RAWSON COMMISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 66, 19 March 1889, Page 5

RAWSON COMMISSION.

(BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

New Plymouth, this day. Humphries' evidence yesterday consisted of an account of what had transpired during his bankruptcy when the credibors opposed his wife's claim. -. In bhe course of his evidence Sir Robert Sboub said ib appeared bhab McLauchlan found brains, William Bayiey money, and Mr Sbandesh respecbabiliby when he started to bring the charges against Rawson. William Bayiey %vas the next wibness. He said he respecbed Mr Rawson as a private genbleman bub nob as a Districb Judge, and gave as his reason a case where a decision was given on an agreemenb which did nob 'get his views. But in answer bo Sir R. Stoat he admitted he could nob inberpreb an agreemenb bebber bhan a legal man. In reply to Mr Jellicoe, Bayiey said •Bawsoh'lie'considered leaned towards Mr .Samuel, who was conducting the case. ' Sir Robert Sboub put in the 5 agreemenb in dispute bo bhe Commissioners. Mr Rawson was sworn, and sbated that one day aboub ten years ago he was out shooting, and returned to New Plymouth cold, tired, and hungry. He wenb bo the. Taranaki Hobel, and got a glass of whisky hob, and then proceeded home. Ab bhe corner of Gill-sbreeb'he became giddy and lurched once or twice, bub he did nob fall as stated by a wibness. This dizziness he attributed to a bilious attack. He denied thab he had ever in his life been under bhe undue influence of liquor. He sbabed that in regard to the £60 he borrowed from Mr Samuel, solicitor, it happened in this way. He was Registrar of the Supreme Courb, and he was' about £150 short foi the payment of witnesses' expenses at the Criminal Session. He paid away aboub £80 of his own money, and he happened to mention to Mr Samuel that he could not pay any more wibnesses' expenses until he gob a voucher from Wellington. Mr Samuel thereupon offered to lend him the money. He accepted ib, and used ib to pay witnesses' expenses. The money was obtained from the Treasury about three weeks after, and in the meantime he had increased the liability for additions to his-house on the strength of money arriving from home, but bhe money did nob arrive in time and he could nob repay Mr Samuel bhe money when ib came from Wellingbon, bub he offered bo geb an overdraft at the bank and pay Mr Samuel off. Mr Samuel replied, "Never mind; you can pay me when you like.; I will charge you 8 per cent, interest for ib." Thab was the explanation of the loan from Mr Samuel. The loan was afterwards paid off when the money came fiom England. Mr Jellicoe said he did not intend to proceed any further with the other charges. Judge Rawson's examination was continued this morning. He denied he was ever drunk in his life. He stated that in 1881 he was expecting money from England which did nob come ab bhe time expecbed. He borrowed a sum from Samuel which he repaid him. He also explained his reasons for giving various judgments in cases. Mr Samuel was recalled to explain why the jury was dismissed in. Mr Humphries' case, notice being required before any binding order could be made. ■ Other law questions were answered. Mr Jellicoe said he would admit a jury .could not be summoned wibhoub an order. This closed bhe evidence on the charges, amd Sir Robert Stout is now addressing the •courtf, —«. '