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Q. You say you think you are entitled to a government inquiry. Could you suggest any line of inquiry we could take, any witnesses we could call, any informa- tion we could obtain?
A.-I have not been long enough in the Colony to give you any information, and you can see yourselves I could not give you any information. I was employed at Wong-nai Chung and had fever and was sent down to get better until Mr. WATTS returns.
The Commission adjourns until the 11th January.
SIXTH MEETING.
11th January, 1884.
Present:-The Honourable E. L. O'MALLEY, Attorney General, (Chairman).
A. LISTER.
F. B. JOHNSON.
Mr. BEST is examined,-
Q.-Hon. A. LISTER. You are an Engineer, I believe?
A. Yes.
Q.-Are you in charge of any special duty at present in the Survey Department?
A.-Special as Assistant Engineer.
Q.-Not in charge of any special work?
A.-No.
Q.-Then you are stationed in town, not outside?
A. In town.
Q. How long have you been in the department?
A.-Twelve months and a few days.
Q.-And the whole of that time you have been in Victoria?
A.—I was a fortnight at Tai-tam.
Q-Practically you have been in town all the time?
A. Yes.
Q.-I suppose you have heard a good deal of talk going about the Colony as to the alleged state of the department and so forth?
A.-I have heard the talk in the town and read the articles in the newspaper.