THE HINE CHARGES

Southland Times, Issue 14578, 19 November 1910, Page 7

THE HINE CHARGES

THE FIjASBOURHE CASE.

(Per United Press Association.)

WHLLIXGTOX, Nov. IS

At the meeting' of the Mine Committee this morning Liu; Chairman tA)r A. Banana) spoke of the impropriety of the 'Pivys in various partsoofi f the Dominion commonting' on the procedure of tlio conimitce, even going so far as to anticipate the verdict. Should such happen again he would, as Chairman, have to refer it to the 1 louse as a breach of privilege. Kdwin Griffon, of Napier, land vainer,

said that he had been eleven years in the employ of the Government. He aa as employed oit the Klaxbourno negotiations being ’then (llstri.-t valuer for Hawke’s Day. lie first visited Flaxbourne in duly, I tur;. and took charge of the camp, conducting surveyors and valuers over the .properly, Air A. L. Wilson arrived at Klaxboin-ne on a Sunday at midday, spent Monday with the rest of the party, and made a valuation of the homestead on Tuesday, and went away either that night or Wednesday morning. Witness (old Mr Wilson that lie could only have the horse on Tuesday, hut Mr Wilson replied: "1 am omy doing this because my partner is acting as assessor without payment, and L am just making a report to Mr Seddon.” Witness continued that no other value! - did the work in less than cloven line days. Mr ‘Wilson’s was only a report. Witness had not seen all ttie inspection Wilson did. Be was one day on horseback and one day on loot. To Mr Skerrett: Witness was at the time a Government employee. AVitnoss had never previously farmed or valued country similar to Flaxbourne. He thought it strange that a man who came to vaHie 50,000 acres required a horse for only one day. Witness was retrenched from the Government service. He did not think there was a witness in the case who spent less than five days on the estate.

To Sir J. G. Ward: He bad not reported to cither Ur Findlay or -Mr Seddon regarding Mr .Wilson's short visit.

Mr llarian remonstrated strongly with counsel and members of Committee for wasting time in asking irrelevant questions.

To Mr Millar: Witness would say that such a casual report, as Mr Wilson’s was Valueless, and Mr Wilson was paid unfairly as compered with -.other valuers. To Mr Massey; Such places as Flaxbourne were valued by the carrying ca-. pagity. The way Mr Wilson spoke to .witness was such as uurnistakeably conveyed tiie idea that lie only came over to ensure some payment being made to Mr Macdonald, as the latter was prevented by law from receiving payment for acting as assessor. To Mr Myers, ivi.P. : Was positive Air Wilson did not remain after AVednesday morning. To Mr Hanna; He mentioned to Dr Findlay that Mr Wilson, had only been there two' days, and said lie didn’t suppose Air AVilson would be called as a witness. Dr Findlay replied that Mr Wilson would not lie called. Mr Wilson when on horseback probably covered 4000 acres.

To Mr Massey; Most of the. ifime of tiie MIO days Tattle was in camp all witness saw him do was to act as assistant groom and assistant cook, but he may have made a valuation unknown to witness. Witness was surprised to hear that Tattle received £C.’B for his services.

To Mr Millar: He had never charged up whisky to the Department. The A’oucher produced shelving ten gallons of whisky was not made out by Avitness. Oroville gave AVilson a lot of information.

This closed the examination of MiMine’s Avi tnessc.s, and the Committee then sojourned.