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Q-That agrees with what the Contractor says, that there were three, and Mr. ROSE cut off two and left one. There is a story which was brought before us, which has evaporated into thin air, namely, that Mr. BOWDLER's house at the Peak was built for nothing, as a present to him, the consideration being that the Contractor CHAN KING, was to get a lot of work at Tai-tam. We certainly find the house was not built for nothing nor anything like it, but at the same time the man has got $18,000 worth of work at Tai-tam. Had Mr. BoWDLER anything to do with the allotting of that work?
A.-No, nothing. Mind, unless you have positive proof, I think that is too big a pill to swallow. I don't know what your own notion is, but I don't think there would be anything to justify an assumption of that kind.
Q.-Well, I have only one other thing to ask, can you give us any light as to how these papers got into the hands of FRASER-SMITH?
A.—I cannot; I wish I could. It is a thing that has exercised me very much. I don't know whom to suspect.
Q.-Don't you think the system we are told prevails, of having your letter books and drafts of letters open, and not under lock and key, in an ante-room frequented by Overseers and all kinds of people, should be put a stop
to?
A.-I cannot help myself; I have no room. I have asked for more room, cannot get it. Besides, I have no secrets.
but
*
Q.-But in this case you had. However, you are in the way I think of having
more room?
A. Yes.
Q.-And at any rate the letter books might be kept under lock and key?
A.—Yes, and not only on that account, but I don't think the place where one's books and letters are is the place for an ante-room.
Q-Precisely. But even under this disadvantageous arrangement the letter books and files of drafts might be locked up after office hours?
A. Yes, they might be. I don't think they are locked up in any other office, are they?
Hon. A. LISTER.-I don't think they are. I have always gone on the same prin- ciple as you, of not having any secrets.
WITNESS.-I think if we could arrange to have the Clerks' room not the ante-room we need not lock up.
Q.-The CHAIRMAN.-With reference to having no secrets, is there any understand.. ing in the office that Clerks should not communicate the contents of documents passing through their hands to any one?
A.-There is no written understanding to that effect.
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