III

I.—7b

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Tuesday, 18th October, 1898. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Montgomery, Captain Russell, Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, Hon. J. G. Ward. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Clerk having read the order of reference referring the correspondence between the Audit Office and the Railway Department relative to the transfer of £15,000 to the Committee, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Montgomery, That this matter be the first order of the day for the next meeting of the Committee. Besolved, That the following gentlemen be summoned to give evidence on the correspondence between the Audit Office and the Railway Department relative to the transfer of £15,000 : The Hon. A. J. Cadman, the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Messrs. J. K. Warburton, J. C. Gavin, and J. B. Heywood. Besolved, on the motion of the Chairman, to adjourn till Friday next, at 10.30 a.m.

Friday, 21st October, 1898. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Duthie, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. McLean, Mr. Montgomery, Captain Russell, Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, Hon. J. G. Ward. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Besolved, on the motion of the Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, That the witnesses to be examined on Parliamentary Paper 8.-22, 1898. be sworn. The Controller and Auditor-General was sworn and examined, his evidence being taken down in shorthand by a reporter. The Hon. A. J. Cadman, the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Messrs. Gavin, Heywood, Ronayne, Fife, and Blow were present. Besolved to adjourn till Tuesday next, at 10.30 a.m.

Tuesday, 25th October, 1898. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Montgomery, Captain Russell, Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, Mr. Tanner. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Controller and Auditor-General was further examined on Parliamentary Paper 8.-22, 1898, his evidence being taken down in shorthand by a reporter. The Hon. A. J. Cadman, the Hon. W. Hall Jones, Messrs. Gavin, Heywood, Ronayne, Blow, and Fife were present. Besolved, on the motion of the Chairman, to resume consideration of this matter on Friday next, at 10.30 a.m. The Committee then adjourned till 10.30 a.m. on Thursday next.

Thursday, 27th October, 1898. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Fisher, and Mr. Fraser. The members present having waited from 10.30 a.m. to 10.50 a.m., the meeting lapsed for want of a quorum.

Friday, 28th October, 1898. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Duthie, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Montgomery, Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon. The minutes of the two previous meetings were read and confirmed. The Controller and Auditor-General and Mr. A. C. Fife, Accountant, Railway Department (sworn), were examined by the Committee, their evidence being taken down in shorthand by a reporter. The Hon. A. J. Cadman, the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Messrs. Gavin, Heywood, Ronayno, and Blow were present. Besolved, on the motion of Mr. Fraser, That the Chairman be instructed to apply to the House for three days' extension of the time in which the Committee was ordered to bring up its report. The Committee adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.