I.—7a

4

The witnesses were then readmitted, and Mr. Jenkins, after being reminded by the Chairman that he was still on his oath taken yesterday, made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. Jenkins continued until 12.50 p.m., when the Committee adjourned until to-morrow at 10.30 a.m. Thuesday, 22nd August, 1895. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Mr. G. Hutchison, Mr. Lang, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Montgomery, Dr. Newman, Mr. Tanner. In the absence of Mr. Saunders, on the motion of Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. Guinness was voted to the chair. The following were present: Messrs. Beid, Blow, Skerrett, MacNeil, Gellatly, Bridson, Menteath, and Jenkins. Mr. Skerrett asked that the following witnesses be summoned to attend: Thomas Brown, Brown, Ewen, and Co., Dunedin; Eichard Hudson, Hudson and Co., Dunedin; Thomas Barmby, Ferguson and Co., Dunedin; J. W. Milne, manager, Phoenix Company, Dunedin; Augustus Castendyk, Castendyk and Focke, Wellington. Mr. Skerrett undertaking that Messrs. Briscoe, MacNeil, and Co. would pay the expenses. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. T. Mackenzie, that the gentlemen named be summoned to attend. Mr. Menteath asked to have the following summoned: D. McFarlane, care of J. Duthie and Co.; Mr. Moncrieff, care of E. W. Mills and Co.; B. Wallace, care of Stewart and Co. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. T. Mackenzie, That summonses be issued for the attendance of the above-named gentlemen. Mr. Jenkins continued his statement, which was taken down by the reporter. At 12.45 o'clock, p.m., the Committee adjourned till to-morrow at 10.30 o'clock, a.m.

Feiday, 23ed August, 1895. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Mr. Lang, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Montgomery, Dr. Newman, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Hon. Sir B. Stout, Mr. Tanner. On the motion of Mr. McGowan, in the absence of Mr. Saunders, Mr. Guinness was voted to the chair. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. The following attended : Messrs. MacNeil, Gellatly, Skerrett, Bridson, Blow, Beid, Menteath, Jenkins, and J. A. Wilson, Eesident Engineer, Public Works Department, Wellington. Mr. Jenkins concluded his statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. Menteath asked that the books of Messrs. Briscoe, MacNeil, and Co. be retained by the Committee. Some discussion ensued. Witnesses withdrew. Mr. Montgomery proposed, That the books be not retained except the yard-book. Dr. Newman proposed by way of amendment, That all the books be retained. Upon the amendment being put, a division was called for, and the names were taken down as follow :— Ayes, 4 : Mr. Lang, Mr. Mackenzie, Dr. Newman, Mr. Tanner. Noes, 4: Mr. Guinness, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Montgomery, Hon. Mr. Seddon. The votes being equal, the Chairman gave his casting-vote with the " Noes." Amendment lost. The original motion was then put, and it passed in the affirmative. The witnesses were readmitted, and the decision communicated to them. Mr. Menteath asked to call Mr. Jenkins, of Messrs. Hayes and Co., Wellington. Agreed to. The Committee then adjourned until Tuesday next at 10.30 a.m.

Tuesday, 27th August, 1895. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Mr. G. Hutchison, Mr. Lang, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. McGowan, Mr Montgomery, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Tanner. In the absence of Mr. Saunders, Mr. Guinness was, on the motion of Mr. McGowan, voted to the chair. The following attended the Committee : Messrs. Blow, Beid, Wilson, Menteath, J. H. Jenkins, Skerrett, Gellatly, MacNeil, Bridson; and Messrs. David McFarlane, ironmonger, care of J. Duthie and Co.; William Moncrieff, ironmonger, care of E. W. Mills and Co.; Thomas Barmby, commercial traveller, Dunedin ; Thomas Clarke Jenkins, care of Hayes and Co., Wellington. Mr. Saunders attended the meeting at this stage of the proceedings, and Mr. T. Mackenzie suggested that, as Mr. Guinness had presided during the whole of the inquiry in Mr. Saunders' unavoidable absence, he continue to preside during the inquiry. Mr. Saunders agreed, and Mr. Guinness retained the chair. David McFarlane sworn, and made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. William Moncrieff sworn, and made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. At this stage of the proceedings Mr. Skerrett stated that, with the permission of the Committee and Mr. Menteath, he would like to call one of his witnesses, so as not to detain him in Wellington.