CHINESE IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE.

H.—No. 6b.

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. Tuesday, sth September, 1871. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Carrington, Mr. Gr. B. Parker, Hon. Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Reynolds. Mr. Steward in the Chair. Mr. Reynolds moved, That Mr. Steward be the permanent Chairman of this Committee. Carried. Order of reference read. The Chairman having stated the object for which the Committee had been appointed, suggested that steps should at once be taken to obtain information from the mining districts and elsewhere ; also if possible from some persons representing the Chinese race. The Hon. Mr. Fitzherbert moved, That the Chairman be requested to prepare a draft of questions on the subject, to be submitted to Wardens and others. Carried. Mr. Reynolds moved, That the Chairman be requested to telegraph to Mr. J. T. Thomson, asking him when it would be convenient for him to appear before the Committee to give evidence on the Chinese question. Carried. Mr. Parker moved, That the Committee do adjourn until Thursday, 7th September, at 11 o'clock, to consider draft of questions, &c. Carried.

Thursday, 7th September, 1871. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Carrington, Mr. C. E. Haughton, Mr. Creighton, Mr. Gr. B. Parker, Hon. Mr. Pox, Mr. J. Shephard. Mr. Harrison, Mr. Steward in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman read the telegram he had sent to Mr. Thomson, and the answer—replying that he would be in town on Saturday next, and would attend the Committee when called upon. On the motion of Mr. Creighton, Resolved, That Mr. Thomson be requested to attend the Committee on Monday the 11th instant, at 11 o'clock. On the motion of Mr. Creighton, Resolved, That the letters put in by Mr. Haughton be read. Letters were read —No. 1, Mr. Robinson, Warden, Naseby; No. 2, Mr. Borton, Warden, Roxburgh. (Vide Interim Report No. 11., Appendix I.) The Chairman read the draft of questions proposed by him. (Vide Interim Report No. 1., Appendix I.) On the motion of Mr. Haughton, Resolved, That the following amended telegrams be sent to the Gold Fields Wardens and Chiefs of Police, requesting answers in full by an early post. (Vide Interim Report No. 1., Appendix I. and Appendix III.) On the motion of Mr. Creighton, Resolved, That the Colonial Secretary be requested to communicate with the Chief Secretaries of Victoria and New South Wales, asking for information regarding the Chinese in those Colonies, and requesting that copies of all reports and documents bearing on the subject be forwarded for the information of this Committee. On the motion of Mr. Harrison, Resolved, That the Chairman take steps to obtain the attendance of one or more Chinamen to give evidence before the Committee. The Committee then adjourned until Monday, 11th September, at 11 o'clock. Monday, 11th September, 1871. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Carrington, Mr. Gr. B. Parker, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Haughton, Mr. J. Shephard. Mr. Steward in the Chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman read a telegram from Mr. Shearman. (Vide Interim Report No. 1., Appendix m.) Letters were read from —No. 3, Mr. Carew, Warden, Blacks; No. 4, Mr. Simpson, Warden, Lawrence; No. 5, Mr. Beetham, Warden, Queenstown. (Vide Interim Report No. 11., Appendix I.) 2