H.-2.

XXXVIII

Monday, 6th May, 1901. The Commission met at 10.30 a.m. Present: Mr. McKenzie (Chairman), Mr. Fraser, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKerrow. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Dalston (attorney for the New Zealand Midland Bailway Company) was in attendance. The Commission considered the printed proofs of Exhibits Nos. 102 to 114, and the secretary was instructed, on the motion of Mr. Hudson, to authorise the Government Printer to proceed with the printing of these returns. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hudson, That Mr. Young, late chief assistant engineer to the New Zealand Midland Eailway Company, be requested to furnish a return of schedule No. 2 to contract No. 1 (English contracts). At 12.45 p.m. the Commission adjourned.

Wednesday, Bth May, 1901. The Commission met at 10.15 a.m. Present: Mr. McKenzie (Chairman), Mr. Fraser, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKerrow. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Dalston (attorney for the New Zealand Midland Eailway Company) was in attendance. Alfred Luther Beattie, Locomotive Superintendent, New Zealand Eailways, was called and further examined. Henry William Young, civil engineer, Greymouth, was called, and produced further returns (Exhibits Nos. 141 to 144). Resolved, on the motion of Mr. McKerrow, That the Under-Secretary for Public Works be asked to furnish a return of the value assigned by agreement to each section of completed line on which the right to select land was based, giving the dates of completion of the said working sections and the number of the blocks in the Bl map so selected for each section as completed. Resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, That the Commission are of opinion, having now allowed the parties to the inquiry over three months for the preparation of returns and the production of evidence, that all returns should be put before them on or before Monday, the 13th instant. The secretary was instructed to forward a copy of the foregoing resolution to the several parties to the inquiry. At 12.15 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.

Thursday, 9th May, 1901. The Commission met at 10.30 a.m. Present: Mr. McKenzie (Chairman), Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKerrow. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Fraser, That the Commission consider the return in Gazette No. 43, page 1102, in reference to the Eailway Working Account, showing the revenue and expenditure to the termination of the four-weekly period ending the 31st March, 1901. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Fraser, That the Eailway Accountant be asked to furnish an estimate of the revenue earned by and expenditure incurred on account of the Midland Eailway, Jackson's-Beefton Section, between the date when through rates were adopted after the vesting of the line in the Crown and up to the 31st March, 1901; such return to be furnished on or before Monday next, and merely to give total revenue and expenditure, without details. A letter was received from the Eegistrar-General, Wellington, forwarding (a) a return to the order of the Commission dated sth February, 1901, and (b) a return to the order of the Commission dated Ist April, 1901 ; and it was resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, That the return (b) be made a record of the Commission (Exhibit No. 145), and that the return (a) be received, and laid on the table for the information of the Commission. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hudson, That the Chief Engineer, New Zealand Eailways, be asked to furnish a return of the value of 53 lb. steel rails, fastenings for same, and points and crossings, at Lyttelton and Greymouth, for each of the years from 1886 to 1894, and also for the year 1900 ; and also the weight of such rails and fastenings necessary to lay one mile of railway. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hudson, That the Under-Secretary for Public Works be asked to furnish a return of the cost per ton, in position, of the cylinders and girders in the Teremakau Bail way-bridge, Hokitika line. At 4 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.

Feiday, 10th May, 1901. The Commission met at 2.30 p.m. Present: Mr. McKenzie (Chairman), Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hudson, and, Mr. McKerrow. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Commission were engaged during the sitting in examining and checking further printed exhibits with the original returns. At 3.30 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.