5

I.—B

the words after the word " witnesses " in the resolution of the Committee of the 14th instant be rescinded. Resolved, That the Chairman in the meantime bring up no report. On motion of Mr, Whyte, the Committee adjourned till 11 a.m. to-morrow, the 21st instant.

Thuesday, 2 Ist August, 1890. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Major Steward (Chairman), Mr. Feldwick, Hon. Mr. Hislop, Mr. Lawry, Mr. Moss, Mr. O'Conor, Mr. Reeves, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Whyte. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Feldwick asked leave to withdraw his motion, given on the 19th instant. And' the question being put, That leave be given to Mr. Feldwick to withdraw the same, it was resolved in the affirmative. Mr. Whyte, in accordance with his notice of motion of the 19th instant, now moved, That all the words after the word " witnesses" in the resolution of the Committee of the 14th instant be rescinded. And the question being put, That all the words after the word " witnesses " in the resolution of the Committee of the 14th instant be omitted, it was resolved in the affirmative. Mr. Feldwick moved, That the Chairman bring up a report to-day in terms of the resolution passed on the 19th instant. Mr. O'Conor moved to amend Mr. Feldwick's motion by the addition of the following words : " together with the minutes and documentary evidence." Hon. Mr. Hislop moved, To strike out all the words after the word " That," in Mr. Feldwick's motion, with a view of inserting the following words: " the Committee report the evidence and minutes." Mr. O'Conor asked leave to withdraw his amendment. And the question being put, That leave be given to Mr. O'Conor to withdraw his amendment, it passed in the affirmative. And the question being put, That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follow: —. Ayes, 4. —Mr. Feldwick, Mr. Moss, Mr. Reeves, Mr. Saunders. Noes, 4.—Hon. Mr. Hislop, Mr. Lawry, Mr. O'Conor, Mr. Whyte. The Chairman said that he was placed in an exceedingly difficult and responsible position. Throughout this inquiry he had endeavoured to act with entire fairness, and without bias in favour of his own opinions. Under present circumstances it became his duty to decide the issue, and inasmuch as to negative the present resolution would throw the Committee into chaos, and, as in his view, the resolution of the 19th instant should be reported to the House, he would give his casting vote with the Ayes. So it was resolved in the affirmative. And the original question being put, it was resolved in the affirmative. Resolved, That the Chairman bring up a report to-day in terms of the resolution passed on the 19th instant. Mr. O'Conor moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman for the very impartial manner in which he had conducted the proceedings of the Committee. The Committee then adjourned.