14,267. Did you consider that a part of your duty?-I did not consider it to be any part of my duty at all. If I had a dozen men to settle with, I settled with them one after another, and they went away. I did not tell them to stay there until I came with them, or follow them down by any means.
14,268. Was it no part of your duty to warn a man who was going away without paying, that he had first to settle his account at the shop?-No, I never saw a man who went away without paying.
14,269. But suppose the case of a man who did so: was it any part of your duty to remind him of the debt which he was due to Mr. Leask?-No. They did not require any reminding. They knew quite well about it.
14,270. Why did you cease to settle with the men in the Custom House after 1868?-Because the shipping master objected, and would not allow it to be done.
14,271. Was it to you, or in your presence, that he took that objection?-Yes, I was present.
14,272. Did he take the objection in any particular case when a settlement of that kind was going on with the men?-No, there was no particular case.
14,273. Did he do so at a time when you were settling with a man?-Yes; either with a man, or two or three men, I forget which.
14,274. What took place then?-The men just went to the office.
14,275. Did you remonstrate with the superintendent?-No.
14,276. You just went down to the office with the men, and settled with them there?-The men went to the office, and I finished my business at the Custom House and went down too.