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150. My charge against Mr. Cook was made on the 23rd April ?—The 6th May was the date of the meeting you referred to. 151. At that meeting I referred to an entry in the minute-book on the 27th November, 1900, and called attention to sums owing on the 23rd April ?—There is no reference to that in the minutes. 152. The Chairman.] Was there a meeting of the company on the 27th November last ? — .Yes. 153. And at that time Cook owed moneys to the company ?—-Yes. Mr. Easton: What I wanted to make clear was that it was not on the 6th May that Mr. Cook owed a large amount, but the 23rd April. 154. Mr. J. Allen.] When were the summonses issued in connection with the Boss Day Dawn Company ?—Some time in May. I cannot give you the exact date. 155. Were they issued before the 6th May?— Apparently not, because the directors' meeting was held on the 9th May. The meeting held on the 6th May was an extraordinary general meeting. The summonses were issued subsequently to the 9th May. 156. Mr. Herries.] Who were the directors of the company at that time—that is to say, on the 9th May?— Messrs. Wales, Somerville, and Burns; also Mr. Bruce, who was always on the West Coast. 157. Mr. J. Allen.] Can you swear that the summonses were issued after the meeting on the 9th May?— Yes. 158. Mr. Cook] After I had paid £1 per share into the company? —Yes; you paid on the 4th May. 159. The Chairman.] You said just now, in reply to Mr. Cook, that you had seen the deed from Cook to the company (Lees Ferry Company), and after that was signed the deed from the original vendor to Cook had nothing further to do with you ?—That was practically the position as far as the option from Taylor to Cook was concerned, but it never at any time came much under my observation. It was a matter for Mr. Cook during the flotation of the company. 160. Can you say, if that deed was not stamped or registered, how the title was going to get in Mr. Cook's name to enable him to sell to the company ? What title had Mr. Cook to the claim if the first deed—Taylor to Cook—was of no use, and you had nothing further to trouble about in connection with it ? —I cannot answer that; it is a legal question. 161. Was it your duty as secretary to the company to see that it had some title to the property ?—Yes ;we instructed the solicitor to attend to that. I think there is a minute in the book to that effect. 162. Would you be surprised to learn that the Lees Ferry Company's claim still belongs to Taylor, and not to the company at all ?—I certainly would. The Chairman : I may say that a telegram has been received from the Warden on the West Coast, stating that the claim is registered in the name of Taylor. 163. Mr. Herries.] Does the company pay rent for the claim?—l do not think we are paying any rent now; but I could not say definitely without referring to the books. 164. Mr. J. Allen.] Is the company in liquidation?— Yes; a motion for liquidation has been passed, and the confirming meeting is to be held to-day. 165. Mr. Herries.] Has the company ever paid rent for the claim ?—Speaking from memory, I think not; but the books would show. I will look it up. No; no rent has been paid by the Lees Ferry Company for the claim. 166. Mr. W. Fraser.] Has rent been paid by any other of the companies?— Yes; rent has been paid by the Tucker Flat Company, the Boss Day Dawn Company, and the No Town No. 2, at all events. 167. Would not the non-payment of rent be certain evidence to you that the company did not own the title to the property ?—Not necessarily, because it might have been assumed to have been paid by the vendors up to a certain period. 168. How often is the rent paid?—ln some companies yearly, and others half-yearly. 169. How often to the Mining Begistrar?—Some companies yearly; some half-yearly. 170. How long has this company been in existence ?—Since the 9th March, 1900. 171. Over a year?— Yes. 172. And yet no rent has been paid by the company ? —No. 173. Did it never strike you that some one else was paying it for you—there must have been some explanation ?—lt occurred to me that it was quite possible that the vendor had paid it from the 9th March till some subsequent date. 174. You do not know of your own knowledge that the title to the property is still in Taylor's name ? —I do not. 175. You never heard it before?—lt is new to me entirely; the vendors' shares have been allotted in the company. 176. The Chairman.] The company's solicitor told you that the title was complete ?—Yes ; and that we might allot the vendors' shares. 177. Then, this telegram that I have read is a surprise to you?—lt is. 178. Mr. Herries.] You mentioned the names of one or two companies in connection with which you have paid rent for the claims; can you mention any for which you have never paid rent besides the Lees Ferry Company ? —As far as my recollection goes, no rent was paid by me while secretary to the Wicklow and the Golden Gray Companies, but that is speaking from memory. I could not say definitely without having access to the books. 179. Mr. J. Allen.] Are those companies in liquidation?—l understand from Mr. Easton that they are.. Mr. Easton: Yes, both of them are in liquidation.