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108. Is it not certain to be within your knowledge, as a director of the bank and an attorney of the Estates Company ? —I think so. 109. The result of the conference was that the Government proposed to set up a Committee of inquiry ?—That was the result. 109 a. When was Mr. John Murray sent for ? —I am not able to say. I was not present in Wellington when that was done. 110. Were you present at any meeting of directors when any resolution on the subject was approved or confirmed ? —No. 111. You did not know, then, that he was sent for ? —I was made aware on coming to town that he had been sent for. 112. By whom ? —By the President of the bank, after consulting with the directors who were in town. 113. It was not at a formal meeting that this was done, but in this somewhat informal way it was approved of by the directors ?—The directors in town were consulted. 114. And you were told of it when you came to town? —"Yes. 115. Did you acquiesce in it ?—No. 116. Is there any minute on the subject in the books of the bank ? —I am not aware of it. 117. Were you a party to the vote of £500 to Mr. John Murray in recognition of his services in 1894?—N0. 118. When was that vote passed? —I do not know. It has never come within my knowledge. I was not a director at that time. 119. You were a director at the time of the payment, probably ? —I have no knowledge of it. 120. Can you find out when that money was paid ?—I think it is in the return I presented to the Committee some days ago. 121. I am aware of the return, but there is no date given as to the payment ?—lt is Exhibit No. 3, which has been handed in. I can get the date. 122. Up to your appointment in September, 1894, there had been no directors of the bank in New Zealand for some years. I want you to tell the Committee who voted that sum of money to Mr. John Murray for his services in 1894 ? It would be paid in Wellington ? —I have no knowledge. 123. You can find out? —Yes. 124. Will you also find out the particulars of the amount paid in reimbursement of Mr. Murray's expenses, amounting to £531 Is. lid., which included "costly London cablegrams "1 — There will be a record of the particulars. 125. Would not the bank have copies of the "costly telegrams" sent to London and the replies sent from there, which would be included in these disbursements ?—I am not able to say. 126. You would be able to find out ?—I would be able to find out. 127. The report of the Banking Committee of last session was made public on the 20th August. I mention that date as fixing a time. In that report there was a recommendation as to the purchase of another bank ?—That was so. 128. Had that been a subject of recommendation by the directors to the Committee ?—I have no recollection of that. It was the opinion of the directors that such a purchase was very desirable if it could be brought about. 129. Then, it is probable that in your evidence, or tbe evidence of some of the directors, that point was referred to?— Yes, it is very likely. 130. Were there any negotiations or overtures at that time—that is, in August, 1895 —with any other bank?— Any other than the Colonial Bank ? 131. Any bank at all? —No, I have no recollection of any, apart from the Colonial Bank. 132. Can I take it, then, that during your period of directorship there has been no overture or negotiation for purchase with any bank except the Colonial Bank ?—I think not. 133. Now, with reference to the Colonial Bank, which I understand was present to the minds of the directors when recommending the purchase of another bank : How long before your appearance before the Committee of last session had you been in communication with the Colonial Bank ?—I have no recollection that we had made any direct communication to the Colonial Bank at that time. 134. You mean that there had been no written communication ?—I have no recollection of any. 135. Are you aware that there were communications other than in writing between the two banks before you approached the Committee ?—I have no knowledge of it. 136. What, then, was the basis of your recommendation that the Colonial Bank should be purchased ?—lt had been spoken of from time to time amongst the directors, and it was generally understood from the previous year that there was a possibility of purchasing the Colonial Bank. 137. It was a matter which had been held in view then ? —Yes. 138. And was discussed from time to time by the board of directors ?—There was very little discussion about the matter until Parliament authorised the purchase. 139. In fact, there was a prohibition at the time against such a purchase on the statute-book? —In 1894 there was. 140. But, notwithstanding, you contemplated something of the kind coming off as soon as the prohibition was removed? —Yes. 141. Did you, as a board of directors, hold any communication with the directors of the Colonial Bank on the subject ?—I believe not. 142. Did any directors of the one bank or the other communicate informally ? —I think not. 143. You personally did not ?—No. 144. Were the directors who had been appointed in September, 1894, consulted at all with reference to the appointment of the President in the following month ?—I believe not.