, from whom?— No. 73. Not before you came up at Jubilee time ? —No, excepting the anonymous letters. 74. You are quite sure that you got no information from anybody in Greymouth before you went to Nelson in reference to the Police Force ? —Do you mean the year before ? 75. No; you know exactly what I mean. You told the Committee that you yourself came ud to Nelson at Jubilee time ? —Yes. 76. And it was then that you heard of the unsatisfactory character of the Police Force in Nelson ?—That is true.