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sterling were outstanding on deficiency bills, with the result of assisting the Bank of New Zealand at its half-yearly balance on the date mentioned. 2. That the two-million loan having been raised in June, 1888, the proceeds went to relieve the necessities of the bank, and that, while its true position was not disclosed, the Ministry made such representations through the Agent-General as were incorrect in point of fact, and misleading. 3. That then, subsequently, largfe balances were left uninvested in the hands of the bank, as shown by the public accounts of the colony. 4. That, within the time of the happening of the events mentioned in Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Sir Frederick Whitaker, Sir Harry Atkinson, and the Hon. E. Mitchelson, members of the Ministry, were under pecuniary obligation to the Bank of New Zealand. 5. That the Colonial Treasurer, notwithstanding a contrary expression of opinion by the House of Eepresentatives in 1888, did refer to the Public Accounts Committee of 1889, for thenconsideration, but not for their report, a proposal to pay certain moneys towards meeting the interest due in November, 1889, by the New Plymouth Harbour Board in London ; and that he did afterwards, without authority, disburse upwards of £4,992 under circumstances such as to suggest the ability of the Board to meet its engagements. Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson and Hon. Mr. Hislop having declined to accept the above as a correct embodiment of the accusations contained in Mr. Hutchison's speech of the 2nd July, it was arranged that Mr. Hutchison should meet a member of the Government in order that an attempt should be made to frame issues acceptable to both parties and to the Committee. Hon. Sir H. A. Atkinson, Hon. Mr. Hislop, and Mr. Hutchison then withdrew. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Seddon, That Mr. John Murray, of the Bank of New Zealand, be summoned by telegraph to give evidence before the Committee, and to produce certain books and documents mentioned in the list supplied by Mr. Hutchison. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Seddon, That Mr. George Buckley, of Christchurch, be summoned by telegraph to give evidence before the Committee, and to produce certain documents mentioned in the list supplied by Mr. Hutchison. It was resolved, That Mr. J. C. Gavin, Secretary to the Treasury, and Mr. E. W. Kane be asked to hold themselves in readiness to give evidence before the Committee, and to produce certain books and documents mentioned in the list supplied by Mr. Hutchison. The Committee then adjourned.

Wednesday, 16th July, 1890. Present: Mr. Withy (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Ballance, Hon. Mr. Bryce, Hon. Sir J. Hall, Dr. Fitchett, Mr. Macarthur, Mr. Ormond, and Mr. Seddon. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. T The following outward correspondence was reported : Telegram to Mr. John Murray, of the Bank of New Zealand, Auckland, requiring him to give evidence, and to produce books and documents ; telegram to Manager of Bank of New Zealand, Auckland, requesting him to take care that Mr. Murray receive the message sent to him without delay; telegram to Mr. G. Buckley, of Christchurch, requiring him to give evidence, and to produce documents; letter to Mr. J. C. Gavin, Secretary to the Treasury, asking him to be in readiness to give evidence, and produce books and documents; letter to Mr. E. W. Kane, asking him to be in readiness to give evidence, and produce books and documents. The following inward correspondence was received: Letter from Hon. Mr. Hislop, stating that members of the Government had been unable to agree with Mr. Hutchison as to the form in which his charges should be put, and forwarding extracts from the Hansard report of Mr. Hutchison's speech, such extracts, in the opinion of members of the Government, containing the accusations made by Mr. Hutchison; telegram from Mr. John Murray, requesting that some limit of date should be put to documents required by the Committee, and that further limits should be put to the requisition. Hon. Mr. Hislop and Mr. Hutchison attended the Committee. A shorthand-reporter attended, and took notes of the proceedings. The extracts from Mr. Hutchison's speech of the 2nd July, forwarded by Hon. Mr. Hislop, were read. Hon. Mr. Hislop made an explanatory statement with respect to the formulation of the charges. Mr. Hutchison made a statement, and asked the Committee to accept the formulated charges already put in. Hon. Mr. Hislop and Mr. Hutchison then withdrew. The shorthand-reporter also withdrew. It was resolved, on the motion of Dr. Fitchett, That the deliberations of the Committee be not reported, but that everything else be reported and ultimately printed. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Seddon, That the charges as formulated by Mr. Hutchison be referred to him, and that he be asked to collate from his speech the passages constituting each of his several charges as formulated. It was resolved, on the motion of Dr. Fitchett, That there be printed and distributed, for the use of the Committee, (a) Mr. Hutchison's charges as formulated, with his collation from his speech; and ib) Mr. Hislop's extracts from the speech, which the Government contend contain the charges. Mr. Hutchison again attended, at the request of the Committee, and undertook to look through his requisition for books and documents, with a view to putting a limit of date to those required from Auckland. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Seddon, That the date of the next meeting be fixed by the Chairman. The Committee then adjourned.