5

1.—7

Wednesday, 27th July, 1881. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Barron, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Moss, Mr. Weston, Mr. Wright (Chairman) Minutes of previous meetings read and confirmed. Mr. Thomas King, Chairman of New Plymouth Harbour Board, was present and examined, his evidence being taken down; also produced certain papers received from New Plymouth Harbour Board office. On the motion of Mr. Weston, Besolved, That the Auditor-General be called to give evidence, and state the grounds for paying to the New Plymouth Harbour Board the 25 per cent, of the gross land revenue of the Provincial District of Taranaki, and to produce all documents and papers bearing upon the question. The Committee then adjourned.

Thuesday, 28th July, 1881. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present : Mr. Barron, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Moss, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Weston, Mr. Wright (Chairman). The minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Mr. J E. FitzGerald, Controller and Auditor-General, was present and examined in accordance with a resolution of the committee, the evidence being taken down. Mr. Eees, late Engineer, New Plymouth Harbour Board, under re-examination, altered certain portions of his previous evidence before the Committee. The Committee then adjourned.

Feiday, 29th July, 1881. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Barron, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Moss, Mr. Murray, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Weston, Mr. Wright (Chairman). The minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Mr. Eees was further examined, and evidence recorded. Mr. John Goodall, Engineer, Timaru Harbour Board, was next examined, and his evidence taken down. The Committee then adjourned.

Satueday, 30th July, 1881. The Committtee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Fulton, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Weston, Mr. Wright (Chairman). The minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Mr. John McGregor, Engineer to the Oamaru Harbour Board, was present and examined, his evidence being recorded. The Committee then adjourned.

Monday, Ist August, 1881. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Fulton, Mr. Moss, Mr. Murray, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Weston, Mr. Wright (Chairman) The minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Mr. Kelly, M.H.E., who is also a member of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, was examined, and his evidence recorded. Mr. John Goodall, Engineer of Timaru Harbour Works, was further examined, and his evidence recorded. Mr. John McGregor, Engineer of Oamaru Harbour Works, was further examined, and also, under re-examination, corrected certain statements in his evidence of 30th ult., the same being recorded. Colonel Trimble, M.H.R., was examined, and his evidence was taken down. The Committee then adjourned.

Wednesday, 3ed August, 1881. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Barron, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Moss, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Weston, Mr. Wright (Chairman). The minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. A. Kennedy, Captain of s.s. " Hawea," was examined, and his evidence recorded. John Fairchild, Captain of s.s. " Stella," also gave evidence, which was taken down. Besolved, That the Chairman ask the House for an extension of time (viz., a fortnight), for the Committee to bring up their report; also that leave be given to have the evidence printed. The Committee then adjourned.

Thuesday, 4th August, 1881. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Fulton, Mr. Murray, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Weston, Mr. Wright (Chairman). The minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Order of reference of 3rd August was read.