DARWIN INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 37, 12 February 1920, Page 5

DARWIN INQUIRY.

DR. GILRUTH'S INVESTMENTS,

STATE FUNDS ADVANCED.

TO HELP PRIVATE INTERESTS. ißy Cable.— i Press Association.—Copyright! 'Received 1.50 p.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. Mr. Justice Ewing resumed the Darwin inquiry to-day. Dr. Gilruth being examined. Judge Ewing asked Dr. Gilruth if he were aware that it had been sworn that while he was at Darwin he was part owner of the Arrine mining lease. Dr. Gilruth replied 'Yes. it was a claim, not a lease."" Replying to further questions Dr. Gilruth said the grant was ninde by him to Judge Bevan and a man named Hone. He told Judge Bcvan that he would take a third share. He admitted he had approved the grant jto Hope without sufficient authority, i Judge Ewing asked, ''Knowing' Hope was not the real owner, you advanced money to develop the grant to help your own and Bevan's mining ventures." Dr. Gilruth replied, "That is what it amounted to." Judge Ewing pointed out thai Judge I Bevan had sworii that none of the adi ranees to Hope were ever paid back to [the Government, and that by the merest chance he discovered that Dr! Gilruth and Judge Bevan were interested in the 'venture. Dr. Gilruth replied that anyone could have told him Judge Bevan was in it. but probably no one knew he himself was in it. Dr. Gilruth denied that he was part owner of the Daly mine, but he advanced I some money on it. and later made htmI self responsible for half any loss that might be incurred. He undertook this responsibility without receiving any interest in the mine. He was not aware that Judge Bevan's and Hope's banking account was opened by money paid by himself. Dr. Gilruth admitted granting the lease of three thousand acres to a man named Palmer, but he was not a partner of Palmer.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)