THE MEIKLE COMMISSION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8327, 9 January 1907, Page 5

THE MEIKLE COMMISSION.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, January 8. The Meikle Commission (Mr Justice Edwards and Mr Justice Cooper) resumed its sittings, to-day, when Mr A. R. Atkinson addressed the commissioners on behalf of Mr Meikle. Previous to Mr Atkinson's commencement, the leading counsel -for the Crown (Mr M' Donald) intimated that the evidence of Mr Cameron, taken on commission in England, had just arrived in Wellington and was now available. The evi•dence given by Mr Cameron, who was formerly general manager of the New 'Zealand Mortgage and Investment Association, from which company the sheep were said to be stolen, is 'lengthy. Its principal point has reference to the statement on oath by Neil Sutherland, a school teacher, that Cameron laid a trap for Meikle. This assertion Cameron characterises j ,as""a shameless lie." Witness defied that Judge Ward was indebted to the company. The only debt he was • ever liable to the company for was in • connection with some land deals with ;the company by a syndicate with ■which he was connected. They paid 'the company a sum of money in dis- ■ charge of all liabilities That was prior to the Meikle trial. Witness was "cross-examined with a view to showing that his connection with companies in England and New Zealand had been such as to reflect upon him. It was true that a company he had promoted (W. R. Cameron and Co.) was in difficulties. As to Meikle, witness never had the slightest doubt that the sheep were stolen by Meikle, and he was not afraid to say so. Counsel for the claimant, in his address, submitted that there had been no attempt made by Meikle to manufacture evidence in support of his case. There was evidence that the witness, Troupe, had stated that he had a piece of paper in his pocket which would get Meikle out of gaol. Mr Justice Edwards said it had been suggested that he made that statement wildly when angered at being dismissed from his employment at the station. It seemed difficult to believe that there had tfsen conspiracy against Meikle entered into by Troupe, Cameron and Lambert, and that thgir agreement had been put on paper, so that Troupe could carry it around in his pocket. Counsel said he could not affect to know what Troupe actually meant. He did not affect to know what he had in his pocket, let alone what he had in his mind, but several witnesses had stated that he had used those words. Mr Justice Cooper said there could be only two theories, either that Troupe was very angry with the company when he made these statements, and was speaking boastfully, or that he had these documents in his possession and believed that Meikle was an innocent man. Counsel admitted thisj to be the case, but said that he regarded the evidence taken last week as of much importance, as it threw light upon Troupe's evidence, and also corroborated the testimony given by Meikle. . The commission adjourned until 10.30 o'clock in the morning, when Mr Atkinson will continue his address to the commissioners.