1.—6

53

24. The Chairman.] To your knowledge, there was no proposed scheme?— Beyond what is known to the Committee, that there was a proposal. made that some of the properties should be disposed of by lottery. 25. Mr. Hutchison.] That was a scheme that you proposed to have sanction given to by Act ? —Yes. 26. That was in 1895, was it not; and you were one of the petitioners to Parliament in support of that Bill, were you not? —Yes. 27. Where did that idea originate, in London or here ? —I do not know. 28. As a director of the Estates Company you say you do not know?—l do not know who first suggested that such a course might be taken. 29. I do not ask you who; I ask, Where did the idea originate, here or in London ?—Not in London, certainly. 30. Then it must have been here. Do you consider that that scheme, if you had got the Act through, would have relieved you from the necessity of applying to the Government for assistance ? —It is not likely; but it might have been of some substantial assistance to the Estates Company. 31. I do not think the Bill was ever circulated, or came before Parliament. Will you look at that [copy of Bill], and say if it is a copy of the Bill you desired to have passed ? 32. The Chairman.] Do you recognise that as embodying the proposal of the company?— Yes. 33. Mr. Hutchison.] That is a copy of the Bill proposed to be introduced ?—I believe so. 34. The next point is as to to the Consols. You were to ascertain the date of the purchase by the Bank of New Zealand of £150,000 of New Zealand Consols? —The information that we have got is not quite complete. If you will be kind enough to hold that matter over until to-morrow morning I will endeavour to get it. 35. Have you got the consent of the Colonial Treasurer to the purchase, or is that to be held over also ?—Mr. Cooper requires more time to look into the question of the Consols. 36. Then, as to the date of the call of £500,000, and the purpose for which it was made 1 : The circular would probably fix these points if you have it ?—There is a copy here of the circular and of the public notice. 37. Have you any correspondence as to the making of that call between the Colonial Treasurer and the bank? —I shall be obliged to give the same answer in this case as in the former one. The correspondence on the subject between the Colonial Treasurer and the bank is confidential. 38. And you decline on that ground to produce it ?—Yes. 39. Can you now verify my quotations from the statement made by the President at the meeting of shareholders on the 7th February, 1895 ? —I have not read the report. I can hand in the complete report. 40. I will ask you if you can find in it the passages I quoted to you?—l have not had an opportunity of reading the report. I would like to have an indication of the parts you wish me to examine, that I may see the parts themselves and the context. 41. Very well; I will mark the passages either to-day or to-morrow. I asked you if you could give me the date when the original copies of the agreement of October were signed ?—I understand that, both as to the number of agreements and the drafts, I shall have to refer to Mr. Button. They are not able to supply the information at the bank. 42. But you can find out, I suppose ?—I can find out from Mr. Button by applying to him. 43. Have you the particulars of the payments made to Mr. John Murray ?—You refer to the payment of £500 to Mr. Murray ? 44. My question was as to the date of the payment of the £500?— We have not got the date. It was a payment made in London from a trust account. We have no further information about it. 45. It was made in London from a trust account and drawn against here ?—I believe that is so. 46. Have you the particulars of the disbursements to Mr. Murray of £531 Is. lid. ?—You refer to the cost of the telegrams ? 47. Yes; and the other items included in the £531 Is. lid. ? —The particulars are not in the possession of the bank here. 48. Were the payments made here ?—I have not got full particulars here. We were not able to say whether they were made here or in Auckland. 49. That is held over, then ? —Yes. 50. You have handed in a return of the particulars of the Colonial Bank landed property and bank premises ?—Yes. 51. The order of the Committee was that it should be a " detailed statement" ?—Will you indicate what the details are that you want ? 52. The details would probably be given if you would dissever the landed properties from the bank premises. If they are all bank premises we could understand it being complete as handed in ? —I do not think there is any further information that could be of use. What is meant is that the properties are on lands which are taken over, and here and there there may be a few feet, and possibly a vacant section, more than is actually required for the buildings. 53. Then, I understand that this return refers to bank premises and land adjacent to the various buildings formerly belonging to the Colonial Bank in the colony ? —Yes. 54. I was about to ask you yesterday, when the Committee adjourned, as to the appointment of General Manager. Did you ask for applications for that office ?—-No. 55. How did you proceed to the appointment ?—There was no proceeding necessary in the matter. The President of the bank was anxious from the beginning that Mr. Mackenzie should be appointed General Manager.