XLVII

1.-6

Mr. Walter George Foster attended and concluded his statement, and the same was taken down by the reporter. Mr. Foster handed in statement re New Zealand Thames Valley Land Company, incorporated 6th July, 1882, and the same was marked Exhibit No. 67. Letter from Mr. Foster to the Chairman, Banking Committee, dated 14th July, 1896, and the same was marked Exhibit No. 68. Minutes of meeting, valuation of live stock, extracts, and circulars, and the same was marked Exhibit No. 69.. Hon. Joseph George Ward attended, and was sworn, and made a statement, and the same was taken down by the reporter. At 1 o'clock, on motion of Hon. Mr. Seddon, Committee adjourned till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.

Saturday, 19th September, 1896. Present: Mr. Graham (Chairman), Mr. Guinness, Mr. Hutchison, Mr. McGowan, Hon. Mr. McKenzie, Mr. Montgomery, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Hon. Major Steward. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Hon. Mr. J. G. Ward attended, and made a further statement; and the same was taken down by the reporter. At 5.40 p.m. the Committee adjourned until 7.30 p.m. On resuming at 7.30 p.m., Hon. Mr. Ward continued his statement. During Hon. Mr. Ward's examination, Hon. Mr. Seddon handed in correspondence between the Government and the Agent-General as to appointment of President, and the same was marked as Exhibit No. 71. Confidential papers relating to the legislation in 1895, on behalf of the Bank of New Zealand, and the same was marked Exhibit No. 70. During the examination, Mr. Montgomery desired to ask the witness, " You were personally prejudiced by the position in which you were place in the lists ?" Hon. Mr. Seddon objected to the question as not coming within the order of reference. The Chairman ruled that the question could not be put as not coming within the order of reference. Mr. Hutchison asked the witness, " Were you in 1894 managing director of the J. G. Ward Association ? " Hon. Mr. Seddon objected to the question as not coming within the order of reference. The Chairman ruled the question out of order, as not coming within the order of reference. Mr. Hutchison proceeded to ask the witness several questions of a similar bearing as the one above recorded. Hon. Mr. Seddon objected to the questions being recorded after the Chairman had ruled such questions were not in order. The Chairman ruled that the first question should be recorded, together with the ruling thereon, but not the remainder of the questions. At 11.15 p.m., Resolved, on the motion of Hon. Mr. Seddon, That the Committee adjourn until Monday next, at 11 o'clock, a.m.

Monday, 21st September, 1896. Present: Mr. Graham (Chairman), Mr. Guinness, Mr. G. Hutchison, Mr. Maslin, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. McGowan, Hon. Mr. J. McKenzie, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Hon. Major Steward. Minutes of the previous meeting read. Upon the question being put, That the minutes be confirmed, a division was called for, and the names were taken down as follow:— Ayes, 6. —Mr. Graham, Mr. McGowan, Hon. Mr. McKenzie, Mr. Montgomery, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Hon. Major Steward. No, I.—Mr. Hutchison. So it was resolved in the affirmative. The minutes were then confirmed. William Brown Vigers, one of the liquidators of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, attended and was sworn, and made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. During Mr. Vigers' evidence, Mr. Montgomery desired to ask, How many accounts were on the "C" list? Hon. Mr. Seddon objected to the question as not coming within the order of reference. The Chairman ruled that the question could not be put, as not coming within the order of reference. Mr. Hutchison asked a question in reference to a certain affidavit filed by the witness in the Supreme Court at Dunedin. Hon. Mr. Seddon objected to the question as not coming within the order of reference. The Chairman ruled that the question could not be put, seeing the affidavit referred to an account, and that in reference to the same no writings-off had been shown. Mr. Hutchison proceeded to ask other questions of the witness. Objection being taken to them and to their being recorded, the Chairman ruled that they could not be put, nor should they be recorded, as they were of a similar character to others already ruled out of order, At 1.40 p.m., Hon. Mr. Seddon moved, That the Committee adjourn until to-morrow at 10.30. Mr. Hutchison moved by way of amendment, 2.30 this afternoon.