HINE CHARGES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 274, 18 November 1910, Page 5

HINE CHARGES.

THE FLAXROURNE TRANSACTIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Hine Committee met this morning. Mr. Hanan spoke of the impropriety of the Press in various parts of the Dominion commenting on the procedure ,of the Committee, even going so far as to anticipate the verdict. Should ' such happen aguifc, he would, as Chairman, have to refer the matter to the House as a breach of privilege. Edwin Griffen, of Napier, land valuer, .said he had been eleven years ln the employ of Government. He was employed on F_ixbourne negotiations, being then district valuer for Hawke's Bay. IHe first visited Flaxbourne in July, 1903, and took charge of a camp, conducting surveyors and valuers over the property. Mr. Wilson arrived at Flaxbourne on a Sunday at midday, spent Monday with ithe rest of the party, and made a valuation of the homestead on Tuesday and Wednesday. Either that night or on Wednesday morning witness told Wilson he could only have the horse on Tuesday, but Wilson replied, "I am only doing this because my partner is acting as assessor without payI ment, and I am just making a report to Mr. Seddon." Witness added that no other valuer did the -work in less than eleven fine days. Wilson's was the only report witness had not seen. All the inspection Wilson did was one day on horseback and one day on foot. To Mr. Skerrett: Witness was at this time a Government employee. Witness had never previously fanned or valued country similar to Fla_bourne. He thought it strange for a man who came to value 56,000 acres requiring a horse for only one day. Witness was retrenched from the Government service. He did not think there was one witness in the case who spent less than five days on the estate. To Sir Joseph Ward: He had not reported to either Dr. Findlay or Mr. Seddon regarding Wilson's short visit. Mr. Hanan remonstrated strongly with counsel and mem'btrs of committee lot wasting time in asking irrelevant questions. To Mr. Millar: . Witness would say such a casual report as Wilson's \ffa.& valueless, and Wilson was paid unfairly as compared with other valuers. To Mr. Massey: Such places as Flaxbourne were valued by their carrying capacity. The way Wilson spoke to witness was such as unmistakably conveyed the idea that he only came over to ensure some payment being made to Mac Donald, as the latter was prevented by law from receiving payment for acting as assessor. To Mr. Myers, M.P.: He was positive Wilson did not remain after Wednesday morning. To Mr. Hanan: He mentioned to Dr. Findlay that Wilson had only been there two days, and said he did not suppose Wilson would be called as a witness. Dr. Findlay replied that Wilson would not be called. Wilson when on horseback probably covered 4,000 acres. To Mr. Massey: Most of the time (200 days) Tattle was in camp. All Witness saw tn'tn do was to act as assistant groom and assistant cook, but he may have make a valuation unknown to witness. Witness was surprised to hear I that Tattle received £ 631 for his scr-1 vices. To Mr. Millar: He had never charged up whisky to the department. A voucher ' produced showing ten gallons of whisky was not made out by witness. Greville gave Wilson a lot of information. This closed the examination of Mr. Hmes's witnesses. The committee then adjourned.