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QYes; but you have formed some opinion of your own as to whether it exists or is likely to exist?
A.-I doubt it very much.
Q.-You doubt whether it exists?
A. Yes.
Q.-You have seen that petition for an inquiry. Can you give us any idea as to the direction in which the inquiry should be pushed, either as to the people who put these reports about, or the people against whom they are directed? Who are the particular persons against whom they are directed?
A.-I really don't know, but I have always understood it was the Overseers of Works.
Q. Where do these reports originate?
A.-I have no idea.
Q-Do you know, of your own knowledge, of any Overseer of Works who lives above his income, or whose conduct is in any way suspicious?
A.-None whatever.
Q.-Have you heard any one making statements about the Survey Department?
A.--I have heard remarks passed in reference to its general remarks.
Q. Disparaging remarks?
A. Disparaging remarks.
Q. Can you tell us who made these remarks?
Q.-Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-Anything you say is in strict confidence if you wish it
to be so?
A.-These conversations took place in private, and I do not feel justified in repeat- ing what took place in private.
Q. Hon. A. LISTER.--You appeal to the Government for an inquiry on the one hand, and on the other hand the Governor issues instructions to all his Officers to give what information they possess in the matter. Now, I think you will agree that a certain body of Officers having asked for an inquiry they should be willing to give what informa- tion they can?
A.-As to matters of fact, I would have no hesitation in giving any information I could, but private conversation!
Q.-But you see it is from private conversation all these damaging rumours spring. Excluding the whole class of people who may be taken perhaps only to repeat what they hear, could you name any one who had or seemed to have any solid ground for making these remarks?
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