TUESDAY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1965, 22 April 1875, Page 2

TUESDAY.

(Continued.)

The following completes the evidence taken before Major Keddell on Tuesday, continued from yesterday's issue :—

Mr Allom's statement continued —My first act was so receive some money from McKenzie, a responsibility which I need not hare assumed until next morning, as it was impossible to count the money at. that time. I continued to receive money and applications in the manner described by Captain Eraser until 10 o'clock that night, when it was decided by Captain Eraser to close, except those for which it was understood that Mr Mackay had received money previously. Considerable anxiety was felt just then at Mr Mackay's non-appearance, as it was feared that many persons would be debarred from receiving miners' rights to which they were entitled. To the best of my belief Ifr Mackay arrived at 11 o'clock p.m., «iud I then received his money, and assisted in making out his list of applications. I notice that some of the figures on the application arc mine. (Referring to them.) The clerks wero immediately set to work to make out the miners' rights as before. To the best of my recollection this work was not£completed until about 2 a.m.. At the time of receiving Mr Mackay's applications I made out a memo, of the amounts and numbers of each application, which I did not give him, but now produce it. I made out a memo, of the amounts and numbers of each application (produced); that is, irrespective of those he applied for on account of Mr Brissenden. As regards Brissenden's rights I could only treat them as applications made by Mr Mackay. I cannot tell how many there were of thai class, because the epplication is lost or stolen. I think the latter, as it cannot be mislaid. If there were more than 40, the remainder must have been paid for in cash, because when I counted my money on the night of the 3rd of March, I found a cheque of Mr Brissenden's for £40, which I have no doubt was given to pay for those rights. It will be observed from the paper which I have put in that the number of Mr Mackay s last application was 258, and I assume that the number of Mr Brissenden's missing application must have been 259. I had no hand whatever in the issuing or preparation of those rights until ten o'clock next morning. I certainly issued none myself. Captain Fraser stated that he gave me charge of all the

books with miner's rights on the evening of tlie 2nd March. I wish to state that I only took charge of those books for the first time at the close of work on that night (2 a.m. of the 3rd), and I anxiously waited for them, and then voluntarily took posseision of the books that were left, and took them with the money to Sub-Inspector Newell'• tent, which I ■considered the safest place .at the time. I wish to speak of the office tent itself. When the book was closed, and we were going 'to bed about 2 o'clock on the morning of the 3rd, I expressed to Captain Frascr, my great anxiety to hare policemen left in the tent all night to watch the property, consisting of upwards of 4,000 blank miners' right. Captain Fraser, did not think there was any necessity for it, and the only person, whoy to -my knowledge, remained in the tent, that night Was Dr Bullock, who was very drunk. I think it very probable that the missing applications were stolen that night. There was no place of security into which they could be placed, such as a box with a lock. The file of applications and index produced were made by my directions within two or threejdays after the {Opening ofrthe field, and "before I had-the least idea that such an enquiry would take place. I was comparatively ignorant till fen o'clock on Wednesday morning as to the mode in which these miners' rights were to be issued, having only arrived from Auckland on the Tuesday morning. On my way from the- Paeroa to Mackaytown I was asked to take money for miners' rights. Next md Irning vl discovered that the interests of the parties would be jeopardised by asking me, as they had no tickets, and I could not easily find them. Shortly before 10 o'clock I sought out the first five, and advised them; to stick to Mr Wilkinson, one of the five, to whom I gave the ticket. Aa to the others, I don't know how they got their rights. I think the memorandum No. 17 was handed to mo either at Grahamstown or the Paeroa. I received it on the Tuesday. As regards the statement about the back-door as to miners' rights, for which I was supposed to hold the tickets, I believe it was quite correct, but I don't know the name of the parties. I was, by several persons, asked not to issue the rights before 10 o'clock, but to assist them in getting them early. Ignorant as I was at that time of their arrangements, I innocently supposed that I should be facilitating the more rapid distribution of the rights. And that is the whole secret of the matter. Regarding Thorpe's application, I had Thorpe's ticket the night beforej and when he applied for his rights at the booth of Mr Andrews, he had no ticket. He said, Mr Allom has my ticket. I said "no." He then reminded me that he had given it to me on the previous evening. I could not find the ticket, but I remembered the number of his ticket. I felt sure I should find the ticket, so I made myself responsible for it, and authorised the clerk (Mr Andrews, I think) to give him his rights. This did not facilitate the distribution.

The Court adjourned, and Major Keddell said he would read over the evidence.