16,034. Is there anything further you wish to state?-At the close of my last examination I wished to make objection to the credibility of a witness. I was asked to state it privately, and I now hand in paper with regard to it. [Produces paper.]
Lerwick, January 30, 1872, ROBERT SINCLAIR, recalled.
16,035. Do you wish to concur with Mr. Laurenson in the statement which he has now made?-Yes. The only difference is that I deal with more houses in London.
16,036. The list of houses which I read from in putting a question to Mr. Walker was furnished by you?-Yes; but it does not include one half of the houses that I deal with. I wish also to say that I have now been 25 years in business, and I never to this day exchanged 2d. worth of hosiery goods for goods in the [Page 407] south. I do not mean to say that I have not bought hosiery goods for goods here, but I have never exchanged them in the south for other goods.*
16,037. Does any one present wish to give any further evidence?- [No answer.] Then I adjourn this inquiry. I have to think the Commissioners of Supply for the use of this room, which they have kindly furnished to me; and I have also to return my thanks to all parties in Shetland with whom I have met, for the courtesy which I have received from them, and for the readiness which they have shown in furnishing me with all information which I required.
*Mr. Linklater also, on the same day, sent the following letter to the Commissioner, referring to the same subject:-
LERWICK, 31st January 1872.
W. GUTHRIE, Esq.
Sir,-I am sorry that I was absent when Mr. Walker in his evidence before you today stated, as I have been told, that the merchants here bartered their goods in exchange for drapery goods from second-class warehouses in the south. I beg to state that I have been thirty-seven years in business here, and have paid cash for all the goods ever I bought, and beg to refer you to the following houses from whom I get my goods.-I am, sir, yours very respectfully,
ROBERT LINKLATER.
J. & W. Campbell & Co., Glasgow; Stewart & M'Donald,
Glasgow; Arthur & Co., Glasgow; Anderson & Co., Glasgow; J.
Clapperton & Co., Glasgow; Chamberlain & Birrell, Glasgow;
John Howell & Co., St. Paul s, London; Fandel, Phillips, & Co.,
Newgate Street, London; Hutton & Co., Newgate Street, London;
D. Hyam, Houndsditch, London; Copestake, Moore, & Co.,
London; George Peek & Co, Manchester; Hall, Russell, & Co.,
Bradford.