NORTHERN TERRITORY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1920, Page 5

NORTHERN TERRITORY.

THE INQUIRY CONTINUED. EVIDENCE BY DE. GTLRUTH. By Telegraph,—Press Assn —Copyright. Melbourne, Feb. T2. Mr. Justice Ewing has resumed t,hc Darwin Inquiry, and Dr. J. A. Gilrut.li (formerly Administrator of the Northern Territory) was examined. Mr. Justice Ewing asked Dr. 'Gilruth if ho was aware that it had been sworn that while he was at Darwin he was Biirt-owner of the Arrino lease. Dr. Tiilnith replied: Yes, it was a claim, not a lease. Replying to further questions Dr. Gilrutli said a /pvint was made bv him Jo Judge Bevan and a man named Hope. He told -Bevan he would take a third share. He admitted that ho hrul approved the grant to Hope without sufficient authority. Mr. Justice Ewing asked: ''Knowing Hope was not the real owner you advanced money to develop the grant to help your "own and Bevan's mining ventures!" Dr. Gilrnth replied: "That is what it amounted to." Mr. Justice Ewing pointed out t!>at Bevan had swonv that rone of the advances to Hope were ever paid back to the Government- and that, by the merest chance, he discovered that Gilruth and Bevan were interested in the venture. Dr. Gilrnth replied that- anyone could have told Bevan was in it, but probably no one knew he himself was in it. Dr. Gilrnth denied that he was part owner of the Daly mine, but he advanced some money unon it, and later made himself responsible for half of anv loss -nat might be incurred. He undertook this, responsibility without, receiving any interest in the mine. He was not, aware that P.evan's and Hope's banking accountwas opened by money paid by himself, Dr. Gilruth admitted.granting ft lease of "000 acres to a man named Palmer, but he was not a partner of Palmer. —,ius.> N-Z. Cable Assn.

"A LITTLE COTERIE." A SUGGESTION BY THE JUDGE. Received Feb. 12, 7.20 p.m. Melbourne, Feb. 12. At the Darwin Commission, Dr. Gilruth, replying to Mr. Justice Ewing's questions regarding statements made by him at Administrator of the Northern Territory to Bevan and Hope, said he was anxious to develop mining. It was the OovernmentV policy to subsidise mining.

Mr. Justice Ewing, explaining to Dr. Gilruth points in the evidence previously given, said people in the Territory appeared to be annoyed at the general administration. ''lt in said you, Carey, Evans and Bevan were a little coterie, and wherever an office was open you appointed one of them to it and raised their salaries very quickly, but anybody not agreeing with you was soon out," added the Judge.' "It is also alleged you -were desirous of serving, primarily, the interests of Vesty Bros., and anxious to enable them to sell their meat works to the Government at the best price obtain-able."—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn,