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ruptcy against you ? —Yes, the petition of Harper and Co. against me on the 24th March, 1885. 51. That bankruptcy continued until what date ?—Adjudication was on the Ist April, 1885, and continued until the 3rd June, 1885. 52. What happened on that date ?—The bankruptcy was annulled 53. When you received the certificate from the Eegistrar on the 13th March, 1885, what did you notice about the certificates ? —I saw at once that the summons of the 17th, and the order of the 29th October, 1884, had been ignored altogether by the Eegistrar and accountant: that is the order as to settled accounts. I mean it was not shown in the certificate of Eegistrar, either in actions Nos. 30 and 353; only three of the orders were mentioned and not the fourth. 54. What did the accounts show as regards settled accounts ?—The accounts showed in action No. 353 that all items had been charged to me previous to June, 1873, just as though such an order had never been made. 55. Did you notice anything else about the accounts ?—Yes, I was charged with the sum of £250 and interest combined, making about £600, for which absolute proof of payment had been placed before the Eegistrar. 56. Did you notice any other item particularly ?—Yes ; there was a bill of £150 charged to me with interest amounting to, I believe, over £300. That bill never had an existence. 57. Was it produced before the Eegistrar, or any evidence of its existence?— No. The following certificates were here put in: Certificate of Eegistrar in action No. 30, marked " Exhibit 14 " ; Certificate of Eegistrar in action No. 353, marked " Exhibit 15 " ; item dated the 31st August, 1870, referred to in " Exhibit 15," of £250, and interest £356 4s. Bd.; other item is, " February 29th, 1872 : To paid Ell acceptance, principal £150, interest £191 ss. 2d." Mr. Lusk here asked the Commissioners to call for mortgage Ell v. Harper, with discharged mortgage indorsed, also the subsequent transfer from Ell to Hanmer of same land with another piece, £1,200.; mortgage deed, 21st of March, 1873, with discharge indorsed on it; and subsequent memorandam of the mortgage from Ell to Acland and Harper, £800; and also transfer from Ell to Leonard Harper of £1,200 under the Land Transfer Act.

Friday, 19th May, 1893. George Waldock Ell further examined : 58. Mr. Lush.] Tell us what was the general nature of your transactions with Mr. Leonard Harper ?—My transactions began when I first commenced business with Mr. Leonard Harper in 1869 or 1870, when the firm of Hanmer and Harper would allow me to draw upon the firm. The reason I say him is because my communications were nearly all with Mr. Harper personally. They would advance me money from time to time upon order or otherwise, for the purpose of dealing either with stock or anything I saw worth purchasing, with the understanding that all moneys received from anything I purchased should pass through their hands. 59. How were advances to be repaid ? —As I realised upon anything I might purchase. That arrangement was always adhered to as near as I could. 60. Did you obtain receipts for money paid in ?—No; I think I only obtained one receipt from Mr. Harper's office. 61. Was that from Mr. Harper himself?—No, from a Mr. F. C. Hall, a clerk in that office. 62. Why did you not obtain receipts ? —On nearly every occasion I would go to Mr. Harper with my money, and he would say, " All right, Mr. Ell, I will make a note of this." 63. Do you remember in 1870 a transaction in relation to Mrs. Minchin's land?— Yes. 64. Tell us what occurred in 1870 ; was the land purchased in 1870 ?—Yes. 65. Who purchased it ? —Mr. Harper, from a lady named Minchin. 66. Did he buy it for himself ?—He bought it for me ; he sent his clerk up to value it with me. 67. What sum did he pay for it ?—£2so. 68. What was the next step? Did Mr. Harper convey it to you?— Yes; I was to pay him a bonus of £50 for the use of the money. 69. Then following that, did you give Mr. Harper a mortgage of that property for £250 ?—Yes. [Mortgage certificate copy put in, marked " Exhibit 16."] 70. At the time that mortgage was signed, was any arrangement made as to paying Mr. Harper the amount of mortgage and his commission ?—I do not know the exact date ; the arrangement was made when the property was bought; about that time it was understood that I was to pay £300, as I could, back again to Mr. Harper; no particular dates or specified time. 71. Was that understanding arrived at between you and Mr. Harper?— Yes; it was always understood so. 72. Did you pay back the amount ? —Yes. 73. Did you pay any specific sums?—No, I cannot remember any particular sum; when I paid in moneys to that account I paid in distinctly on account of that mortgage. 74. Did you also pay any sums of specified commission ?—I did. 75. Can you say whether in August, 1875, you had paid off the mortgage debt of £250?— Most decidedly. 76. And also the commission ? —Yes. 77. Then in August, 1875, were you entitled to have release of that mortgage?— Most certainly. [Eeceipt for money, marked " Exhibit 17 ; " same document discharged, " Exhibit 16."] . 78. Do you remember giving a mortgage to Mr. Acland and the Venerable Archdeacon Harper? —Yes, I remember.