D.—4

3

EXTENSION OF ROLLING-STOCK COMMISSION. LIVERPOOL, Governor. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to Robert Julian Scott, Esq., of Christchurch, Professor of Engineering and Technical Science at Canterbury College; James Marchbanks, Esq., of Wellington; and Joseph Prime Maxwell, Esq., of Wellington : Greeting. Whereas by a Warrant dated the first day of February, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen, and issued under my hand and the public seal of the Dominion, you were appointed a Commission to inquire into and report respecting the upkeep of the rolling-stock on the New Zealand Government Railways from August, one thousand nine hundred and thirteen, to seventh July, one thousand nine hundred and sixteen, and the condition of the said rolling-stock on the latter date, and using all diligence you were required to report to me, under your hands and seals, not later than the sixteenth day of March, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen, your opinion as to the aforesaid matters : And whereas it is expedient to extend the time of the said inquiry in manner hereinafter appearing : Now, therefore, I, Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby extend the time that you are required to report to me, under your hands and seals, to the twentieth day of March, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen. Given under the hand of His Excellency the Right Honourable Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies; and issxied under the Seal of the said Dominion, at the Government House at Wellington, this fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventeen. W. H. Herries, Minister of Railways. Approved in Council. F. W. Furby, Acting Clerk of the Executive Council. God save the King !

REPORT. To His Excellency the Right Honourable Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Excellency,— In the matter of the Commission entrusted to us dated Ist February, 1917, directing us to inquire into and report respecting the upkeep of the rolling-stock on the New Zealand Government railways from August, 1913, to 7th July, 1916, and the condition of the said rolling-stock on the latter date, and more particularly on the following matters :—