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• 1898. NEW ZEALAND.

ALLEGATIONS BY THE MEMBER FOR PATEA COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE), TOGETHER WITH THE MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS, MINUTES OF EVIDENCE, AND APPENDIX. (Mr. A. SLIGO, CHAIRMAN.)

Brought up on the 4th November, 1898, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from \the Journals of the House of Representatives. Tuesday, the 27th Day of September, 1898. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed to asoertain whether all or any of the allegations reflecting personally on the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon or his relative, the late Nathan Seddon, made by Mr. Hutchison member for Patea, in his speech in the House on Tuesday, the 23rd ultimo, are in substance true or false, and to report their opinion thereon ; with power to call for persons and papers; the Committee to report within fourteen days -three to be a quorum. The Committee to consist of Hon. Mr. Rolleston, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Duthie, Hon. Mr Ward Mr Massey, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Sligo, Mr. Graham, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. J. McKenzie.)

Tuesday, the 13th Day of October, 1898. Ordered, " That an extension of time for fourteen days be granted to the Allegations by the Member for Patea Committee within which to bring up their report." —(Mr. Massey, for Mr. Sligo.)

Friday, the 28th Day of October, 1898. Ordered, " That an extension of time of one week be granted to the Allegations by the Member for Patea Committee within which to bring up their report."—(Mr. Sligo.)

EEPOET.

Youe Committee, appointed to inquire into the allegations made by the member for Patea on the 23rd August as affecting the Premier, has held sixteen sittings, and examined the following witnesses: — George Harper, law clerk, Christchurch. A. E. Guinness, M.H.E. W. Barnett, surgeon-dentist, Christchurch, ex-Mayor, Kumara. William Nicholson, accountant, Palmerston North, ex-Local Auditor, Borough of Kumara. George Eudkin, Town Clerk, Kumara, an ex-member of Kumara Borough Council. Henry Burger, storekeeper, Kumara, member Borough Council, Kumara. A. C. Campbell, ironmonger, Kumara, ex-member Kumara Borough Council. James Wylde, engineer, Kumara, ex-Town Clerk. Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon. Marcus P. Marks, Hansard Supervisor, Wellington. James McEnnis, clerk, Warden's Court, Kumara. Peter Douglas Todd, draper, Kumara. Joe Tie, Chinese storekeeper, Wellington. Joe Gett, Chinese storekeeper, Wellington. King Poo, Chinese storekeeper, Wellington. Wong Poo, Chinese storekeeper, Wellington. James Alexander Murdoch, solicitor, Kumara.

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