P.—No. 6a,

The parties being in attendance were called in. Mr. Carleton moved, That Mr. P. A. Whitaker be first examined. Agreed to. Mr. F. A Whitaker and Mr. J. de Hirsch examined. Mr. Creighton moved, That a copy of the Eeporter's short-hand notes of the evidence of Mr. J de Hirsch be furnished at once to Mr. F. A. Whitaker. Agreed to. The Committee then adjourned.

Thuesday, 2nd Septembee, 1869. Peesent : Mr. Baigent, Mr. Clark, Hon. Mr. Dillon Bell, Mr. Creighton, Mr. Brandon, Mr. Eichmond. Mr. Carleton in the Chair. Further orders of reference read. The Chairman informed the Committee that he had conferred with the Chairman of the Legislative Council Committee, and that the Legislative Council Committee had resolved to sit apart. The following letter from Mr. John Lundon was read : — Sib — Wellington, 2nd September, 1869. I have the honor to request that you will afford me an opportunity of giving evidence before the Joint Committee on Native Lands Bill, in reply to certain allegations made against me by Mr. de Hirsch and others. I also claim to be heard as being interested in certain blocks of land at the Thames, my title to which I conceive may be injuriously affected by the Bill now before the Legislative Council to amend " The Native Lands Act, 1865." I have &c. The Chairman, Joint Committee on Native Lands Bill. John Lttndon. Mr. Creighton moved, That Mr. J. Lundon be heard before the Committee. Agreed to. Mr. Eichmond moved, That Mr. Lundon be invited to make a statement as to those matters in which he considers his character impugned by the evidence already taken by the Committee, and that, without allowing any cross-examination, the Chairman then report the supplementary evidence to the House. And on the question being put, the Committee divided. Ayes, 4. Noes, 1. Mr. Brandon, Hon. Mr. Dillon Bell. Mr. Creighton, Mr. Clark, Mr. Eichmond. So it was resolved in the affirmative. The Chairman reminded the Committee that the Order of Eeference made by the Legislative Council, under which the joint proceedings in the Legislative Council Chamber took place, was much more comprehensive than the order made by the House of Eepresentatives ; and that it would be his duty, now that the joint action of the two Committees was concluded, to restrict the proceedings within the Order of Eeference made by the House. The Hon. Mr. Dillon Bell moved a resolution. The Chairman put it to the Committee whether the resolution was within the Order of Eeference. And it passed in the negative. The Hon. Mr. Dillon Bell then moved, That the Eesolution be entered upon the minutes. Agreed to. _ That the Committee proceed to consider whether the proposed new legislation would now be advisable, after hearing the evidence taken yesterday and to-day. On the motion of Mr. Dillon Bell, Ordered, That the witnesses attend before the Committee. Mr. Lundon was then examined. The minute book of the Public Petitions Committee, and the papers relative to the petition of Mr. J. de Hirsch were produced and read, together with an affidavit made by Mr. J. de Hirsch, and ordered to be entered upon the minutes. (See Appendix A.) And then the hour for the meeting of the House having arrived, the Committee adjourned.

Feiday, 3ed Septembee, 1869. Pbesent: Mr. Baigent, Mr. Clark, Hon. Mr. Dillon Bell, Mr. Creighton, Mr. Brandon, Mr. Eichmond. Mr. Carleton, Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. The Committee proceeded to consider the evidence taken before the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of James de Hirsch, which had been referred to this Committee by order of the House, and Mr. Whitaker being in attendance, The Clerk read the evidence to him. (For the evidence see Appendix A.) The Chairman informed him that, in pursuance of a resolution, he was at liberty to make a statement.

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REPORT ON EVIDENCE ADDUCED BEFORE