Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 182

Mr. Dyer Ball's evidence, July 17th:-

Taking note

Transcript, 88 folios...............

Taking note

Mr. Brewin's evidence, July 23rd:---

Transcript, 56 folios

( 46 )

Brought forward,.

.$129.20

10,00

35.20

10.00

22.40

Total.......

..$206.80

No. 50.

SIR,

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 9th January, 1901.

With referrence to your letter of the 2nd instant, forwarding papers and correspond- ence connected with the proceedings of the Food Supply Commission, I am directed to inform you that what His Excellency requires is a verbatim record of question and answer given in evidence, in accordance with the mandate of the Commission, without which the Report would be useless.

2. This was directed in the Commission and is what His Excellency asked for. I am to return the draft Report, which is incomplete, as several blanks are left for figures. I presume these figures are given in the evidence upon which the report is assumed to be made.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

J. J. FRANCIS, Esq., Q.c.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.

SIR,

HONGKONG, 17th January, 1901.

I have the honour to state, for the information of His Excellency the Governor, in reply to your letter No. 50 of the 9th January, that it is impossible for me to supply a verbatim record of question and answer given in evidence before the Food Supply Commission as that method of taking evidence was not adopted by the Commission.

The evidence taken was recorded in the usual fashion in which it is taken by all Judges and Magistrates, and in legal proceedings generally, and no special instructions were given me, or are contained in the Commission requiring the evidence to be taken down by question and answer.

All the evidence taken has been forwarded to you.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

J. J. FRANCIS.

The Honourable

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

HONGKONG.