H.—l9a

6

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Monday, sth August, 1901. The Committee met at the Drill-hall, Wellington, on Monday, the sth August, at 11 a.m. Present: Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. A. Pitt, M.L.C. (President), Lieut.-Colonel R. H. Davies, C.8., and Major J. E. Hawkins. The order authorising the Committee to assemble was read. The Committee, having arranged preliminaries, adjourned to the Government Buildings for the purpose of taking evidence. The following officers were examined, their evidence being taken down by a shorthandwriter : Lieut.-Colonel Newall, C.8., Officer Commanding the Wellington Militia and Volunteer District; Lieut.-Colonel Sommerville, Officer Commanding the Wellingon District Mounted Rifles. The Committee adjourned at 4 p.m. until 10 a.m. next day.

Tuesday, 6th August, 1901. The Committee met at 10 a.m. Present: All the members. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Lieut.-Colonel Sommerville attended, and requested that he and Lieut.-Colonel Newall might have an opportunity of remarking upon any evidence tendered specially affecting them. He was informed that his request would be acceded to. The following witnesses attended and were examined : Arthur Pole Penton, local Colonel, and Lieut.-Colonel of the Royal Artillery, Commanding the New Zealand Forces; David William Healy, Staff Sergeant-Major and Drill-instructor, stationed at Nelson ; Henry Redmond, ColourSergeant of D Company, First Wellington Rifles; Frederick Samuel Parkes, Sergeant Major, Wairoa Mounted Rifles ; Alfred Robert Bryce, Sergeant, Alexandra Mounted Rifles ; George Ward, Corpora], Hawera Mounted Rifles. The Committee adjourned at 4 p.m.

Wednesday, 7th August, 1901. . The Committee met at 10 a.m. Present : All the members. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following witnesses attended and were examined: Charles Dunk, Captain Commanding the Manawatu Mounted Rifles ; Edwin Bartlett, Captain Commanding the Hawera Mounted Rifles ; George Howie, Captain Commanding the Wairoa Mounted Rifles ; Charles Thomas Tatum, Captain Commanding the Otaki Mounted Rifles. The Committee adjourned at 4 p.m.

Thursday, Bth August, 1901. The Committee met at 10 a.m. Present: All the members. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following witnesses attended and were examined : Lieutenant Norman Fitzherbert, New Zealand Militia, late of the Third New Zealand Contingent; Francis McParland, J.P., contractor for the supply of rations for New Zealand Volunteer Forces in Wellington during the Royal visit; Captain Henry Alfred Lomax, Staff Adjutant, Wellington District. The Committee adjourned until next morning at 10 a.m.

Friday, 9th August, 1901. The Committee met at 10 a.m. Present: All the members. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following witnesses attended and gave evidence: James O'Sullivan, Storekeeper for the New Zealand Defence Forces; Sergeant William Rankin, Manawatu Mounted Rifles; SergeantMajor William George Ashworth, Hunterville Mounted Rifles; Sergeant James Gentles, Permanent Artillery; Private Arthur W. Henley, Hawera Mounted Rifles; Lance-Corporal Scully, Westport Rifles ; Staff Sergeant-Major Healy, Drill-instructor, Nelson District; Captain Julius Llewellyn Dove, Hunterville Mounted Rifles; Lieut.-Colonel Sommerville, Wellington District Mounted Rifles; Captain Julius Sandtmann, Ahuriri Mounted Rifles; Private Joseph Charles Ruston, Ahuriri Mounted Rifles. The Committee adjourned at 5 p.m. until 10 a.m. next day.