LAND TRANSACTIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 19

LAND TRANSACTIONS.

FURTHER SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS SYDNEY, August 22. In connection with the extradition proceedings against W. N. Willis regarding the New South Wales land scandal, another charge of false pretences will be preferred against Willis. It is alleged that by means of a paper purporting to be the genuine transfer of an improvement lease he obtained £1677 from Mr Hill, a Legislative Councillor. CHARGES AGAINST MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. SYDNEY, August 23. In the Assembly Mr Briner called attention to a paragraph in the “Catholic Press” alleging that W. N. Willis had almost bvery member of Parliament in his employ, and that if he explained what he did with the money he received there would be scarce.y a member who was not likely to be carpeted by the Income Tax Commissioner. Mr Briner asked that Mr Justice Owen be asked to subpoena the editor of the “‘Catholic Press” before the Lands Commissioner to give evidence bearing on tlie paragraph. After a warm debate the motion was adopted. THE WILLIS DOCUMENTS. OVERHAULING - OF PRIVATE BOXES. SYDNEY, August 25. Mrs W. N. Willis’s box, in charge of two detectives, was produced at to-day’s sitting of the Lands Commission. After strong protests by Mrs Willis and her solicitor against private papers being overhauled, the box was opened before the Commission, and found to contain a quantity of jewellery and plate and a number of documents. The box, with * the jewellery and plate, was handed baek to Mrs Willis. The Commissi oner (Mr Justice Owen) impounded the documents, and will peruse them privately. The muoh-expeeted books relating to Mrs Willis’s 'business were not found. McNair and Hoskins (clerks to W. N. Willis) were examined They stated that they were unable to throw any light on the disappearance of the books. An accountant at the safe deposit where the box was kept, however, deposed that the box was much lighter after McNair, Hoskins, and Mrs Willis had it open just before Willis left Sydney Willis’s box was subsequently brought from the safe deposit. It contained only heirlooms in the shape of a sovereign and a brooch. There was considerable excitement in the Court while the opening of the boxes was proceeding. SYDNEY, August 24. # At the sitting of the Lands Commission to-day evidence was given 'of a number of further large fees having been paid to land agents, including, in one case, a sum of £IOOO to W. N* Willis, and in another £7OO to Peter Close (whose name cropped up in connection with the allegations on the 15th inst). SYDNEY, August 25. A witness before the Land Commission gave evidence that after a long delav and two failures to obtain leases he paid W. N. V illis £IOOO, and then got the land quickly. MELBOURNE', August 24. Both Houses passed the bill increasing the powers of the Land Commission. The bill is primarily intended to empower the Commission to open Mrs Willis’s boxes or any other receptacles taken into its possession.