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18. That his appointment as Receiver has been confirmed by an order of the High Court of Justice of England, in an action by a debenture-holder against the said trustees and the company ; and he is now acting under instructions from the said trustees, which instructions have been personally settled and approved by Mr. Justice Kekewich, a Judge of the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice. 19. Your petitioner desires respectfully to ask Parliament to consider the matter of the grievances which the debenture-holders have against the Government, in respect of the seizure of the line, and the injury which the debenture-holders have sustained consequent on such seizure; and also to consider the claim of the debenture-holders for payment of the amount expended on the construction of the railway. 20. Your petitioner, while submitting with all respect the subject matter of the petition to Parliament, is advised that it is necessary to state in express terms that the debenture-holders do not thereby abandon any legal rights which they have in respect of the matters above referred, in the event of a settlement of the same not being arrived at through the action of Parliament. Wherefore, your petitioner humbly prays that your honourable House will be pleased to appoint a Special Committee to consider the matter of this petition, and to report to your honourable House thereon. And your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. George B. Parker.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. [Note. —The proceedings of the Committee referring to other business are omitted.] Wednesday, Bth July, 1896. Present: Hon. Mr. Larnach (Chairman), Mr. Button, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Millar, Mr. Montgomery, Dr. Newman, Mr. Saunders, Hon. Mr. Seddon, and Mr. Tanner. The Chairman stated that he had received a letter from Mr, George B. Parker asking to have the consideration of his petition postponed until the 22nd or 23rd instant. Resolved, on the motion of Hon. Mr. Seddon, That the consideration of the petition be postponed accordingly. Resolved, on the motion of Hon. Mr. Seddon, That the petition be printed and a copy sent to each member of the Committee. The Committee then adjourned till Wednesday next, at 11 o'clock a.m.

Wednesday, 22nd July, 1896. Present: Hon. Mr. Larnach (Chairman), Mr. Guinness, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. Millar. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hogg, That Petition No. 75 (G. B. Parker) be sent to the Under-Secretary for Public Works, and that he be asked to furnish a report thereon by to-morrow morning. The Committee then adjourned till 10 a.m. to-morrow.

Thursday, 23rd July, 1896. Present: Hon. Mr. Larnach (Chairman), Mr. Button, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lewis, Mr. T. Mackenzie, and Mr. McGowan. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A shorthand reporter was in attendance. Mr. Parker and his counsel (Mr. F. Chapman, of Dunedin) attended, as also did Mr. Blow, Under-Secretary for Public Works. Mr. Chapman having addressed the Committee on behalf of petitioner, the Committee adjourned till 10 a.m. to-morrow.

Friday, 24th July, 1896. Present: Hon. Mr. Larnach (Chairman), Mr. Button, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Lewis, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Montgomery, and Mr. Tanner. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A shorthand reporter was in attendance. Mr. Parker and his counsel, Mr. Blow, and Mr. Dalston attended. Mr. Parker was sworn, and gave evidence. Mr. F. H. Labatt, accountant to the debenture-holders, was sworn, and gave evidence. Mr. Blow, Under-Secretary to the Public Works Department, addressed the Committee. The Committee then adjourned till Monday next, at 10 a.m.

Monday, 27th July, 1896. Present: Hon. Mr. Larnach (Chairman), Mr. Button, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lewis, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Millar, Mr. Montgomery, and Mr. Tanner. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A shorthand reporter was in attendance. Mr. Parker and counsel, Messrs. Blow, Dalston, T. Cooper, and Harris attended. Mr. E. H. Labatt gave evidence. Mr. Blow resumed his address to the Committee, and gave evidence. Mr. Chapman addressed the Committee in reply. Resolved, That Mr. Labatt be asked to produce the following returns: Amount of money raised by the company by debentures or otherwise, showing separately in schedule, —(1) Cost of

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