TV—4.

8

The following witnesses attended, and gave evidence : — 22. Horace Hammond, Engineer, Hobson County. 23. Henry James Slade. Chairman. Hobson County Council. 24. Thomas Fred Downes, farmer. Tokatoka. 26. Edwin Harding, fanner, Dargaville. 26. Thomas Webb, fanner, Te Kopuru. 27. Frederick William Peddle, tanner, Hohanga. Tin' Commission adjourned at. 5 p.m. to 9.30 a.m. on Monday, 24th April.

Dargavii.lk. Moxday. 24th April. 1911. The Commission sat at 9.30 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners. The minutes of the previous meetings held at Kawakawa. Rawene. Kohukohu. Kaikohe. and Dargaville were read and confirmed. Mr. R. McCarroll wrote, through the Minister of Public Works, offering the Commission hospitality while at McCarroll's Gap, and it was decided to accept the same with thanks. The following witnesses attended and gave evidence : — 28. Ellis Rees Ellis, temporary Gum Ranger, in the service of the Crown. Dargaville. 29. Benjamin Emrys Williams, storekeeper, Dargaville. 30. Joseph William Shannon, Crown Lands Ranger, Auckland. 31. Dan Savident, Harbourmaster, Kaipara. 32. Thomas Bassett, Te Kopuru, farmer. 33. Arthur John Stallworthy, journalist, Dargaville. 34. Sam Heath, farmer, Tutamoe. 35. Woolsey Allen, Dargaville, sawmiller. 36. Alfred Ernest Harding, Mangawhare, farmer. The Commission adjourned at 5 p.m.

Parakao. Wkdnesday, 26th April. 1911. The Commission arrived from Dargaville on Tuesday at 9 p.m., having travelled via Kirikopuni, and viewing the country on the western route. It proceeded up the Mangakahia Gorge on Wednesday morning, and held a sitting (all the Commissioners being present) at Nukutawhiti at 11 a.m.. the following witnesses being examined : — 37. Hare Mokena Wharepapa, aboriginal Native (through an interpreter). 38. George Ruddell, Pakotai, farmer. 39. Edward John Mulhern, Mangakahia, farmer. 40. George Oswald Dysart, Nukutawhiti, storekeeper. The Commissioners proceeded some distance farther on up the gorge, and then returned to Parakao. A meeting was held at Parakao at 7 p.m. Present: All the Commissioners. The minutes of the last meeting at Dargaville were read and confirmed. The following witnesses attended and gave evidence : — 41. Andrew Hugh Murray, of Opouteke, Mangakahia. settler. 42. Alexander Pollock, of Parakao, farmer. 43. Alfred Hill, of Mangakahia Valley, farmer. The Commission resolved to sit at Auckland at 10 a.m. on Friday, sth May, to take evidence ; and further resolved that the Engineer-in-Chief, the Superintending Engineer, the District Engineer, Auckland, Public Works Department, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, and the District Valuer, Auckland, be summoned to give evidence. The Secretary was directed to secure additional assistance to cope with the reporting-work in Auckland, if necessary. The Commission adjourned at 8 p.m.

Titoki, Thursday, 27th April, 1911. The Commission left Parakao at 8.30 a.m., and held a sitting at the hall, Titoki. at 11 a.m. Present: All the Commissioners. The following witnesses attended and gave evidence : — 44. Eber Baldwin, fanner, Kirikopuni. 45. Walter Holster, farmer, Houto, Titoki. The Commission then proceeded to Maungakaramea. ma the Wairua Falls, and arrived at Maungakaramea at 4 p.m.