EXTRA EDITION. THE VOUCHER MYSTERY.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 59, 7 September 1905, Page 6

EXTRA EDITION. THE VOUCHER MYSTERY.

AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT. DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. The Auditor-General's report on the Fisher charges was discussed by the House this afternoon. The Premie^ moved that the report be adopted ; that the House is satisfied that the charges of the allegfed payment to Captain Seddon have been refuted ; and that the Supervisor of Hansard be instructed to insert iv the bound volumes of Hansard a copy of the Auditor-Gene-ral's report at the end of each speech of Mr. Fisher on the subject. In moving his motion, .Mr. Seddon said that tho Auditor-Genaral 'had the confidence of the House and the people of Now Zealand, and .that no one could cay other than that the enquiry was searching and effective. He especially regretted 'that Mr. Fisher had only ungraciously accepted tho finding after saying that ;he would frankly accept the decision. He .now aslced Mr. Fisher to carry out that pledge. - Mr. Fisher had said that 'he (the' Premier) had been placed'in " an unfortunate position," but lio would ask Mr. Fisher had not he (Mt. Fisher) placed himself in <that unfortunate pos^ion. Everything that had been done by Mr. Fisher had been done designedly, and had been planned. He (the Premier) had never been in an unfortunate position. He had had the strength ol the knowledge that no such payment had been made, and the strength of confidence in his son, who would not accept payment for any services he had not rendered. It. was, the country that had (suffered, and the tone of Parliament had been lowered. Mr. Fishci Lad been proved to be wrong, and ought to havr made reparation. He regretted that owing to the influence of the principal witness he had, when his belter nature urged him to apologise, declined to "do so, told the country that there had been a strange coincidence, and had reiterated thi j charge. He wanted Mr. Fisher to saj who refreshed his memory, after he had first given tho number of the alleged voucher. How could an outsider kno-n the number and amount and date of a voucher? He had from an officer of tlu colony the number given to him, and that officer, after the voucher was proved to be for Sneddon, and not Seddon, said he wtr I still positive there was such a voucher. It would appear .that the information was given 'to him befors tho matter came before tho Houfie at all. That was the evidence of Mr. Willis, who was a 'lieutenant in the corps of which Mr. Fisher was captain. He asked Mr. Fisher, in the interest of the public 6ervice, to give the House the source of his information, it was stated that the information had been given to Mr. Fisher by an anonymous letter. If so it placed him in a still more unfortunate position. (Left sitting.) Negotiations for amalgamation of the Wellington Steam Ferry Company and ■the Miramar Ferry Company have been in progress for some time, , and thers is likelihood of finality being raachsd this afternoon, a meeting of* representatives of the two companies being now in progress. Yesterday evening the committee of the Wellington Boxing Association ana a number of friends met in the New Zealander Hotel to welcome iMr. " Hock ' Keys, who has come over from Sydney, undsr the auspices of the Wellington Assdcia'tion, to meet Mt. T. TTacy in a boxing exhibition at the OpeTa House on the 20th inst. Mr. E. B. Rogers, a Vice-President of the Wellington centre, was in the chair, and in extending a hearty welcome ito Mr. Keys, said that tho reason he had been asked to come across .the Tasman was because the asso-' ciation wished to give a, fillip to hoxjng in Wellington, and it could not be done better than by an exhibition by one of the beet exponents of the fistic art in Australia. He trusted that the display to be given would be one that would not allow of cavil. iMt. Keys, in reply, said that he would do his 'best to win; if he did not, it would not be his fault. Ho would try and not give the association 'any reason to complain of 'his exhibition. He wished his opponent (Mr. Tracy) success ako, but not in the same measure he desired. Let the bast man have the decision, 'however, and lv. would not grumble. Several toasts were honoured during the evening, and a pleasant honr was spent. The visitor is ■an unassuming young man, and made a good impression on every one he met last evening. Both tho contestants commenced training this morning. •In .response ito enquiries made by ithe Hon. C. H. Mills, CVlinister-in-Charge of the Cook Islands Administration, as to the possibility of establishing a fortnightly steamer service between the colony and the Cook Group, the Managing Director of the Union Steam Ship Company, states that while his company cannot at present undertake to Tun a fortnightly service for passenger purposes, he will be pleased to offer inducement to persons to visit 'the Cook Islands for temporary residence by granting return tickets at single fare. A substantiallybuilt sanatorium (known locally aa the Whar# Manuhiri, or Visitors' Bungalow) 'has just been completed at Raratonga, and itho -concession promised by the company, coupled with the fact that accommodation is now available on the Island, should induce a considerable number of people to visit Rarotonga. It is probable that a trial fortnightly seivice -will ho run between New Zealand ■and tho Gtoup for a few months next season, to practically test tho possibilities of the increasing fruit 'trade. The annual report of the Committee of the Newtown Cricket Club, which is to be presented at to-morrow's meeting, congratulates members upon the success of last season, the first in which the club ranked amongst the seniors. Tho first eleven made a creditable appearance with two wins, two losses, and one draw. The club also had teams competing for the Junior and Third and Fourth-class Championsliips, and each performed satis* factorily. References are made in the report to the Nelson tour, and the social events, and thanks are tendered to numerous patrons. The players singled out for praise are Spraggon, Miller, Frank Aipe, Meithke, Charlton, P. Smith, G. Edwards, and Hollis. The ballot for the best fieldsman in each eleven resulted in the selection of A. J. Day '(first eleven), S. Charlton (second eleven), and 1 J. Sexton (third eleven). J. Wardrop was last season's nominee by the Newtown School for the frco membership in the club offcied for a school-boy, but the South Wellington School did not take advantage of the offer. The Salvation Army's Maori-Pakcha Carnival and Bazaar was continued last night in tho Citadel, Vivian-street, and excellent business whs transacted. The young Maori girls from Otnki gave a most interesting exhibition of poi games and contributed musical selections. The progranuno to-night is ,to be /supplied by the men's bani.