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1900. NEW ZEALAND.

JOINT DEFENCE (SECRET) COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE).

Brought up 21st September, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the Legislative Council. Thubsday, the 26th Day of July, 1900. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 162 be suspended, and that a Secret Committee be appointed, consisting of fourteen members, to whom shall be referred all matters affecting defence, with power to confer and sit together with any similar Committee that may be appointed by the House of Representatives, and to agree to a joint or separate report; the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records; five to form a quorum :to consist of the Hon. Colonel Baillie, the Hon. Lieut.-Colonel Bonar, the Hon. Lieut.-Colonel Feldwick, the Hon. Surgeon-General Grace, C.M.G., the Hon. Major Harris, the Hon. Honorary Lieutenant Jennings, the Hon. CaptainCommandant Johnston, the Hon. Mr. T. Kelly, the Hon. Captain Kenny, the Hon. Lieut.-Colonel Pitt, the Hon. Mr. A. L. Smith, the Hon. Mr. L. Walker, the Hon. Major-General Sir G. S. Whitmore, K.C.M.G., and the Mover." —(Hon. Mr. W. 0. Walker.)

Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 24th Day op July, 1900. Ordered, " That a Secret Committee be appointed, consisting of fifteen members, to whom shall be referred all matters affecting defence, with power to confer and sit together with any similar Committee which may be appointed by the Legislative Counoil, and to agree to a joint or separate report; the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records; five to be a quorum: the Committee to consist of Lieutenant-Commanding J. Allen, Captain Carncross, Mr. Hardy, Mr. McNab, Captain Napier, Captain Palmer, Lieutenant Rhodes, Captain Russell, the Hon. Major Steward, Captain Symes, Captain Willis, Captain Hon. J. G. Ward, Mr. Lethbridge, Captain Stevens, and the Mover."—(Right Hon. R. J. Seddon.)

Friday, the 20th Day op July, 1900. Ordered, " That Paper No.IOIh, Statement by the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier and Minister of Defence, respecting Harbour Defences, Colonial Defence Forces, Imperial Reserve, Cadet Corps, Rifle Clubs, and other Matters oonneoted with the Defenoes of the Colony, be referred to the Defence Committee."—(Right Hon. R. J, Seddon.)

Tuesday, the 14th Day op August, 1900. Ordered, " That Paper No. 138h, Report on the Defence Forces of New Zealand, by Colonel A. P. Penton, R.A., Commander of the Forces, and Paper No. 139h, Copy Correspondence between the Right Hon. the Premier, His Excellenoy the Governor, and His Excellency the Admiral, in reference to the Defence Scheme propounded by the Right Hon. the Premier, be referred to the Defence Committee."—(Right Hon. R. J. Seddon.)

Tuesday, the 28th Day op August, 1900. Ordered, " That Paper No. 161h, Letter from Major-General Hutton, commanding Ist Mounted Rifle Brigade, South Afrioa, with reference to the New Zealand contingents, be referred to the Defence Committee."— (Right Hon. R. J. Seddon.)

INTEEIM KEPOBT. The Joint Defence (Secret) Committee have the honour to report as follows: — " That the Government be recommended to accept the services of all the Volunteer corps offering; which, with those now accepted, will bring up the Volunteer Force of the colony approximately to eighteen thousand (18,000)." Albert Pitt, Lieut.-Colonel. 16th August, 1900, Chairman.