23

D.—4

Wednesday, 28th Febbuary, 1917. The Chairman and Mr. Marchbanks, accompanied by Mr. Jackson, Chief Mechanical Engineer, proceeded at 9 a.m. to inspect vehicles and repairing-facilities at Greymouth. In the afternoon an inspection was made of the workshops. Mr. Maxwell inspected rolling-stock standing in the Christchurch Station and yard sidings.

Thursday, Ist March, 1917. The Chairman and Mr. Marchbanks, accompanied by Mr. Jackson, Chief Mechanical Engineer, left Greymouth at 8.40 a.m. for Christchurch, arriving 6.25 p.m. Mr. Maxwell proceeded to Addington Workshops, where inspection was made.

Friday, 2nd March, 1917. The Commission left Christchurch for Dunedin by train at 12.5 p.m., arriving Dunedin !) p.m.

Saturday, 3rd March, 1917. The Commission at 9.30 a.m. proceeded to the Hillside Workshops, where an inspection of the shops and repairing-facilities was made, returning at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m. the Commission met at the running-sheds, and proceeded to inspect rolling-stock in the goods and passenger yards, adjourning at 4.30 p.m.

Monday, sth March, 1917. The Commission left Dunedin by train at 8.30 a.m., arriving Invercargill at 2.12 p.m. The Commission inspected rolling-stock in the Invercargill yards, leaving for Bluff by train at 2.58 p.m., where a further inspection of stock was made. The Commission returned to Inveroargill, arriving at 6.5 p.m.

Tuesday, 6th March, 1917. The Commission at 9 a.m. proceeded to inspect the Inveroargill Workshops, and also made a further inspection of rolling-stock, leaving for Duiiedin by train at 1.25 p.m., arriving 6.38 p.m.

Wednesday, 7th March, 1917. The Commission met in the Inquir3' Room, Dunedin Station, at 9.30 a.m. The Chairman opened proceedings, and the secretary read the warrant. The following witnesses were oalled by the Railway Department, and examined on oath: Edgar Eliott Carew, Workshops Foreman, Invercargill; Bernard Adolph Wolff, Car and Wagon Inspector, Invercargill; John Carson, Workshops Manager, Hillside; Francis Heading Titchener, Foreman, Car-shop, Hillside; Hugh Wylie, Car and Wagon Inspector, Dunedin; Edgar Eliott Carew, Workshops Foreman, Invercargill (recalled). The following witnesses were called by the Commission, and examined on oath : Edward MoKitterick, train-examiner, Gore; Edward Solomon Toner, leading train-examiner, Invercargill; Charles McLaren, train-examiner, Balclutlia ; James Dobbie, leading lifter, Dunedin, passenger; John Fitzpatrick, train-examiner, Dunedin; John Alexander Mac Donald, leading painter, Hillside. The Commission adjourned at 2.40 p.m. for purpose of inspecting, the Chairman intimating that the Commission would sit at Christchurch on Friday, 9th March, 1917.

Thursday, Bth March, 1917. The Commission left Dunedin by train at 8 a.m. The Chairman proceeded direct to Christchurch, arriving 5 p.m. v Messrs. Marchbanks and Maxwell alighted at Timaru, where an inspection of rolling-stock was made, continuing their journey to Christchurch by train leaving Timaru at 4.11 p.m., arriving Christchurch 7.10 p.m.