I.—sa

XI

The Hon. Sir E. Stout moved, That his draft report be considered the basis of the report from the Committee. Mr. Mills moved, by way of amendment, That his draft report be considered the basis of the report from the Committee. The question being put, That the amendment be agreed to, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follow:— Ayes, 6.—Mr. Duncan, Mr. Hall, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Mackintosh, Mr. Meredith, Mr. Mills. Noes, 3. —Mr. Green, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Hon. Sir E. Stout. So the amendment was resolved in the affirmative. Mr. Mills's draft report was then read by the Clerk, and considered seriatim by the Committee. The Hon. Sir E. Stout moved, Page 2, line 6, after the words "was a fair price," to insert the following paragraph:— " The only witnesses who were not in some way implicated or connected with the purchase of the estate who spoke of value were : Mr. H. Cameron, a farmer at Waitahuna, who visited the land once, and Mr. W. Stevenson, who has been for some years manager of the Wairuna Station, adjoining Pomahaka." The question being put, That the paragraph be so inserted, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follow :— Ayes, 3.—Mr. Green, Mr. Lang, Hon. Sir Eobert Stout. Noes, 6.—Mr. Duncan, Mr. Hall, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Mackintosh, Mr. Meredith, Mr. Mills. Mr. T. Mackenzie absent. So it passed in the negative. Insertion not agreed to. Mr. Meredith moved, Page 2, line 12, after the words "£1 10s. per acre," to strike out all the words after "but," to " judgment," both inclusive. The question being put, That these words be so struck out, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follow : — Ayes, 7.—Mr. Green, Mr. Hall, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Lang, Mr. Mackintosh, Mr. Meredith, Hon. Sir E. Stout. Noes, 2.—Mr. Duncan, Mr. Mills. Mr. T. Mackenzie absent. So it was resolved in the affirmative, that these words be so struck out. Mr. Mackintosh moved, That the paragraph commencing with the words "In these circumstances " and ending with the words " rests with him " should be struck out. The question being put, That this paragraph be so struck out, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follow: — Ayes, 7.—Mr. Green, Mr. Hall, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Lang, Mr. Mackintosh, Mr. Meredith, Hon. Sir E. Stout. Noes, 2.—Mr. Duncan, Mr. Mills. Mr. T. Mackenzie absent. So it was resolved in the affirmative, that this paragraph be so struck out. Mr. Mills moved, That the report as amended be adopted by the Committee. The question being put, That the report as amended be so adopted, the Committee divided and the names were taken down as follow :— Ayes, 6.—Mr. Duncan, Mr. Hall, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Mackintosh, Mr. Meredith, Mr. Mills. Noes, 3.—Mr. Green, Mr. Lang, Hon. Sir E. Stout. Mr. T. Mackenzie, absent. So it was resolved in the affirmative, that the report as amended be so adopted. The Committee then adjourned until Friday, the 12th October, at 11 a.m.

COEEESPONDENOE.

g IB; House of Eepresentatives, Wellington, 16th August, 1894. The Hon. Mr. John McKenzie having asked for an inquiry into the charges made against him in connection with the Pomahaka purchase, the House has referred it to the Waste Lands Committee to make such inquiry; and I have the honour, under instructions from the Chairman, to invite the editor of your journal to attend if he desires to do so; also, to request him to forward to me the names and addresses of such persons as he may wish to be summoned as witnesses. The Committee takes this step, as it understands that the charges were first formulated in the Otaqo Daily Times, and the editor in its leading columns called for a searching investigation. He shall have clue notice of the date on which his evidence is to be taken; and, with a vew of making the investigation as searching as possible, the Committee will arrange to defray his expenses, also those of his witnesses, if summoned. For his information I enclose copy of the Order of Eeference. Kindly confer with him on the matter, and favour me with an early reply. I have, &c, W". F. Hieson, The Manager, Otago Daily Times, Dunedin. Clerk, Waste Lands Committee.