I.—sa

iv

The following gentlemen, being sworn, gave evidence : Balcombe Brown, solicitor, Wellington; W. H. Morton, Esq., City Engineer, Wellington; John O'Shea, City Solicitor, Wellington; J. R. Palmer, Esq., Town Clerk, Wellington. The Committee then adjourned until 10.30 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Wednesday, 2nd September, 1908. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. Duncan (Chairman), Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Hall, Mr. Hogan, Mr. Lawry, Hon. Mr. McNab, Mr. Macpherson, Hon. Mr. Mills, Mr. Remington, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Symes, and Mr. Witty. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Consideration of Paper No. 135 (C.-13) was resumed. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., Hon. T. W. Hislop, W. C. Kensington, and the Hon. T. K. Macdonald, M.L.C., attended the meeting. The following gentlemen attended, and, being sworn, gave evidence, and were questioned by Mr. Kensington, Hon. Mr. Hislop, Mr. Fisher, M.P., and members of the Committee: Robert Letham, messenger, Lands and Survey Department; Paul Verschaffelt, Record Clerk, Lands Department ; Robert Aimers Patterson, Chief Accountant, Lands Department; Felix T. O'Neill, Chief Clerk, Lands Department. Mr. Kensington then answered a number of questions asked by Hon. T. W. Hislop Hon. Mr. McNab moved that a sub-committee be appointed consisting of the following members—Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. W. Fraser, and Mr. Remington—to bring up a draft report for consideration of the Committee. After discussion, the Hon. Mr. McNab withdrew his motion. Resolved, That Mr. Hislop be asked to submit the names of the witnesses and the nature of the evidence he intends calling, for the consideration of the Committee (see Appendices N and O). The Committee then adjourned. Thursday, 10th September, 1908. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. Duncan (Chairman), Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lawry, Hon. Mr. McNab, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Symes, and Mr. Witty. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter, enclosing a memo., was received from the Hon. T. W. Hislop. Besolved, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. McNab, That the letter be received, but not the accompanying memo., as it had already been decided by the Committee that no addresses or statements reviewing the evidence were to be given after the taking of the evidence. Resolved, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. McNab, That a sub-committee consisting of the Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. W. Fraser, and Mr. Remington be set up, to draw up a report for submission to the Committee. The Committee then adjourned. Wednesday, 16th September, 1908. -The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. Duncan (Chairman), Mr. Ell, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Greenslade, Mr. Hall, Mi. Lang, Mr. Lawry, Hon. Mr. McNab, Mr. Macpherson, Hon. Mr. Mills, Mr. Remington, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Symes, and Mr. Witty. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter, with enclosures, was received from the Hon. T. W. Hislop; and it was decided that the enclosures be returned to him. The Committee then considered the draft report brought up by the sub-committee on Paper No. 135. The Committee then adjourned. Friday, 18th September, 1908. The Committee met at 10 a.m. pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. Duncan (Chairman), Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Lang, Mr. F. Lawry, Hon. Mr. McNab, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Remington, and Mr. Rhodes. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Consideration of the draft report of the sub-committee was resumed. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Lawry, That the report as drafted and submitted to the Committee be adopted. Resolved, That Paper No. 135, together with the report, the minutes of evidence, and the minutes of proceedings thereon be presented to the House. The Committee then adjourned.

Thursday, 10th September, 1908. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. Duncan (Chairman), Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lawry, Hon. Mr. MoNab, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Symes, and Mr. Witty. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter, enclosing a memo., was received from the Hon. T. W. Hislop. Resolved, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. McNab, That the letter be received, but not the accompanying memo., as it had already been decided by the Committee that no addresses or statements reviewing the evidence were to be given after the taking of the evidence. Resolved, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. McNab, That a sub-committee consisting of the Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. W. Fraser, and Mr. Remington be set up, to draw up a report for submission to the Committee. The Committee then adjourned.

Wednesday, 16th September, 1908. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. Duncan (Chairman), Mr. Ell, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Greenslade, Mr. Hall, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lawry, Hon. Mr. McNab, Mr. Macpherson, Hon. Mr. Mills, Mr. Remington, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Symes, and Mr. Witty. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter, with enclosures, was received from the Hon. T. W. Hislop; and it was decided that the enclosures be returned to him. The Committee then considered the draft report brought up by the sub-committee on Paper No. 135. The Committee then adjourned.

Friday, 18th September, 1908. The Committee met at 10 a.m. pursuant to notice. I'regent: Hon. Mr. Duncan (Chairman), Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Lang, Mr. F. Lawry, Hon. Mr. McNab, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Remington, and Mr. Rhodes. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Consideration of the draft report of the sub-committee was resumed. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Lawry, That the report as drafted and submitted to the Committee be adopted. Resolved, That Paper No. 135, together with the report, the minutes of evidence, and the minutes of proceedings thereon be presented to the House. The Committee then adjourned.