I. —2. BUSINESS.

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Tuesday, 17th August, 1874. Members Present: Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. J. Shephard, Sir F. D. Bell, Mr. Reader Wood. Tho Committee adjourned until Thursday next, at 12 noon.

Mangere Bridge.

Thursday, 19th August, 1875. Members Present: Mr. Reader Wood in the Chair. Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Curtis, : Mr. J. Shephard. Mr. W. W. Johnston, Mr. Sheehan, M.H.R., attended the Committee, and handed in certain documents (see Appendix to evidence, Expenditure on Mangere Bridge, No. 1), and proceeded to state the particulars upon which he had founded his motion set out in tho order of reference of the sth August, 1875. Mr. Sheehan was then examined. The Hon. E. Richardson, Minister for Public Works, attended, and was examined. Mr. Sheehan withdrew. Mr. O'Rorke attended, and gave evidence. Witnesses withdrew. Resolved, That the evidence taken respecting the business now before the Committee be printed, and that the Committee adjourn until Tuesday next, when they take into their consideration the business set out in the order of reference of the 27th July, 1875. Ordered, That Mr. Murdoch, the Inspector of the Bank of New Zealand, be summoned to attend the Committee at the next meeting.

Mangere Bridge. Banking arrangements of the Government,

Tuesday, 24th August, 1875. Members Present: Mr. Reader Wood in the Chair. Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. W. W. Johnston, Sir F. D. Bell, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Curtis, Mr. J. Shephard, Hon. W. Fitzherbert, Hon. E. W. Stafford. An order of reference, dated the 29th July, having been read, Mr. D. L. Murdoch, Inspector of the Bank of New Zealand, who was in attendance, was examined. A return presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in 1873, showing the Banking arrangements of the Government, was put in by the witness and read by the Clerk. (See Appendix to evidence, Banking arrangements, No. 1.) The Committee adjourned until to-morrow, at 12 noon.

Banking arrangements of the Government.

Wednesday, 25th August, 1875. Members Present: • Mr. Reader Wood in the Chair. Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Pearce, Sir F. D.' Bell, Mr. J. Shephard, Mr. Curtis, Hon. E. W. Stafford. Mr. W. W. Johnston, An order of reference, dated 24th August, 1875, was read by the Clerk. Mr. D. L. Murdoch, Inspector of the Bank of New Zealand, was called in, and his examination continued. Witness handed in the report of a Select Committee of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales. (See Appendix to evidence, Banking arrangements, No. 3.) Ordered, That Mr. Bridges, Director and acting General Manager of the National Bank, be summoned to attend and give evidence at the next meeting. The Committee adjourned until to-morrow, at 12 noon.

Banking arrangements of the Government.

Thursday, 26th August, 1875. Members Present: Mr. Reader Wood in the Chair. Sir F. D. Bell, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Curtis, Mr. J. Shephard, Hon. W. Fitzherbert, Hon. E. W. Stafford.