1.—6

XXX

So it passed in the negative. Hon. Mr. Seddon moved, That Mr. Booth be notified to attend and give evidence on Friday at 10.30 a.m., and that, until interrupted by resolution, the taking of his evidence be proceeded, with. Mr. Montgomery moved to strike out " Friday," and insert " to-morrow." And upon the question being put, " That ' Friday' stand," a division was called for, and the names were taken down as follow :— Ayes, 6.—Mr. Graham, Mr. Guinness, Hon. Mr. McKenzie, Mr. McGowan, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Hon. Major Steward. Noes, 4.—Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Maslin, Mr. Montgomery, Mr, Tanner. So it was resolved in the affirmative. Mr. Tanner moved, That Exhibit No. 12, share-transfer list of the Colonial Bank, be printed. Upon the question being put, a division was called for, and the names were taken down as follow :— Ayes, B.—Mr. Graham, Mr, Guinness, Mr. Hutchison, Mr. McGowan, Hon. Mr. McKenzie, Mr. Maslin, Hon. Major Steward, Mr. Tanner. Noes, 2.—Mr. Montgomery, Hon. Mr. Seddon. So it was resolved in the affirmative. Resolved, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Seddon, That Mr. Booth be excused from attendance until Friday next. Mr. Hutchison gave notice to move, That the resolution of the 21st July, as to the order of calling witnesses, be rescinded, and that in future witnesses be called in such order as the Committee at the time (and without notice of motion) shall determine. Hon. Mr. McKenzie wished to move without notice, That, in consequence of Mr. C. O'Hara Smith having to leave the colony owing to ill-health, the Committee proceed to take his evidence on Friday next. Objection being offered, the Chairman ruled the motion could not be put. Hon. Mr. McKenzie then ga : ve notice to move it at next meeting. Mr. Hutchison wished a letter from Mr. Norman E. Burton, in reference to the cables sent to Sydney, to be read. The Chairman ruled it could not be read at this stage of the proceedings. Hon. Mr. McKenzie moved, That the Committee adjourn until Friday next at 10.30 o'clock. Upon the question being put, a division was called for, and the names were taken down as follow:— Ayes, s.—Mr. Graham, Mr. Guinness, Mr. McGowan, Hon. Mr. McKenzie, Hon. Mr. Seddon. Noes, 4. —Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Maslin, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Tanner. So it was resolved in the affirmative. Committee adjourned accordingly.

Friday, 7th August, 1896. Present: Mr. Graham (Chairman), Mr. Guinness, Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Maslin, Mr. McGowan, Hon. Mr. McKenzie, Mr. Montgomery, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Hon. Major Steward, Mr. Tanner. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. A letter from Mr. John Murray, Sydney, to the Chairman was read. Ordered to lie upon the table, and to be considered later on. A letter from Mr. Norman Burton, referring to the cables sent to Sydney, was received and read. Resolved, on the motion of Hon. Mr. McKenzie, that the evidence of Mr. C. O'Hara Smith be taken at an early date, owing to the state of his health. Mr. W. G. Foster, Manager, Assets Realisation Board, attended and handed in certain documents which were marked Exhibits 14, 15, 16, 17, (a), (b), (c), 18, and 19 inclusive. Hon. Mr. Seddon supplemented the list of documents handed in by Mr. Foster, and the same were marked 20, (a), (b), (c), (d), (c), (/), (g), and 21 inclusive. Resolved, on the motion of Hon. Mr. Seddon, That Mr. C. O'Hara Smith be asked to produce a statement bearing on the subject-matter of the inquiry. Mr. Smith attended and stated he had no other statement than the one already handed in. As the Committee were not at present prepared to receive Mr. Smith's evidence, he then withdrew. Mr. Booth attended for further examination. Hon. Mr. Seddon stated, as a matter of personal explanation, that he had attempted to prevent the inquiry going on while the no-confidence motion was proceeding, but, as he had promised that if the debate was not ended by to-day the inquiry should proceed, he would offer no further opposition. He had tried to get the debate ended last evening, but unsuccessfully. Mr. Booth then handed in further documents which were marked as Exhibits Nos. 22, 23, and 24. Mr. Booth then continued his statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hutchison, That the Committee adjourn until 10.30 o'clock a.m. to-morrow, it being understood that if the no-confidence debate was not concluded before 2 a.m. to-morrow, then the Committee should not meet until 11 o'clock a.m. and rise at 1 p.m.

Saturday, Bth August, 1896. Present: Mr. Graham (Chairman), Mr. Guinness, Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Maslin, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Montgomery, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Mr. Tanner. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed.