93.
D
ment of the pretended. Nineteen Charges, which I had always protested against and repudiated. And yes, even Those were substantially proved; - as the minutes of Evidence, (for I hate to attempt to analyse them) will show, --- even in the instances where the hastily drawn Report ignores, or is silent with regard to such Evidence.
81. I have already said much to explain the discrepancies of that document. But there is yet one incongruity to account for which, special circumstances have been also alleged by some of the Commissioners themselves - the fact that, instead of a careful examination of the Ample Evidence (as the Surveyor) adduced at the trial of the case (vide Farrant ubi supra and see my letter of the 30th July 1858 to acting Colonial Secretary),
82 was promised, they say, that all the Evidence, oral and documentary taken by the Commission was to be printed and circulated with the Report - But the promise was not kept. The Local Government, - on obtaining the Report itself - "suppressed" the whole of the documentary Evidence, and then by rendering the printed minutes of the oral evidence unintelligible. The same bad faith is complained of with respect to another understanding.
My letter of the 16th August 1858 to Secretary & B. Lytton.
It was agreed to between the majority of three and the minority of two; - namely on the Report being signed by all, the three Members of the Commission, who were also Legislative Councillors, should support, in Council, my motion (which stood for the very day following their Report), for the suppression of Mr. Caldwell's office. It was said that, by carrying that motion, they would get rid of the man without a fixed vote rendering.
My letter of the 18th May 1859.
Copy examination of the Honorable the Surveyor, ubi supra.
The minority of Two affixed their own Signatures to a separate Report of their own, carried against them by their Three Colleagues. This circumstance is twice recorded on the face of the Report itself.
82. It is certain that, at the Executive Council, which was sitting to receive the Report agreed to, the Resolution was at once taken to postpone sine die, the next day's meeting of the Legislative Council - And it was not until nearly three months afterwards, that it was again called together - In the meantime, my suspension from the Attorney Generalship had taken place, on which I necessarily ceased to be summoned to the Council; and thereby, the anticipated motion for the suppression of the office dropped de facto.
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