AUDIT ENQUIRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1593, 3 November 1905, Page 4

AUDIT ENQUIRY.

.(Pet, Press J^sooitt^on.)

Wellington, Wednesday. Before the Audit;Commission theex-T amination of Thomas Walter West, ojerk in the Ohriatohuroh post-offioo, was continued.

Dr Findlay: Were you not promised that, if you stuok to your statement, a situation would be provided for you ? Witness: No, that is not bo, Dr Findlay : Have you over written a letter in whioh you ,said you had been promised a situation if you loti your billet in connection with this oaso ?• Witness: I have written a letter in whioh I said that < a telegram had been received in whioh. a. gentleman had congratulated us or- offered a billet to one of us. 1 don’t know how the telegram was addressed. ,v ' : "v-syw-a [

Dr Findlay: .Have you ever written a letter in which you said you had the promise of a billet if you got.out of the Government servioe through this matter ? fitness,;,;; I wrote ißtstißgjthat a congratulatory or sympathetic telegram had been received from a,gentleman, offering a position, to Mr Willis, I think it was. ]Dr Findlay : Who was that tolegram from ?

Witness: A gentleman in Wanganui, Dr Findlay: Name ? Witness: Woke.

Dr Findlay : Will you swear that you did not write a.letter stating-that Mosers Taylor and Fisher would - look after you if you stuok to your statements, and you’d get billets ? Witness: I’ll swear I didn’t.

Mr Justice Dennistim: .Who wbb your letter written to ? Witness : , A private,,friend of. mine—a young lady. Mr Willis: That is tho only letter you have written, in oonneotion with this matter? Witness: Yes.

Mr Willis: And you know that thai letter was copied or etolen from the ladies gallery in tho House of Representatives ? Witness: Yes.

Tho witness, in answer to Mr Fisher, said it was impossible for any outside porson to have plaoed the vouoher on tho tray in the Chief Postmaster’s room. No searoh whioh did not produce the aotual vouoher, or show where it had gone, oould possibly satisfy him. Mr Willis asked that if a search of the doouments and vouohers wero to be made, Messrs Larcombo and Weßt should be allowed to act in his plaoe. Mr Skeirattrwarmly protested that Mr Willis had asked over and over again for this searoh, and, therefore, be should remain and see it oarried through. Mr Willis said he had been suspended for eight weeks, and it was very hard on him .-that he should be. compelled to remain hers at hfs own expense. Mr Skerratt said the searoh could be made, in . two days if reasonable diligence was exerolsed. : ; Their Honors- pointed out that Mr Willis, at the request of Mr Taylor, M.H.R., had beon joined as a party to the enquiry, and was one of those who desired the enquiry to be held. As to the question of expenses, that was a matter which the Commission had power to deal with, but their Honors would not commit themselves on the subject at present.