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III

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. Tuesday, 3ed July, 1883. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Order of reference read. , ~ , ~. -^ • ■**■***•■& Present: Mr. Pyke (Chairman), Mr. J. Buchanan, Mr. Fulton, Major Harris, Mr. J. McKenzie, Mr. McMillan, Mr. J. W. Thomson, Mr. W. White. On the motion of Mr. J. McKenzie, Besolved, That Mr. Pyke be Chairman. On the motion of Mr. Fulton, Besolved, That Mr. McKerrow, Surveyor-General, be requested to attend the next meeting with maps, &c, re land sold. The Committee then adjourned till Thursday, the sth July, at 10.30 a.m.

Thuesday, sth July, 1883. The Committee met pursuant to notice. ~.,,, , r . n . „, „ y • Present * Mr Pyke (Chairman), Mr. J. Buchanan, Mr. Fulton, Major Hams, Mr. J. McKenzie, Mr. McMillan, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Mr. J. W. Thomson, Mr. W. White. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. J Green, Esq., M.H.E., attended and was examined. (Vide evidence.) j' McKerrow Esq., Surveyor-General, attended, and produced a map of Otago, showing blocks of land disposed of by pastoral deferred-payment system; also papers referring to alleged dummyism, L.83/1379 and L.83/970; also book of Crown Lands Acts. _ _ On the motion of Mr. J. W. Thomson, Besolved, That special reports be obtained from the rangers respecting Silver Peak Block, Benger Block, and Waikouaiti Block; and the following questions be transmitted to Mr. McKerrow, for the Chief Commissioner of the Otago Lands Board, with a request to cause immediate action to be taken, and telegraph an answer at once : 1. Have the conditions of residence been complied with; if not, where is the usual place of residence of the purchaser of section? 2. State nature of buildings, if any, and estimate value? 3. State what yards and fences are on the section ? 4. What improvements, if any, have been made, either m cultivation grass-sowing, or otherwise? 5. What stock is depasturing on section, and if known to be the property of purchaser, or on terms, and, if so, from whom? 6. If sheep on ground what is brand or ear-mark, where are sheep shorn, and how is the wool disposed of? 7. If the purchaser is not in any occupation on his section, what is his usual or occasional employment, and by whom employed? . The Committee then adjourned till called by the Chairman.

Feiday, 6th July, 1883. The Committee met pursuant to notice. . Presewi * Mr. Pyke (Chairman), Mr. J. Buchanan, Mr. Fulton, Major Harris, Mr. J. McKenzie, Mr. McMillan, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Mr. J. W. Thomson, Mr. W. White. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Q , T i saao Copies of telegrams were read as follow: "Parliament House, Wellington, 3rd July 1883. To J P Maitland Esq , Chief Commissioner Land Board, Dunedin.—Please forward to Wellington originals or certified copies of all evidence taken by the Land Board relating to alleged evasions of Land Act in connection with late sales of deferred-payment pastoral land at Strath-Taieri, and all other documents connected therewith, at earliest possible date, and let me know when I may expect them.—Vincent Pyke, Chairman of Otago Alleged Evasion of Land Act Committee. "Parliament Buildings, Wellington, sth July, 1883.-J. P. Maitland, Esq. Chief Commissioner, Land Board, Dunedin.—Please let me know when I may expect copies of evidence as called for m my telegram of Tuesday .-Vincent Pyke, Chairman of Otago Alleged Evasion of Land Act Committee '? Eeply to above telegram: " Dunedin, sth July, 1883.—Vincent Pyke, Esq., Chairman ■of Otago Alleged Evasion of Land Act Committee.—Evidence will be posted to-morrow evening; will reach Wellington on Monday.—J. P. Maitland, Chief Commissioner Land Board, Dunedin. Telegram sent by J. McKerrow, Esq., Surveyor-General, to Commissioner of Crown Lands Dunedin : "Wellington sth July, 1883.—Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin.—A Parliamentary Committee appointed to report on evasions of the Land Act in Otago, requires information regarding pastoral deferred-payment sections purchased on Waikouaiti runs about four years ago ; also sections hi Silver Peak District, above.Mullocky Gully; also sections south of Roxburgh, on Mount Benger Slope. The special points are: 1. Have the conditions of residence been complied with; if not where is the usual place of residence of the purchaser of section? 2. State nature of buildings, if any, and estimate value. 3. State what yards and fences are on the section 4 What improvements, if any, have been made either in cultivation, grass-sowing, or otherwise? 5. What stock is depasturing on section, and if known to be the property of purchaser, or on terms, and if so, from whom ? 6 If sheep on ground, what is brand or ear-mark, where are sheep shorn, and how is wool