THE MINISTER FOR LANDS AND JUDGE KETTLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2317, 28 July 1898, Page 11

THE MINISTER FOR LANDS AND JUDGE KETTLE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Wellington, July 19.

The Minister for Justice laid on the table this evening the correspondence with District Judge Kettle in regard to the charges made by the Minister for Lands.

The first letter, dated March 21, is signed by the Minister for Justice, and was addressed to Judge Kettle on the 21st March last. In this it is stated that "the Government is quite satisfied that there are no grounds for imputing to you corruption or oiher breach of your judicial duty in the proceedings relating bo M. Barna's bankruptcy."

The corresppndance. between ;he Minisbtr for Lands nnd Barns is appended. Iv answer to Mr M'Kenzie's letter, Barns, writing on December 15, 1897, says that iv stating thab Judge Kbltlo was the tool of the Bank of New South Wales he did not mean to imply personal corruption to Judge Kettle. He was aware that the acting manager of the Bank of New South Wales was boarding ab fche same hotel as Jutfge Ketlle, and had been informed that they had two conversations en the subject of hia (Barns's) bankruptcy. His owu opinion and that of his friends was that the bank manager, who had a strong personal feeling againsfe him, influenced Judge Kettle , through these conversations, and that, possibly uncontciou3ly to himself, Judge Kettle became the bank's engine of oppression against him.

The Under-Secretary for Justice then addressed Barns, but not till a month afterwards— viz., on Ist March, 1898. When he ackaowledged receipt of the preceding letter of 15th D. cumber, 1897. In this communication Birns is asked to express regret to the Minister for Lands for having misled him by making a statement which h<3 was unable to substantiate and which he had now practically, though not in express terms, withdrawn. It is also stated that in the position Barne held aa a public officer it was reprehensible in the highest degree to have written to the Minister in charge of the department as ho had done.

Oa the 15th March Barns replied tnat he bad satisfied himself that the statements he had made were in no way warranted by the facts. He therefore unreservedly withdrew them and expressed his regret. This is all the correspondence, and if there waa any further correspondence between Judgo Kettle and the Minister for Lands or other Ministers, it has not been laid on the table of the House.