COAL CONTRACTS' SCANDAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8005, 16 December 1905, Page 2

COAL CONTRACTS' SCANDAL.

A DETRACTION, Deceived 15, 11.5 p.m; Sydney, December 15. At tlio sitting of the Railway Coiumi„sion Mr Thow; mochauical engineer on the railway, was called, but, before ho was examiued, Mr AVolman, a member of-the Assembly, asked to be allowed to make a statement, Ifc said that he had made a statement in the Assembly which further knowledge had shown him to be of an exceedingly regrettablo character. He deeply regrettedjhaving made tho statement and would take an opportunity to make reparation as far as possible in Parliament. He had done Thow a deep injury.

Mr Tliow, on beiug examined, denied that lie or his officers had, directly or indirectly, ever taken a bribe from the representative of any colliery with whom the Railway Commission dealt. He was not in any way interested in any of the Lithgow collieries, He gave evidence that the acceptance of coal tenders for the railways was based on tests which proved that the Lithgow Association collieries Were better su ; tcd for steaming purposes.

Received 16,1.5 a.m. Sydney, December 15. At the Railway Comm'ssion, M r Holman, M.L.A., stated that the whole covrso of the inqu : "y satisfied him that no suspicion could rest on the integrity of Mr Thow.