THE STARK COMMISSION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2229, 21 October 1886, Page 2

THE STARK COMMISSION.

L)SY TKLECiR.U'H,— OWN COHKKM'OXDrNT. | Auc'KiiVNi"), Last Night. Ar the Stark Commission, to day, Mr Hammond, liugistrar of tlio Native Lands Ctmit, deposed he had sold tin 1 propeily in question to Mr Staik for •KloOO in 1881. Mr L. R, Unvgos , late collector, Devon port deposed th.it Stark's property W!b valued at £3000 on tho book-, of tho dis trict for the year ending 31st Mai oh, ISSfi. ]}y Mr O'Meaghcr : The valuation of £3000 for Stork's property was made in January, 1883, and it held good till March, 1880. By Mr Seaman : This year's valuation was £15,000, and he had been ordeied by the Borough Council to collect the late on that value. Mr Cole man had objected on Mr Stark 's behalf to pay, on the giound tli.it tho property was sold before the late was stiuck. Mr Mitchelson, in eu'dence, stated that he had urged the Premier to grant the Commission on tho representation of a muubei of gentlemen who believed there had been a conspiracy. It was a matter of conmi >n report that Sir J. Vogel and the Public Woiks Minister were associated with the blunder, and that they had been well paid for consenting to the purchase. He could not indicate one person who made Mich statements, for there were so many. In cross examination, ho stated he did not himself credit the repot t, because ho did not belie\e that a Ministei of the Ciown would so lower himself as to bo primarily concerned in any such a transaction. 13y Mr O'Meaghor : Tie had been three yea is in Parliament, and had never been m the habit of acting or spending upon umelublo information. Dming the ten months he had been a Minister of theCiownhe had no\ or been approached with a \ lew to defraud the (Jo\ eminent, lie sat on the Opposition side of the House, and the Opposition was not in the habit of exhibiting any gieat tenderness tow aids the (Jovoinrucnt. He had no reason dining the session, nor since, to imagine that any mom-

berof tho (Jovcrnun-iifc would slt.uc in the alleged plunder. ]|.« did not believe, that Sir J. ■ Vop'l w.is mixed up with any conspiracy in tin- matter. In mgnitf the necessity for an inquiry, he winhed the country to U; Ural from a grave scandal. He spoko aa a politician. He det lined to stitu from whence he received tho mfonn.ition re the Staik purchase that ho h.id m ule u-e of. He did not know who tho Vigilance Coinmittoe wore. Jfe know two of thorn, hut (Inclined to kivo tho n.uiict, nor would he .state any reason for tlii- refusal. Mr O'Mcaglicruiged that tho quo-tion should bo answt'iod. Tho ConirniHMonors decided it was not nocoasary th.it a particul.iv question .should bo answored. Mr MitdieNon fuithor stated that ho believed tho <!o\(Miunent woio afraid of enquiry. Ho now behmed that tlio offer madp by Mr Allison to Messrs Oocliran^ and Dacre was genuine. 1T« was sttll of opinion that tho country had lost AI'IOOO by the purchase. He did not bl.uno Mi Brewer. He never believed ho had been mixed up with the conspiracy. Mr Chamber*, a member of the Vigilanco Conmiittep, intimated his intention to call as witnesses Mi Speiry, Miss (Jrahani, tho hon. Mr" Richardson and Mr (iodden, private secretary.