XLI

PL—2;

Saturday, 18th 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 the Chairman, That counsel for the Receiver and counsel for the Crown be notified that, if they wish to put in any further returns other than those ordered by the Commission, they be requested to do so before 1 p.m. on Monday next, as the Commission will receive no further returns after that date. The Commission considered the printed proofs of Exhibits Nos. 146 and 147, and the secretary was instructed, on the motion of Mr. Hudson, to authorise the Government Printer to proceed with the printing of these returns. Mr. Bell (counsel for Crown), Dr. Findlay (counsel for Receiver), and Mr. Dalston (attorney for the New Zealand Midland Railway Company) were in attendance at 3 p.m. The Commission were engaged during the sitting in examining and checking the exhibits as finally printed. At 5 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10.30 a.m. on Monday.

Monday, 20th 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. Mr. Graham moved, That the minutes of the previous meeting be confirmed. The Chairman moved, as an amendment, That the minutes of the last meeting as at present written are not a true record of the proceedings of the Commission. And the question being put on the amendment, the Commission divided, and the names were taken down as follow : — Aye, I.—Mr. MeKenzie. Noes, 4. —Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hudson, Mr. McKerrow. So it passed in the negative. Amendment lost, and motion agreed to. Norman Howard Maxwell Dalston, attorney for the New Zealand Midland Railway Company, was called, and produced a further return (Exhibit No. 163). Resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, That the Commission proceed with the work of examining and checking returns as finally printed, resuming at Exhibit No. 110. Mr. Bell (counsel for Crown), Dr. Findlay (counsel for Receiver), Mr. Coates (Receiver for the debenture-holders), and Mr. Dalston (attorney for the New Zealand Midland Railway Company) were in attendance at 2.30 p.m. Henry William Young, civil engineer, Greymouth, was called, and produced further returns (Exhibits Nos. 164 to 168). Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hudson, That the explanatory returns of interest and capital suggested to Dr. Findlay by the Commission form a portion of his address, instead of appearing as one of the exhibits, so that the completion of the printing of the exhibits may not be further delayed. Resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, That counsel for the Receiver and counsel for the Crown be notified that the Commission agree to grant their request to allow them till the morning of Tuesday, the 28th May, 1901, in order to prepare any address or statement concerning this inquiry that they wish to put before the Commission. The following telegram was received from the District Engineer of Railways, Greymouth, viz.: " There were originally thirteen velocipedes and thirteen trollies belonging to Midland Railway Company. Four of the trollies are Gardiner's"; and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hudson, That the telegram be entered on the records of the Commission. At 4.10 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.

Tuesday, 21st 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. The Commission considered the printed proofs of Exhibits Nos. 148 to 160, and the secretary was instructed, on the motion of Mr. Hudson, to authorise the Government Printer to proceed with the printing of these returns. Mr. Bell (counsel for Crown), Dr. Findlay (counsel for Receiver), Mr. Coates (Receiver for the debenture-holders), and Mr. Dalston (attorney for the New Zealand Midland Railway Company) were in attendance. Norman Howard Maxwell Dalston, attorney for the New Zealand Midland Railway Company, was called and further examined on oath. At 4.45 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow, vi—H. 2.