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Q.-The CHAIRMAN.—It would be most material to us if we could obtain such names.
A.-I think you know the names of persons who could give much more information on that point than I could.
Q.-Will you mention some one?
A.-I think if you ask a man like Mr. DANBY for instance, he could give all the information, and it is principally in conversations with Mr. DANBY that I have learnt anything I do know.
Q-Hon. A. LISTER.-Mr. DANBY has been your principal informant?
A. Yes.
Q-Does Mr. LEIGH know anything about it?
A. He naturally knows a good deal about the department.
Q. Has he made statements to you?
A. We have had conversations. He is a man who could give you a vast amount of information.
Q-These gentlemen, at least one of them, says he would rather not have anything to say. That is where the difficulty comes.
not.
A. Then they can decline?
Q-They stand on a different footing. You are a Government servant; they are.
A.-I consider myself quite outside the Survey Department. With the general work of the department I have nothing to do. Mr. PRICE himself could not ask me to take outside work and say "you must do this part of the departmental work."
Q-You are entirely for a particular work?
A.-I am a servant of the department, but I am detailed to Tai-tam, so that my opinion on the working of the department is not worth anything.
Q.-I don't know. I have no doubt if you were to remain in the department for ten or eleven years you would have a decided opinion one way or the other. That opinion must have begun to form.
A. Yes, but if I have not had anything to do with the department it is worth nothing.
Q.-The CHAIRMAN.-Can you give us any more names than those of Mr. DANBY and Mr. LEIGH?
A.-No; these are the only two I know who will give you the information you really want. Mr. DANBY especially, I think he would give you a vast amount of information.
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