POLITICAL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2071, 17 July 1896, Page 2

POLITICAL.

[From our Special Correspondent.^

■WELLINGTON, July 16

Lake Forsyth Land Vesting Bill i pa-sed through committee to-dny. A new and sensational development has U'ken plnce in. the Banking inquiry this morning Mt "Wntson, President of the B N.Z., was summoned before the committee to give evidence. He produced the balance-sheets of the B inkf N.Z. since 1888. He was then examined as to amounts which bad been written off in that year—he gave the aggregate sum. He was then asked the , names of the persons or companies who had their accounts written off Hetten •etatfd that he declined to give nny in* formation *as to the accounts of'private customers of the bank He h»d signed a declaration of pecrecy when he joined the Ban's N.Z., and he would stick to it. A deadlock ensued. The moved that the committee now deliberate, whereupon the reporter? and strangers were excluded. When they were again, admitted the committee transacted no more , business,'but adjourned till 11 o'clock to-morrow. It understood that all the bank officiiiln will take the same stand as Mr Watson, and great: speculation is rife »c to what will b< l done with them. Meanwhile the con elusions of the deliberations of the ; 'Banking '"Committee are kept secret. Mr Montgomery yesterday moved for the appointment of nn Evidence conrriiit'toe, but his motion was defeated. To-day it was found that ihe Genera!; Committee had no time to go into details 1 connected with the preparation of evidence, so the committee, consisting of th« Chairman, Mr Htuctiiiison, the iiuu. W. J. Steward, Mr Montgomery and the mover was grt tip. ; I ? he subcommittee subsequently decided upon the production of all the documents relating to the affaire of tiie W«rd .Farmer's Association and upon calliug «s . witsie : ses a iargi , uatuber of p-'rsoris eonnoc'eil with the management of the.institution mentioned in the order of re'f rence.