XXXIII

A.—4.

The following gentlemen attended and gave evidence: J. M. Morran (clothing-manufacturer;, A. J. Entrican (merchant), W. Atkin (coachbuilder), P. M. King (manager, clothing-factory), T. M. Quinn (grain and produce agent), T. B. Dineen (electrical engineer), E. W. Burton (solicitor), and J. M. McLachlan (retired business-man). The Commission then adjourned at 12.55 p.m. to a date to be fixed in Sydney.

SYDNEY. Saturday, 16th March, 1901. The Commission met at 10.15 a.m. in a room in the Chief Secretary's department, Sydney. Present : Hon. Colonel Pitt, M.L.C. (in the chair), Mr. H. Beauchamp, Hon. C C. Bowen, M.L.C., Mr. T. W. Leys, Mr. C. M. Luke, Mr. J. A. Millar, M.H.E., Mr. W. S. Eeid, Mr. J. Eoberts, C.M.G., Captain Eussell, M.H.E., and Hon. Major Steward, M.H.E. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from G. L. Peacocke, of Auckland, accompanying a short statement of his opinions on the subject of federation, which it was decided to admit as evidence. An interview was held with the Hon. J. See, M.L.A., Chief Secretary, and Acting-Premier of New South Wales in the absence of the Hon. Sir W. Lyne. Mr. See kindly placed a room in his department at the service of the Commission, and expressed his desire to render them every assistance in his power. An interview was then held with the Hon. E. E. O'Connor, Vice-President of the Federal Council, who, in the absence of the Eight Hon. E. Barton, Premier of the Commonwealth, offered the Commissioners a cordial welcome to Australia. An interview was arranged with Messrs. Barton and O'Connor for 3 p.m. on Tuesday. A letter was despatched to the Hon. J. See, asking him to arrange for the attendance before the Commission on Tuesday morning of Mr. T. A. Coghlan (Government Statist) and MajorGeneral French. The Commission adjourned at 12 o'clock until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Monday being a public holiday. ,

Tuesday, 19th March, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: Hon. Colonel Pitt, M.L.C. (in the chair), Mr. H. Beauchamp, Hon. C. C. Bowen, M.L.C, Mr. T. W. Leys, Mr. C. M. Luke, Mr. J. A. Millar, M.H.E., Mr. W. S. Eeid, Mr. J. Eoberts, C.M.G., Captain Eussell, M.H.E., and Hon. Major Steward, M.H.E. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following witnesses appeared and gave evidence : T. A. Coghlan (Government Statistician) and Major-General French. A letter was received from G. J. Bruce (of the Goold Bicycle Company), offering to give evidence, and the Secretary was instructed to arrange for his attendance. At 3.15 p.m. the Commission interviewed the Eight Hon. E. Barton, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, the interview lasting two hours and a quarter. The Commission adjourned at 5.30 p.m. until 10 a.m. next day.

Wednesday, 20th March, 1901. The Commission met a 10.30 a.m. Present: Hon. Colonel Pitt, M.L.C. (in the chair), Mr. H. Beauchamp, Hon. C. C. Bowen, M.L.C, Mr. T. W. Leys, Mr. C. M. Luke, Mr. J. A. Millar, M.H.E., Mr. W. S. Eeid, Mr. J. Eoberts, C.M.G., Captain Eussell, M.H.E., and Hon. Major Steward, M.H.E. The minutes of the previous meeting was read and confirmed. The following witnesses attended and gave evidence : G. J. Bruce (of the Goold Bicycle Company), T. B. Clegg (of the Labour Department), A. Davidson (grain merchant), and Sir W. McMillan, K.C.M.G. The Commission adjourned at 4.30 p.m. until 10 a.m. next day.

Thursday, 21st March, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: Hon. Colonel Pitt, M.L.C (in the chair), Mr. H. Beauchamp, Hon. C. C. Bowen, M.L.C, Mr. T. W. Leys, Mr. C. M. Luke, Mr. J. A. Millar, M.H.E., Mr. W. S. Eeid, Mr. J. Eoberts, C.M.G., Captain Eussell, M.H.E., and Hon. Major Steward, M.H.E. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was received from W. T. Lawry, manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company in Sydney, asking to be excused from attending before the Commission, as he had practically no evidence to give ; and he was excused accordingly. E. L. Nash (financial editor of the Sydney Daily Telegraph), W. F. Schey (Labour Commissioner), and Hon. Dr. H. N. Maclaurin (doctor of medicine, and member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales) attended and gave evidence. A letter was forwarded to the Premier of Tasmania, informing him that the Commission would arrive at Hobart on the 29th instant, leaving again on the 30th instant. The Commission adjourned 3.45 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. next day. v—A. 4.