I 13a

1877. NEW ZEALAND.

SALE OF THE "LUNA." (REPORT OF THE DISQUALIFICATION COMMITTEE, TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE.)

Report brought up and ordered to be printed 2(it?i November, 1877

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thubsdat, the 4th day of Octobeb, 1877. Ordered, That it be an instruction to the Disqualification Committee to inquire into the circumstances connected with the sale of the steamship " Luna," and to report thereon. — (Mr. Thomson.) Monday, the sth day of November, 1877. Ordered, That the time for bringing up the report of the Disqualification Committee be extended for fourteen days.— (Son. Mr. Fox.)

REPOET. The Select Committee on the disqualification of certain members, to whom was referred an instruction to inquire into the circumstances attending the sale of the steamship " Luna," have the honor to report: — That it appears from the evidence taken before your Committee that the " Luna " was sold for the best price obtainable in the colony. That it does not appear that any better price could have been obtained for the vessel had she been sold otherwise than by private sale. But your Committee are of opinion that under ordinary circumstances Government property should be sold by public tender or auction. The Committee append the Minutes of their Proceedings and Evidence, and recommend that the same be printed. 26th November, 1877. William Fox, Chairman.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Feiday, 23ed October, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to notice at 11.30 o'clock a.m. Peesent: Mr. Eees in the chair. Mr. Bowen, Hon. Mr. Gisborne, Mr. Button, Hon. Mr. Macandrew. Hon. Mr. Fox, The order of reference dated 4th October having been read, Mr. Rees vacated the chair. Resolved, on motion of the Hon. Mr. Gisborne, That the Hon. Mr. Fox be appointed Chairman. The minutes t>f the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. G. McLean, M.H.R., being in attendance, was examined, and his evidence was taken down by the reporter present. Resolved, on motion of the Hon. Mr. Gisborne, That Mr. J. Nancarrow and Captain Johnson, Marine Department, and Mr. E. W. Mills, Lion Foundry, Wellington, be summoned to give evidence as to the value of the steamship " Luna."

Fbiday, 23bd November, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to notice at 11.30 o'clock. Peesekt : Hon. Mr. Fox in the chair. Mr. Bowen, Mr. Harper, Hon. Mr. Gisborne, Hon. Mr. Macandrew. The minutes of the previous meetings were read and confirmed.