F—No. 3

Minutes of preceding Meeting read and confirmed. Moved by Mr. Weld, That there is no ground whatever for any imputation that undu« pressure has been brought to bear in the Executive by Mr. C. W. Richmond on the Waitar* Question, and that this Committee considers his vindication to be complete. Amendment proposed, that the following words be inserted after the initial: —" while circumstances may have given rise to the suspicions which have been referred to this Committee for investigation, the Committe finds that." [Mr. C. Ward.] Amendment put, the Committee divided, and there were: — Ayes, 5. Noes, 6. Hon. Mr. Crosbie Ward, Mr. Creyke, " Chairman of Committees, " Cracroft Wilson, C.8., " Fitzherbert, Hon. the Speaker, Hon. Mr. Henderson, Mr. Russell, Mr. Renall. " Weld, The Chairman. So it passed in the negative. And on the Original Motion being proposed, an Amendment was proposed by Mr. Chairman of Committees, That the following words be inserted after the word " Committee": —"without imputing blame to Dr. Featherston." Amendment put, the Committee divided, when there were: — Ayes, 6. Noes, 4. Hon. Mr. Crosbie Ward, Mr. Creyke, Mr. Chairman of Committees, Hon. the Speaker, Hon. Mr. Henderson, Mr. Cracroft Wilson, C.B. Mr. Fitzherbert, " Weld. " Renall, " Russell. And so it was resolved in the affirmative. And on the Motion as amended being put, the Committee divided, when there were:— Ayes, 9. Nay, 1. The Hon. Mr. Crosbie Ward, Mr. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., Mr. Chairman of Committees, ' The Hon. Mr. Henderson, Mr. Fitzherbert, " Renall, " Russell. The Hon. the Speaker, Mr. Creyke, " Weld. | And so it was resolved in the affirmative. In reference to the Amendments, the Hon. the Speaker wished to record his objection to the insertion of the words " without imputing blame to Dr. Featherston" not being within the scope of the matter referred to the Committee. Mr. Creyke desired to record the same objection. Mr. Cracroft Wilson protests against the insertion of the words " without imputing blame to Dr. Featherston," because the question to which they refer is without the province and beyond the scope of this Committee. On motion of Mr. Fitzherbert, the Committee adjourned until Friday, at half-past 10, to receive the report from the Chairman.

Feiday, 23rd August, 1861. Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present:— Mr. Creyke, Hon. Mr. Henderson, " Chairman of Committees, " The Speaker, " Russell, Mr. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., Mr. Weld in the Chair. Minutes of last Meeting read and confirmed. Report brought up by the Chairman, read and approved, and ordered to be presented to the House. Committee adjourned sine die

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CHARGE PREFERRED BY DR. FEATHERSTON