MR. JELLICOE WAXES WARLIKE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12635, 24 October 1905, Page 5

MR. JELLICOE WAXES WARLIKE.

WELLINGTON, October 23. Tho opening of proceedings at the Audit Commission was enlivened by an encounter between Mr. Jellicoe and the Bench. After the latter had stated the order of procedure determined on, Mr. Jellicoe said he desired to ask what order of reference they were working uisder, and if the original order had been amended, and by whom. Mr. Justice Denniston said they were" proceeding under the order of refererco read in Court, which he had already intimated, and which any party to the case was at liberty to inspect.

Mr. Jelliooe endeavoured to argut* the matter, but the Court refused to bsar him. He then asked to be allowed to make an application in regard to the interpretation of the order of reference, but the Court ruled that any sr-ch application must be made in writing, and added that they had settled all these matters in chambers. Mr. Jellicoe had beon notified, and did not choose to be present, and they would rot have them argued now. Upon counsel persisting, he was ordered to sit down, and did so, saying he might as well leave the Court altogether if the Bench declined to hear him.

Mr. Skerrett was proceeding to call hi.s first witness, when Mr. Jellicoo asked that all witnesses should be ordered out of court. After some consultation, the- Bench agreed to this. Mr. Jellicoe thea asked for reasonable time to enable him to put in writing a notice of motion of urgency before Mr. Skerrett proceeded with his examination. This led to another skirmish between Bench and bar, which ended in the Commissioners positively declining to accede to Mr. Jellicoe's request, and then the first witness was taken.

Giving evidence before the Audit Commission to-day, Robert Williams, assistant secretary in the Defence Department, said ho could find no record of a payment of between £70 and £80 to Captain Seddon. He was satisfied a payment could not have been made without an entry appaaring in the books of the Department. It would not be possible for such a payment to be1 made without the - voucher passing through the Defence Department.