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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1756, 1 November 1905, Page 49

Their Honors the Supreme Court Judges who have had cast upon them the important, if somewhat thankless, task of inquiring into the system which characterises the conduct of business m the Audit Department, had another long and distinctly wearisome sitting last Wednesday. Acting under the Commission, their Honors hold that they are •bound to have regard only to evidence bearing directly upon the matteis expressly at issue. Many of the statements brought out in the course of the examination of witnesses during the day were held to be irrelevant. Frequently their Honors and counsel foi Mr Fisher, M.H.R,, who is a party to the inquiry, came into conflict. At the two previous sittings Mr Jelliooe had cross-examined witnesses at what tlieir Honors regarded as inordinate length. Yesterday'-the Bench as with one voice told him that his conduct of the case was practically a gross waste of time, and warned him' that in order that it could not be stated that he had not been given a free rope, he had been allowed to go so far; he would be permitted to continue the same method until the close of the day, hut not on the morrow. Shortly before the ordinary time of rising, ‘the Court again protested. On this occasion, Mr Jellicoo elected to withdraw from the case. The Government has appointed two inspectors to inquire into the affairs of the North Island District Grand Lodge, TJ.A.O.D,