I— 7a

XII

Friday 30th September, 1892. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. G. Hutchison, Dr. Newman, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Shera, Mr. Tanner. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Messrs. Taylor, Wilson, Scott, Bell, Dalston, Young, Gordon, Blow, and the Hon. Mr. Seddon attended the Committee. Mr. J. P. Maxwell, Commissioner, of Bailways, attended the Committee. Mr. W. H. Hales, Engineer-in-Chief, also attended the Committee. As the Hon. Mr. Seddon was unable to attend at the commencement of Mr. Maxwell's examination, it was resolved, That, in the absence of the Hon. Mr. Seddon, Mr. Blow be allowed to call and examine Mr. Maxwell. Mr. Maxwell then made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. During Mr. Maxwell's examination the Hon. Mr. Seddon attended the Committee, and desired to examine Mr. Maxwell as to the delay in reference to the proposed adoption of the incline system at Arthur's Pass, but, upon Mr. Bell, on behalf of the company, making a statement, which was taken down by the reporter, the Hon. Mr. Seddon expressed himself as satisfied, and did not proceed to examine the witness. The further consideration of the petition was then adjourned until Monday at 11.30. The Committee then adjourned until Monday next at 11 o'clock.

Tuesday, 4th October, 1892. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. J. Mills, Dr. Newman, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Shera, and the Hon. Mr. Ward. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Messrs. Wilson, Bell, Scott, Dalston, Young, Taylor, Gordon, Blow, and Maxwell attended the Committee. Mr. Martin Kennedy attended the Committee. Mr. Maxwell made a further statement, which was taken down by the reporter. .Mr. Kennedy made a statement, which was taken down'by the reporter. As Mr. Guinness, at this stage of the meeting, had to attend the Conference on the Electoral Bill, Mr. Shera was voted to the chair. Mr. Blow stated that he intended to put in a statement based upon the figures of Mr. Maxwell, which statement was now being prepared by the Public Works Department; and, in reply to the Committee, both Mr. Blow and Mr. Wilson stated they did not intend to call further evidence. The Committee deliberated in the absence of the witnesses, and, after some discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, That the Committee cannot accept any fresh evidence, but both the Hon. Mr. Seddon and Mr. Bell, in the course of their addresses, may introduce any calculations or tables that they think proper. This resolution was communicated to the witnesses, and The Committee then decided to take the addresses of the Hon. Mr. Seddon and Mr. Bell to-morrow at 11 o'clock. The Clerk produced a letter from Mr. James McKerrow, enclosing a return of the estimate of traffic on the New Zealand Midland Bailway Company's East and West Coast line between Springfield and Stillwater. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow at 10.30 o'clock.

Wednesday, sth October, 1892. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. G- Hutchison, Mr. J. Mills, Dr. Newman, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Shera, Mr. Tanner, Hon. Mr. Ward. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Messrs. Wilson, Scott, Young, Bell, Dalston, Taylor, Gordon, Blow, and the Hon. Mr. Seddon were present. The Hon. Mr. Seddon addressed the Committee, which address was taken down by the reporter. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Seddon handed in and asked leave to have embodied in his address, Statement of Tables prepared by Mr. Blow upon the figures as given by Mr. Maxwell in his evidence, and also another statement by Mr. Gordon upon the figures given by Messrs. McKerrow and Maxwell in their evidence. It was agreed to receive the statements, but that they should be sent to Messrs. McKerrow and Maxwell to give them an opportunity of verifying or commenting upon same. Mr. Guinness, at this stage of the meeting, having to attend the Conference on the Electoral Bill, Mr. Shera was voted to the chair. Mr. H. D. Bell addressed the Committee, which address was taken down by the reporter. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow at 11 o'clock.

Thursday, 6th October, 1892. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. J. Mills, Dr. Newman, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Shera, Mr. Tanner, Hon. Mr. Ward. Mr. Guinness being absent at the commencement of the meeting, Mr. Shera took the chair.' Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Mr. Guinness, at this stage of the meeting, attended and took the chair. Messrs. Wilson, Bell, Scott, Dalston, Taylor, Gordon, and Blow attended the Committee. The Clerk produced and read the replies from Messrs. McKerrow and Maxwell in reply to his memorandum of the previous day, forwarding the tables of Messrs. Gordon and Blow. The Hon. Mr. Ward reported that he had, at the request of the Committee, submitted to the Hon Mr. Seddon