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(Telegram.) Henry Otterson, Esq., Clerk-Assistant, House of Bepresentatives, Wellington. Have just received Mr. Ward's resignation by telegram. When it is wired back to me and indorsed I will telegraph you notice for to-morrow's Gazette, which you will please wire back to me. G. Maueice O'Boekb, Speaker, Auckland. Beceived in Wellington, 14th July, 1897.

(Telegram.) Henry Otterson, Esq., Clerk-Assistant, House of Bepresentatives, Wellington. Notification of resignation of seat in House of Kepresentives for Electoral District of Awarua in compliance with the provisions of the 135 th section of " The Electoral Act, 1893 " : I, the Speaker of the House of Bepresentatives, hereby notify that the Honourable Joseph George Ward has resigned his seat in the House of Bepresentatives for the Electoral District of Awarua, and that his telegram of resignation was received by me on the 14th day of July, 1897, and the said seat is vacant by reason of such resignation. Dated at Auckland, this 14th day of July, 1897. Gboege Maueice O'Boekb, Beceived Wellington, 14th July, 1897. Speaker of the House of Bepresentatives. [For Gazette notices of resignation and bankruptcy see New Zealand Gazette, No. 62,15 th July, 1897, pages 1320 vnd 1336.]

CORRESPONDENCE. C. Bout, Deputy Official Assignee, Invercargill. Forward by first mail copy of notice of adjudication of Hon. J. G. Ward as a bankrupt as advertised, also state present position of bankruptcy proceedings. Information required by Privilege Committee of House of Bepresentatives. A. F. Lowe, Clerk, Privilege Committee.

The Deputy Assignee in Bankruptcy at Invercargill to Clbek, Privilege Committee, House of Bepresentatives, Wellington. In the Estate of J. G. Ward. Sic,— 2nd October, 1897. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of this day's date, asking me to " forward by first mail copy of notice of adjudication of Hon. J. G. Ward as a bankrupt as advertised, also state present position of bankruptcy proceedings. Information required for Privilege Committee, House of Bepresentatives." In reply, I have the honour to enclose —" A," copy of Court notice of adjudication ; " B," copy of advertisement which appeared in the Southland Neivs of Bth July, giving notice of the adjudication, and calling the first meeting of creditors to be hold on 13th July. In replying to the latter part of your telegram it will bo necessary to give a resume of what has taken place since the adjudication, which is as follows : —■ The meeting was held on 13th July, in pursuance of notification, when the following resolution was passed: " That the debtor be requested to prepare and deliver to the Assignee, at his public office, before the 3rd day of August, 1897, or within such reasonable time as may be fixed by the Deputy Official Assignee, full, true, and particular accounts and balance-sheets, showing the particulars of his receipts and expenditure, of his stock-taking, and of his profits and losses during the period of three years before the commencement of the bankruptcy; and that the Deputy Official Assignee be requested to give the necessary notice, and to take the necessary steps, for carrying out this resolution; and that this meeting be adjourned to the 6th day of August, 1897, at half-past two o'clock in the afternoon, to enable the Deputy Official Assignee and the creditors to examine and consider such statement." As Mr. Ward was unable to complete the statement in time for the 6th August, the meeting was, by agreement, postponed to the 20th August, on which day it was held, and the returns were presented to the meeting, when it was resolved " That an outside accountant be employed to look into the accounts connected with the statement made by Mr. Ward and report to a meeting of creditors at an early date, and that Mr. William Brown, of Dunedin, be the accountant employed to examine statement. Failing Mr. Brown, that the Assignee consult Messrs. Cook and Bamsay in the selection of some other accountant." Mr. Brown undertook the work. I enclose a copy (C) of my letter of instructions to him. In his report he dealt very fully and exhaustively with clauses 1 and 4of my letter of instructions. I think I should fairly represent this part of the report by saying that, on the whole, judging from the books and documents produced to Mr. Brown, Mr. Ward's statements were practically correct. In reply to clauses 2 and 3, Mr. Brown wrote as follows : " (2.) In respect of this inquiry, I have not observed any grounds for suspecting that Mr. Ward has received moneys during the period under review for which he has not accounted, beyond such as were drawn in the ordinary course, chiefly from Government payments into the Bank of New South Wales, and no doubt representing the funds needed for private and travelling expenses. Of the total, however, £1,084 of this was transferred in various sums to the association, and by it credited to Mr. Ward in account. (3.) In respect of this last query, I have pleasure in stating that Mr. Anderson has given me every assistance in the work committed to me, and took pains to give any information which would assist me in verifying or otherwise the financial statements submitted, and I am indebted to his familiarity