I.—7a.

6

Feiday, 6th Septembee, 1895. Present: Mr. G. Hutchison, Mr. Lang, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Saunders (Chairman), and Mr. Tanner. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Mr. Hutchison moved the motion of which he had given notice yesterday, and upon the question being put, it passed in the affirmative. The following attended the Committee : Messrs. Blow, Beid, Wilson, Turner, Ibbetson Arthur Biddell (Clerk, District Engineer's Office), Menteath, Knight, Skerrett, MacNeil, Gellatly, and Bridson. Mr. J. A. Wilson recalled, and made a further statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. Ibbetson recalled, and made a further statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. Bichard Giles Knight sworn, and made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. Arthur Biddell, clerk, sworn, and made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. Skerrett asked for a summons to issue to Charles Cecil Bussell, clerk, Wellington. Agreed to. The Committee then adjourned until Tuesday next at 11 o'clock a.m.

Tuesday, 10th September, 1895. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Mr. Lang, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Montgomery, Hon. Sir B. Stout, Mr. Tanner. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. The following attended the Committee: Messrs. Menteath, Blow, Beid, Wilson, Biddell, Knight, Skerrett, Gellatly, MacNeil, Bridson, and George Allport (Marine Office), and Miss Gertrude Knight. Mr. Arthur Biddell concluded his statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Miss Gertrude Knight was sworn, and made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Messrs. Menteath and Beid stated this would close the case as far as calling witnesses by them was concerned. Mr. Skerrett stated that he would call evidence first, reserving his remarks to the Committee till after the evidence was closed. Agreed to. Hugh MacNeil, the younger, was sworn, and made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. Menteath, at the close of Mr. MacNeil's evidence, stated that witnesses were present who would be called to give evidence. The Chairman asked if he had any request to make, and Mr. Menteath asked that Mr. Bridson be not present. The Committee being about to consider the request, when Mr. Skerrett said that all through the proceedings all the witnesses had been present, but if desired by Mr. Menteath he would consent to Mr. Bridson withdrawing. Mr. Bridson then withdrew. Alexander Wynd Gellatly was sworn, and made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow at 10.30 o'clock. Wednesday, 11th Septembee, 1895. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Mr. Lang, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Tanner. As Mr. Saunders had to attend the Printing Committee Mr. Guinness took the chair. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. The following attended: Messrs Skerrett, MacNeil, Gellatly, Menteath, Jenkins, Blow, Beid. Mr. MacNeil recalled, and made a further statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. Gellatly continued his statement, which was taken down by the reporter. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at 10.30 o'clock. Feiday, 13th Septembee, 1895. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Mr. McGowan, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Saunders, Hon, Sir B. Stout, Mr. Tanner. At the request of Mr. Saunders, who was unwell, Mr. Guinness took the chair. The following attended : Messrs. Menteath, Jenkins, MacNeil, Blow, Beid, Bridson, and George Cecil Bussell, of Wellington, clerk. Mr. Corran Bridson was sworn, and made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. George Cecil Eussell was sworn, and made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. A. Castendyk (called by Mr. Skerrett) did not appear. It was explained that Mr. Castendyk had been in attendance, but he was unable to wait. Mr. Skerrett asked for another summons for Tuesday next. Agreed to. The Committee then adjourned until Tuesday next at 10.30 o'clock.