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6. That with a view to promoting due economy in the public expenditure, it is advisable that the Government should continue, as directed by the resolution in Committee of Supply in 1891, to have charge of the Legislative Estimates. W. J. Stewaed, Chairman. 4th September, 1893.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. Monday, 14th August, 1893. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Guinness, Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. G. Hutchison, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Hon. Captain Eussell, Mr. Saunders, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Mr. Speaker, Hon. Sir E. Stout, Mr. E. Thompson, Mr. T. Thompson. The Orders of Eeference of the 28th July and the 11th August were read by the Clerk. On motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, seconded by the Hon. Mr. Seddon, Resolved, That Mr. Speaker be appointed Chairman of the Committee. Mr. Speaker pointed out a printer's error in line 20 of his memorandum dated the 22nd June, 1893 (Paper A.-3, 1893), "Vol. Ixxii." should read "Vol. lxii." On motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, Resolved, That Mr. Friend, Clerk of the House of Eepresentatives, be requested to attend the next meeting of the Committee, to give evidence with reference to the appointments of the officers of the House, and to produce documents relating thereto. On motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, Resolved, That Mr. Friend be requested to bring up a precis of all the different steps that have been taken hitherto by different Speakers and Governments, also resolutions and proposals in relation to the matter of the present inquiry, and also a copy or copies of the evidence taken by the Committee to whom was referred the question of the Legislative expenditure in the session of 1886. On motion of the Hon. Mr. Seddon, Resolved, That the Committee adjourn till Thursday next, at 11 a.m., and that the meeting be held, in Joint Committee-room.

Thubsday, 17th August, 1893. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. the Speaker (Chairman), Mr. Guinness, Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. G. Hutchison,. Mr. W. Hutchison, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Captain Eussell, Mr. A. Saunders, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Hon. Sir E. Stout, Mr. E. Thompson, Mr. T. Thompson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A reporter was in attendance, and took down the evidence. Mr. Friend, Clerk of the House of Eepresentatives, attended, and gave evidence re the steps taken by various Speakers and Governments re the matter of inquiry. Mr. Friend was also examined at length by the Chairman and Committee. On motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, Resolved, That the precis put in by Mr. Friend be printed. Ordered, That, the evidence given before the Committee be printed. The Committee then adjourned until Thursday, the 24th August, at 10.30 a.m.

Thursday, 24th August, 1893. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. the Speaker (Chairman), Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. W. Hutchison, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Hon. Sir E. Stout, Mr. T. Thompson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. On the motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, Resolved, That Mr. Speaker do write his statement and submit the same to the Committee ; also, that the same be printed. On the motion of the Hon. Sir E. Stout, Resolved, That the Committee deems it unnecessary to call further witnesses. On the motion of the Hon. Sir E. Stout, Resolved, That the Chairman do read such correspondence as has been received by him in re the inquiry. The Chairman put in and read a memorandum received from Mr. Friend; also put in a statement prepared by himself. The Committee then adjourned sine die: next meeting to be fixed by the Chairman.

Thubsday, 31st August, 1893. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. the Speaker (Chairman), Mr. Guinness, Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. G. Hutchison,. Mr. W. Hutchison, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Captain Eussell, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Hon. Sir B. Stout, Mr. E. Thompson, Mr. T. Thompson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Hon. Mr. Seddon put in a statement of amounts paid for sundry matters, in re the present inquiry, which was ordered to be printed. The Chairman made the following statement: " I should inform the Committee that I omitted, inadvertently, to refer to the appointment of one officer, the Examiner of Standing Orders on Private Bills. That appointment was at one time held by the late Mr. Brandon, subsequently by Major Campbell, and now by Mr. Leonard Stowe, the Clerk of Parliaments. This appointment has been made conjointly by the Speakers of both Houses."