H.—2

8

Walter Edward Street, with regard to damage done on Mr. White's farm by the same fire ; and evidence was also given by George Hanmer and Alfred Luther Beattie. The evidence was taken down by the reporter.

WAIEANGI. The Commission sat at Wairangi on Thursday, the Ist March, 1900. Claim by Messrs. W. S. G. Blackle-y and Others. Mr. Theo. Cooper appeared for the Railway Department, and Mr. P. Oliphant for the claimants. Mr. A. V. Macdonald, Locomotive Engineer, and Mr. C. Holm Biss, District Engineer, were also in attendance. Mr. Oliphant called John Young, William Young, sen,, Frank West Green, Harry Stretton, William Young, jun., and William Henry Andrews, and the evidence was taken down by the reporter. Mr. Cooper called William Wildermoth, Arthur Macdonald, John Farrell, James Bennett, John James Curby Hackett, and Thomas Slade, and the evidence was taken down by the reporter. The Commission visited the scene of the fire.

AUCKLAND. Friday, 2nd March, 1900. The Commission sat at Auckland on Friday, the 2nd March, 1900. Claim by Mr. James Wallace. Mr. Theo. Cooper appeared for the Railway Department, and Mr. Brookfield for the claimant. Mr. A. V. Macdonald, Locomotive Engineer, and Mr. C. Holm Biss, District Engineer, were also in attendance. Mr. Brookfield called James Wallace, William Ferguson Massey, Christoper Bailey, William McLaughlin, Fanny Wallace, James Grey, Bobert Carruth, and Thomas Wylie, and the evidence was taken down by the reporter. Mr. Cooper called Augustus Vanzant Macdonald, Dennis Hogan, Alfred Carmel Huckstep, Charles Smith, and Thomas Underwood, and the evidence was taken down by the reporter. Mr. John Thompson, at his own request, was called to give evidence as to the danger of fires from engines and damage suffered by him thereby, and the evidence was taken down by the reporter. The Commission visited the scene of the fire.

Saturday, 3rd March, 1900. The Commission sat in Auckland on Saturday, the 3rd March, 1900. Further hearing of the claim of Messrs. W. S. C. Blackley and others. Mr. Theo. Cooper appeared for the Eailway Department, and Mr. P. Oliphant for the claimants. Mr. A. V. Macdonald, Locomotive Engineer, and Mr. C. Holm Biss, District Engineer, were also in attendance. Mr. Cooper called Edmund Clifton, and the evidence was taken down by the reporter.

Thursday, Bth March, 1900. The Commission sat in Auckland on Thursday, the Bth March, 1900. Further hearing of claim of Messrs. W. S. C. Blackley and others. Mr. Theo. Cooper appeared for the Eailway Department, and Mr. P. Oliphant for the claimants. Mr. A. V. Macdonald, Locomotive Engineer, and Mr. C. Holm Biss, District Engineer, were also in attendance. Mr. Oliphant called John Gerrand and Francis Foster, and recalled William Young, junr. Mr. Cooper called Norrys Kensington. The evidence was taken down by the reporter.

WELLINGTON. Monday, 12th March, 1900. The Commission sat at Wellington on Monday, the 12th March, 1900. Evidence was given by Henry Perm regarding the fires at Eakaia and Hinds, and by Thomas Forth Eotheram regarding the means taken on the New Zealand Railways to prevent the emission of sparks from railway-engines, the evidence being taken down by the reporter.

Tuesday, 13th March, 1900. The Commission sat at Wellington on Tuesday, the 13th March, 1900. Evidence was given by James Burnett regarding the fire on the property of Mr. J. Gardiner and others at Eakaia, and the evidence was taken down by the reporter.