THE DARWIN TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 74, 20 December 1919, Page 9

THE DARWIN TROUBLE

INQUIRY INTO CHARGES AGAINST OFFICIALS EVIDENCE BEFORE THE COMMISSION (By Telegraph-Press AsßOciation-CopyriKht Darwin, December 18. The evidence given before the CommisBioii .so fur has chiefly centred round the use by Hie officials, against whom the charge? are made, of' two codes, Government and private, for their communications. Mr. Evans (lute Government Secretary) gave evidence that the private code was used to prevent any leakage of information.

Mr. Carey (late D'reclor of the Territory) explaining certain correspondence, declared that Dr. Gilrutb. was interested in the DaJey mine, he having guaranteed half of any loss to Judge Bovan. Hq also gave evidence that he hail negotiated with Vesioys for employing .Dr. Gilruth on a scientific mission. Judge Bevan in his evidence, said that Dr. Gilruth became interested in the Daley mine about September, 1916, when witness told him that owing to heavy .liabilities ho could not go on with it. Dr. Gilrulh agreed to take half of Bevaii's share. The Minister controlling tho Territory was not informed of the matter. He' claimed that all thoir actions were perfectly honest and straightforward. • . ■■ J[r. Justice Ewini; announced that ho nould see no justification for Hie statement that Judge'Bevan was interested in Daley Bivor land, and lie therefore proposed to strike his name out of that charge.—Press Assn. ■'• : [The oharges against Judge Bevan, Mr. Carey, and Dv. Gilruth, aro that they we.ro' all interested in a mine on tho Daley River, of which a lease was granted by Gilrutli, and that the land at the Daley River was demanded for' Bevan and Gilnitli. who are the real owners; that they shook the. confidence ot the people of tho Territory to .such an extent «s to cause the recent trouble. Gilrutli and Carey are also charged with' bring prepared to give improper consideration to the firm of Vcsteys, to enable them to soil their' meat works to the Government.] .

(Bee. December 19,. 7.35 p.m.)

Darwin, December 19. .Tutlgc Bevan, in further evidence, stated that the key of the private telegraphic code iii-use was a combination of Dr. Gilrutli's, Mrs. Gilnith's. and llr. Caroy's initials. He supposed that Dr. Gilrnfh prepared the key for replying to questions regarding monetary awl other relations between witness and Gilriith. Ho said they were interested with a nuui named Hope in an Arrino mining lease. They (jot Hope to take it up. Each of the three had an 'equal share , in tho property. A'-ked if Hope was the owner as rai as the public was concerned, witness replied: "Hβ was." • ■iskod if the Administrator, as well as himself, knew that Hope w,is only a man of straw, Derail replied "1 think so." , Asked if there were any other things in which Gilrutli and himself were interested under someone, else's name Beyan replied in tho negative. He did not think it strange that the Administrator should advance money to himself under someone else's name. Hn claimed that lliey wera acting perfectly straightforwardly. —Press Asf.n.