I.—ll.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

[Note. —The proceedings of the Committee referring to other business are omitted. | Tuesday, 14th August, 1900. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m. pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. G. Fisher (Chairman), Mr. J. Allen, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Palmer, Captain Eussell, and the Eight Hon. Mr. Seddon. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Business. —Consideration of petitions Nos. 132, 263, and 267, presented by Mr. C. H. Mills, M.H.E. Mr. Mills attended, as also did Messrs. Coates, Dalston, and Dr. Findlay (solicitor for the petitioners). A shorthand reporter was also in attendance to take notes. On motion of the Eight Hon. the Premier, Resolved, That petitions Nos. 263 and 267 be printed and circulated amongst the members of this Committee. On motion of the Eight Hon. the Premier, Besolved, That petitions Nos. 132, 263, and 267 be sent to the Public Works Department, to be reported upon. The Committee then adjourned till Tuesday, the 21st instant, at 10.30 a.m.

Thursday, 23ed August, 1900. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m. pursuant to notice. Present : Mr. G. Fisher (Chairman), Mr. J. Allen, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Morrison, and the Hon. Mr. Ward. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones (Minister for Public Works), Mr. H. D. Bell (solicitor for the Crown), Mr. C. H. Mills, M.H.E. (who presented the petitions), Mr. J. H. B. Coates (petitioner), Mr. Norman H. M. Dalston (petitioner), Dr. Findlay (solicitor for the petitioners), and Mr. Blow (Under-Secretary for Public Works) were in attendance. A shorthand reporter was also in attendance to take notes. The departmental reports on the petitions Nos. 132, 263, and 267, before the Committee, were read by the Clerk. On motion of Mr. J. Allen, Resolved, That Mr. Coates be examined first. Mr. Bell, Mr. Dalston, Mr. Mills, M.H.E., and Dr. Findlay gave evidence before the Committee, which was taken down by a shorthand reporter. On motion of the Hon. Mr. Ward, Resolved, That the three petitions be placed in numerical order, and that the respective departmental reports thereon be printed in parallel columns, each paragraph of the petition to be numbered, and the corresponding departmental reply to such paragraph placed opposite. On motion of the Hon. Mr. Ward, Resolved, That this Committee do now adjourn till Tuesday next, the 28th August, at 10.30 a.m. The Clerk was instructed to get the evidence printed and circulated as soon as possible. The Committee then adjourned.

Tuesday, 28th August, 1900. The Committee met at. 10.30 a.m. pursuant to notice. Present : Mr. G. Fisher (Chairman), Mr. J. Allen, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Palmer, and the Eight Hon. Mr. Seddon. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones (Minister for Public Works), Mr. J. H. B. Coates (petitioner), Mr. Norman H. M. Dalston (petitioner), Dr. Findlay (solicitor for the petitioners), Mr. Mills, M.H.E. (who presented the petitions), Mr. H. D. Bell (solicitor for the Crown), and Mr. H. J. H. Blow (Under-Secretary for Public Works) were in attendance. A shorthand reporter was also in attendance to take notes. Dr. Findlay addressed the Committee on behalf of the petitioners. Mr. Bell addressed the Committee on behalf of the Crown, and asked for an adjournment, which was agreed to by the Committee. Mr. Dalston handed in a file of papers bearing on the petitions under consideration, and the Clerk was instructed to have the same printed and circulated. The Committee then adjourned till Tuesday, 4th September, 1900, at 10.30 a.m.

Tuesday, 4th Septembee, 1900. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. G. Fisher (Chairman), Mr. J. Allen, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Palmer, Captain Bussell, the Bight Hon. Mr. Seddon, and the Hon. Mr. Ward. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones (Minister for Public Works), Mr. J. H. B. Coates (petitioner), Mr. Norman H. M. Dalston (petitioner), Dr. Findlay (solicitor for the petitioners), Mr. Mills, M.H.B. (who

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