o.—4a

1905. NE W ZEALAND.

LAND COMMISSION (MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE).

Laid on the Table of both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Dunedin, Friday, 17 th February, 1905. The Commission met at the Land Office at 10 a.m. Present: Messrs. McKerrow (Chairman), Matheson, Anstev, Hall, McCardle, and Paul. Publicity of Proceedings.-gloved by Mr. Anstev, seconded by Mr. Matheson, and carried, That the proceedings of the Commission be open to the Press, with the understanding that discussions are taken in Committee at the discretion of the Commissioners. The hour of 9.10 a.m., 18th February, was fixed for the start per express for Invercargill.

Invercargill, Monday, 20th February, 1905. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners except Mr. McCutchan. The itinerary for the Counties of Wallace and Southland was fixed. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. It was resolved to advertise the itinerary in the Invercargill papers, and later in the country papers, and to have it posted up in handbills at all post-offices and railway-stations. It was resolved that Mayors and County Chairmen of the district be invited to attend and give evidence. Invercargill, Tuesday, 21st February, 1905. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners except Mr. McCutchan. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary reported that he had arranged with the officers of the Postal and Railway Departments to distribute and display five hundred handbills of the itinerary. The following witnesses were heard : Messrs. Scandrett, Hilton, McQueen, Mclnerney, and Gibson. Invercargill, Wednesday, 22nd February, 1905. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: The whole of the Commission. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Copies were handed to the reporters of the report and recommendations of the Conference of Land Hoards held in Wellington last December. The following witnesses were heard: Messrs. Hay, Kinross, and Mclntyre. Invercargill, Thursday, 23rd February, 1905. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners. The minutes of the previous day's meeting were read and confirmed. The following witnesses were heard: Messrs. Haughton, McLean, O'Connor, and Thompson. The Commission adjourned at 3.40 p.m., and proceeded, according to the itinerary, at 4.30 to Orepuki. Orepuki, Friday, 24th February, 1905. After driving out to the Waiau Mouth and Clifton, 6 a.m. to 9.45, the Commission met at Orepuki at 10.30. Present: All the members except Mr. Hall, who was absent on sick-leave. The following witnesses were heard: Messrs. Menzies, Watson, Brownridge, Carl Reichel, Oswald Reichel, Mooney, Hirst, McQuillan, Erskine, Pearse, Howard, Wilson, Howell, McLean, Dawson, Hodgett, Keene, Hall, Peterson, and Bennett. The Commission adjourned at 6 p.m. I—o, 4A.

Inveecargill, Tuesday, 21st February, 1905. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners except Mr. McCutchan. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary reported that he had arranged with the officers of the Postal and Railway Departments to distribute and display five hundred handbills of the itinerary. The following witnesses were heard : Messrs. Scandrett, Hilton, McQueen, Mclnerney, and Gibson.

Invercargill, Wednesday, 22nd February, 1905. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: The whole of the Commission. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Copies were handed to the reporters of the report and recommendations of the Conference of Land Hoards held in Wellington last December. The following witnesses were heard: Messrs. Hay, Kinross, and Mclntyre.

Invercargili., Thursday, 23rd Februaby, 1905. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners. The minutes of the previous day's meeting were read and confirmed. The following witnesses were heard: Messrs. Haughton, McLean, O'Connor, and Thompson. The Commission adjourned at 3.40 p.m., and proceeded, according to the itinerary, at 4.30 to Orepuki.

Orbpuki, Friday, 24th February, 1905. After driving out to the Waiau Mouth and Clifton, 6 a.m. to 9.45, the Commission met at Orepuki at 10.30. Present: All the members except Mr. Hall, who was absent on sick-leave. The following witnesses were heard: Messrs. Menzies, Watson, Brownridge, Carl Reichel, Oswald Reichel, Mooney, Hirst, McQuillan, Erskiue, Pearse, Howard, Wilson, Howell, McLean, Dawson, Hodgett, Keene, Hall, Peterson, and Bennett. The Commission adjourned at 6 p.m. 1— 0, 4a.