MARINE COMMISSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 162, 11 July 1899, Page 4

MARINE COMMISSION.

A SENSATIONAL INTERRUPT^

(By Telegraph—Press A»«.bciatio n .*f

WELLINGTON, this day . The Marine Commission resumed this morning in the City.-CouacS Chamber, the use of which was ob tamed in consequence of complaints about the uncomfortable nature of the room in the Supreme Court Builainixj used yesterday. Quite a number of counsel were present, besides Mr Hanlan, whi is appearing for the Government. Dr. Findlay represented Capt Allman; Mr Gray, Captain Jones; Me Travers, Capt, Edwin; and Mr Allport. Mr Hislop said he intended to appear for Mr Pirani, who had fornm. lated charges against Mr Seddon. Mr Travers asked the Crown to give an assurance that witnesses would be protected against any incriminating evidence they might give, otherwise as far as his clients were concerned! he would not feel, justified in allowing them to answer questions that might affect their official positions. Mr Hanlan said he had no: power to do this. He then went on to sketch the case he had to lay before the Commission- \ Mr Hanlon opened'the case by giving a history of the charges and reading a speech made in the House-by Mr J. Hutcheson, on which'the charges are based. In regard to the suggestion alleged to have been made by Captain Allman that Captain Jones might get a permit to sit for examination as; a master • without possessing a mate's certificate, the Court asked 'by what authority such permission, could be granted. . ■ ■ i . : Mr Hanlan said he did hot suggest any authority, but merely-stated the fact. Captain Allman interrupted counsel in his statement.that the Minister of ; Marine handed Captain Allman a ! memo authorising Captain Jones to be | examined by the exclamation, "It's a , lie," and was ordered out of Court. . Captain Allman, on tendering an apology, was re-admitted. THE PREMIER'S EVIDENCE. The first witness w-as the Premier, who explained that on a former occasion he had declined to give evidence before a Commission, on constitutional grounds, but the circumstances of this lease were different. He intended to assist the Court all in his power in •coming to a correct conclusion on the subject, and he wished the"whole truth : to.appear. He then proceeded to give evidence on the lines' of his statement before the Supreme Court, the main points of which were that he never knew anything about. Captain Jones' ■'.' application for a master's certificate 'until after Mr Hutcheson's speech in '.--j the House, but that he did think Cap-' tain Jones w&s entitled to a service . certificate, about which representations had been made to him. The Minister of Marine was quite right in .• i showing Captain Allinan a telegram wmich. witness sent from Auckland, ' asking that Captain Jones' application .for a service certificate be favourably considered. He knew nothing 'about j.his application to be. examined. .He asked Mr Hutcheson for names in connection with his indictment,, but he,'; refused. Later on MrHutchesOn gave jVon Schoen's nam..-• CaptainAllmhh ; denied that there was any truth in,Mr | Hutcheson's allegation!?. He said it all i arose out of Jones and some papers that were torn up.