13

1.—17.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Friday, the 27th Day of September, 1912 The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Anderson, Mr. Craigie, Mr. Dickie, Mr. Mander, Mr. Statham. Order of reference : The order of reference was read by the clerk. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Anderson, seconded by Mr. Craigie, That Mr. Mander be Chairman of this Committee. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Statham, That the Chairman arrange with the Chairman of the Upper House as to the date of the next meeting. Resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, That ten sets of the petition be typed. The meeting then adjourned. Wednesday, the 2sd Day of October, 1912. The Committee met at 10.45 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Mander (Chairman), Mr. Anderson, Mr. Dickie, Mr. Statham. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Committee then retired to meet the Committee of the Legislative Council. JOINT COMMITTEE. Wednesday, the 2nd Day of October,, 1912. The Joint Committee met at 10.45 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present : Mr. Anderson, Hon. Mr. Anstey, Mr. Dickie, Hon. Mr. George, Hon. Mr. Luke, Mr. Mander, Hon. Mr. Paul, Hon. Mr. Rigg, Mr. Statham. The order of reference was read by the clerk. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Mander, That Hon. Mr. Rigg be elected Chairman of this Committee. Mr. Joshua Jones was called in, and handed in a letter, which was read by the Chairman. Mr. Jones stated that he only required one witness, Mr. Joseph Edward Dalton, Native Interpreter, of Tauranga, to be summoned. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Mander, That the meetings of this Committee be open to the Press. Resolved, That all the witnesses be examined on oath. Moved by the Hon. Mr. Paul, That the Government be requested to provide fees for counsel for Mr. Jones. On the motion being put, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 5 : Hon. Mr. Anstey, Hon. Mr. George, Mr. Mander, Hon. Mr. Paul, Mr. Statham. Noes, 4 : Mr. Anderson, Mr. Dickie, Hon. Mr. Luke, Hon. Mr. Rigg. It was therefore resolved in the affirmative. Resolved, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Luke, That the Government be represented by counsel. Resolved, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Paul, That Mr. Dalton be summoned to attend the meeting of the Committee. Resolved, That this Committee expresses its appreciation of the services rendered by the extra clerks (Messrs. Tonilinson and Stevens) in providing, at short notice, typewritten copies of the petition for the use of members of the Committee, and that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the said clerks. Resolved, That the date of the next meeting be left to the Chairman to decide. Tuesday, the Bth Day of October, 1912. The Joint Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10.30 a.m. Present: Hon. Mr. Rigg (Chairman), Mr. Anderson, Hon. Mr. Anstey, Mr. Bell, Mr. Craigie, Hon. Mr. George, Hon. Mr. Luke, Mr. Mander, Hon. Mr. Paul, Mr. Statham, Hon. Captain Tucker. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Order of reference : The order of reference of the House of Representatives adding the names of Messrs. McCallum and Bell was read by the clerk. The order of reference of the Legislative Council adding the names of the Hon. Mr. Loughnan and the Hon. Captain Tucker to the Committee was read by the clerk. The clerk read the following resolution of the Legislative Council : " That the first recommendation contained in the interim report of the Joint Committee on the Joshua Jones claims, brought up this day, be agreed to—viz., (1.) That the meetings of the Committee be open to the Press." (Extract from the Journals of the Legislative Council, Wednesday, the 2nd day of October, 1912.)