I.—Ba

2

MINUTES OF PBOCEEDINGS.

x l Liv . iUI . IUUUg Oj 11 ill £111 1 j IXI.I . JJCLI, llUll, Oil O , KJiXI I Ullj 11U.L1 .IVL I . 11CI I LKDiSj IVXI . Mander, Hon. Dr. Pomare, Dr. Te Rangihiroa. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Petition No. 23/12 —Otene Paora and others : Petitioner and opposers of petition attended. Petitioner made a statement in support of petition, and as he had not completed same at 1 p.m. the Committee adjourned until 10.30 on Wednesday, the 11th September, the petitioner to then continue his statement.

Wednesday, the 11th September, 1912. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Young (Chairman), Mr. Bell, Hon. Sir J. Carroll, Hon. Mr. Herries, Mr. Mander, Hon. Mr. Ngata, Mr. Parata, Hon. Dr. Pomare, Mr. Seddon, Mr. F. H. Smith, Dr. Te Rangihiroa. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Petition No. 23/12 —Otene Paora and others : Petitioner continued his statement and was questioned by Ngapipi Reweti, for opposers, and by members of the Committee. Ngapipi Reweti made a statement in opposition to the petition, and was questioned by Otene Paora and members of the Committee. Wiremu Watene was called, and was questioned by members of the Committee. Examination of this witness had not concluded when the Committee adjourned until 10.15 on Thursday, the 12th September.

Thursday, the 12th September, 1912. The Committee met at 10.15 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Young (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Herries, Mr, Mander, Hon. Mr. Ngata, Mr. Parata, Hon. Dr. Pomare, Mr. Reed, Mr. Seddon, Mr. F. H. Smith, Dr. Te Rangihiroa. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Petition No. 23/12 —Otene Paora and others : Consideration of this petition was continued. Wiremu Watene was again called, and his examination was continued. He was questioned by members of the Committee and Otene Paora. Resolved, on motion of Dr. Te Rangihiroa, That deliberation on this petition be adjourned.

Friday, the 27th September, 1912. The Committee met at 11 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present : Mr. Young (Chairman), Hon. Sir J. Carroll, Hon. Mr. Herries, Mr. MacDonald, Hon. Mr. Ngata, Mr. Mander, Mr. Parata, Hon. Dr. Pomare, Mr. Reed, Mr. Seddon, Mr. F. H. Smith, Dr. Te Rangihiroa, Mr. Wilson. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Petition No. 23/12 —Otene Paora and others: Deliberation. After discussion, the Hon. Mr. Herries moved, That the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. And on the question being put, the Hon. Dr. Pomare moved, That the question be amended by the deletion of all the words after the word " That," for the purpose of inserting the words " this petition be referred to the Government for inquiry." And the question being put, That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follow : —■ Ayes, 5 : Hon. Mr. Herries, Mr. Parata, Mr. Reed, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Young. Noes, 7: Hon. Sir J. Carroll, Mr. MacDonald, Mr. Mander, Hon. Mr. Ngata, Hon. Dr. Pomare, Mr. F. H. Smith, Dr. Te Rangihiroa. So it passed in the negative. And the question being put, That the words proposed to be inserted be so inserted, it was resolved in the affirmative. And on the question as amended being put, it was resolved in the affirmative, That this petition be referred to the Government for inquiry.