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Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-The only thing is that the cashier should inform some one there is money at the bank to pay it.
Hon. A. LISTER.--In fact the system reduces itself to this, that unless you can say how much money you want for your household expenses next month, you may suddenly be informed some day you cannot have your dinner because you have not asked for quite enough.
Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-I should say pay by cheque and audit afterwards.
I only want to ask one other question, and that relates to the statement that delays occur in the department somewhere. Might any one take a fee to help the work through?
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A.-Well, not in our department, but in the Public Works Department the service is so open to criticism we cannot tell. Each bill before it comes to our office has to pass through so many hands. It goes to the Overseers; if the Overseer wishes to keep that man from getting his money he has an opportunity of exacting a small present before he signs it.
Q.-Hon. F. B. JOHNSON.-You mean to say there is the opportunity of exacting presents; whether they are paid or not you don't know?
A.—No one can tell that, because of course the Chinese are very sharp about these things, and when they do anything of the kind they know they are to blame just as much as the man who receives it, and they would never say anything about it.
Q.-Hon. A. LISTER.-Have you ever noticed any bribery in connection with the telegraph service? You have had a good deal to do with the putting up of the telegraph.
A. The payment is not made by me, but by the Public Works Department. I superintend the work done and all the bills go to the Public Works Department.
Q.-Have you ever had any reason to suppose there was money offered or given?
A.--I have no means of knowing. The Chinese are too sharp to tell anything of the sort. The only one case I recollect is that WONG TSO-LEONG spoke to me one day after one of the Overseer had bolted. He said. "That man owes me so much money." I said. "Why did you let him have it?" He said. "We must; whenever they want money they come to me." You might inquire of him.
Q.-Do you recollect the name of the man who ran away?
A.-I am not quite sure. I will inquire and let you know. WONG TSO-LEONG is one of the best Contractors, the most honest. If he used to give little cumshaws to these men, I don't mean in the shape of any article of food, but in lending money to them, that is a very bad system. Whenever they go to the Contractors to borrow money they become in some way or other under the Contractor's thumb.
Q. How much had this man borrowed, do you know?
A.-I think a small sum of $50.
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