Cro«-examined by Mr Gully: Was absent in Melbourne at th>: beginning (J f tliu session. He returned about May 31, having in the meantime amuigcd to tcfctlo in Melbourne. Ho stayed a few days in Dunediu on account of his daugh ter's illness and reached Parliament about Juu-« 7. On May 30, Mr Seddon moved that leave of absence be gran ted to witness on account of urgent private affairs. About July 2nd witness was peremptorily summoned by Dr Coughtrey to return, and remained till the doctor told him it was safe to return. He got back about August 7. Before leaving on July 3, he gavo a ban quet to some civil servants. He told them in bis speech ho was glad to have the opportunity now he was out of office, of giving them pome return for their courtesy while he wns Minister' He told one gentleman who spoke on the matter that ho was leaving the colony. He could not say whether it wan generally known. Some of his friends iv the House knew it. At the time of the banquet he had uo idea he would be called on to go South so soon, and actually had to >u> upon receiving an urgent letter from the doctor without seeing his friends. On the 18th July Mr Vish moved on witness' behalf, and at his request asked for leave of absence for witness ■Saw from a Diniodin paper a brief reference. ro the speech Mr Hobbs made on that occasion of a somewhat, derogatory nature and sent him a telegram on the: subject Afterwards read the full report of the speech on August 14. He brought up the Herald's articles in the House a3 a breach of privilege. He did not remember seeing .i third article in the Herald of the day after this debate. After putting the matter in his solicitor*' hands he received a telegram fioni defendant:! stating that the articles were written under a mis apprehension and iuteuded \o deal generally vilh the subject of huuiiraiium, and not to

r-il-fl■!)!! Sir L-.niac.ili. He sens mi answer to IheeuYet tbatth" matter was iv his lawyers' Inn-Is. Ho was aware both the telegram'and answer appeared next H ay i,, a SonMi'TM piner, bM'.li,.;-,:,! !;..-.v,v ;,,••. ~!:' - -.-.< l; ;( m.
