33

C—2

792. Have you set out that telegram in the affidavit of documents —No. 793. Why not?—Oh! I did not consider that part of the documents for disclosure. 794. Oh ! you did not consider that part of the documents? —No. 795. Are you your own adviser in this matter? —Well, I had no recollection of it. 796. Did you keep a press copy of it?— Whatever telegram was sent was copied. 797. Would you be kind enough to furnish us with a copy of it ?—Yes, if there was one sent. 798. Did you know that Mr. Eitchie was in Timaru ? —No, I did not. 799. Did you make any arrangements for forwarding his telegram ?—I do not think so. 800. Do you know, as a matter of fact, whether a special messenger was sent with your telegram and ours to Mr. Eitchie? —No, I do not. 801. You say you saw Mr. Scott in connection with the prior transaction?— Yes. 802. Was that for a run held in connection with this same country ? —Yes. 803. And you missed it; it went too high ?—Yes ; we were outbid. 804. How was that matter arranged? Did Mr. Scott sign an authority to apply for the run? Yqs 805. Did Mr. Scott sign an authority to the Christchurch agent to bid for the run? —No; to the Timaru agent. 806. Then that was auctioned at Timaru?—Yes. 807. Why should that one be auctioned at Timaru and the other at Christchurch?—lt is not for me to question that. 808. Now, when and where did you see Mr. Scott about that?—l saw Mr. Scott in my own office, early in January. 809. Do you know if he saw Mr. Eitchie about that?—He did. 810. You saw him in your office?— Yes. 811. Did you make the arrangement with him, or was it made with Mr. Eitchie? —It was made along with Mr. Eitchie. We were together in Mr. Eitchie's room. 812. Did he ever receive the guinea?— Yes. He was to get the £10 or £15 mentioned. Then, the day after, when we saw by the paper he had not secured the run, lie came into the office and said, "I see I have not got that run." I said, "No." I said, " How much have Ito give you for your trouble?" He said, " A guinea ; " and I paid the guinea there and then. 813. You say the arrangement respecting that run was made by you and Mr. Eitchie together ? —And Mr. Scott. 814. How long were you engaged with Mr. Scott ?—He would be in the room about ten minutes. 815. Tell me as nearly as you remember what passed on that occasion?— The explanation was somewhat similar to what occurred on the second occasion. 816. Be so good as to tell me what passed ?—Mr. Eitchie explained that he did not wish to take up 93a, but that he would like to take up 93 ; that he did not wish to secure the use of 93a, but the use of 93 ; that he would not take it on the company's account in the company's name, as the boundaries had been extended. 817. He explained that?— Yes; and that the rabbiting was too great a risk. He asked Scott if he was prepared to take it up in his own name, and said that the Government might give a good deal of trouble with regard to rabbiting; that they might even go the length of making him bankrupt. Scott agreed to take it up. 818. And what was he to get for all this?—£lo or £15. 819. You are positive of that ?—Yes. 820. You swear positively? —Yes. 821. That a definite arrangement of that sort was made ?—Yes. 822. Now, coming to this occasion of the actual transaction—the present one—do you remember what time of day you saw Mr. Scott ? —Just about 2 o'clock —shortly after 2. 823. Where did you see him? — ln Bond Street, almost in front of Bartleman's office. 824. That is a door or two from your own?— Yes, just next door. I met him there coming over the channel. 825. Did you take him to your office then?— No. 826. Did you explain your business ?—Yes. . 827. What did you tell him ? —I told him that outlying Eun 93a —I do not think I mentioned " 93a" then, but I told him that that run was to be offered at auction—or for application it would be first—and that Mr. Eitchie wished to get the use of it for a short time to run stock until the stock could be disposed of. 828. Yes, and what did he say to that ?—That he would get £15 or £20 if he took up the run, and we would pay the half-year's rent. 829. That is what you said to him in the street ?—Yes. 830. What did he say to that ?—I told him also he would have the risk of rabbiting—that that was the reason Mr. Eitchie was not taking it up ; and he said, " All right, I am quite agreeable." 831. Then he made an arrangement with you in the street ?—I asked him to come and see Mr. Eitchie. 832. But he had assented to you in the street?— Yes. 833. Did you tell Mr. Eitchie that ?—Yes ; I told Mr. Eitchie that Mr. Scott was prepared to take it up : would I send for him. And we sent for him. 834. How long after you had seen Scott in the street did you see Mr. Eitchie?—About an hour afterwards, between 3 and 4 o'clock. 835. What did he do when you told him that ? —I said, would I send over for him ; and he said, " Yes." He came over direct, and went into Mr. Eitchie's room. 836. Did you see the telegram sent?—l saw it rjass out a little before 5. 5—C. 2.