A.—4

XXXIX

Satubday, 11th May, 1901. The Commission met at 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. JT A. Millar, M.H.E., Mr. W. S. Reid, Mr. J. Eoberts, C.M.G., Captain Russell, M.H.R., and Hon. Major Steward, M.H.R. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was received from R. Matterson, G. Cox, J. Hannan, and others, of Marshland, Canterbury, stating objections to the evidence given before the Commission by J. S. Myers, of Marshland, complaining that various statements in his evidence were misleading. The letter was received, and the Secretary instructed to inform the writers that the matter would receive the attention of the Commission. A letter was received from J. J. Fenton, Assistant Statist of Victoria, forwarding the latest Victorian statistics referring to population and the growth of oats. It was decided to print the oats statistics at the end of Mr. Penton's evidence. The Chairman submitted to the members of the Commission printed copies of the draft report for their consideration. Resolved, That it is not desirable that New Zealand should federate with the Commonwealth and become a State under the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act. Resolved, That, so far as the Commission can ascertain, the prospects of establishing a reciprocal treaty with the Commonwealth are at present remote ; and that, until the fiscal policy of the Federal Government has been finally determined, the Commission is unable to indicate the lines upon which such a treaty should be based. Resolved, That a sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. Bowen, Roberts, Leys, Reid, Millar, and the Chairman, be appointed to revise the draft report submitted by the Chairman, and to report to the Commission at the next meeting. Resolved, That a sub-committee, consisting of Captain Russell, Major Steward, and Messrs. Beauchamp and Luke, be appointed to select and revise the statistics to be printed in the report of the Commission. The Commission adjourned at 12.45 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday next.

Tuesday, 14th May, 1901. The Commission met at 2.30 p.m. Present: Hon. Colonel Pitt, M.L.C. (in the chair), Mr. T. W. Leys, Mr. W. S. Reid, Mr. J. Roberts, 0.M.G., and Captain Russell, M.H.R. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The letter from R. Matterson and others, of Marshland, was again considered, and the Secretary was instructed to inform the writers that, as they had not attended the duly advertised sittings of the Commission, no further action could be taken in the matter. A letter was received from W. T. Glasgow, Secretary of Customs, giving the amount of Customs revenue received during the year 1900-1, which the Secretary was instructed to include in the appendix. The Chairman informed the Commission that the revise of the draft report, as amended by the sub-committee appointed for that purpose, would be in the hands of the Commissioners to-night. The Commission adjourned at 3.15 p.m. until 10 a.m. next day.

Wednesday, 15th May, 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.R., Mr. W. S. Reid, Mr. J. Roberts, C.M.G., Captain Russell, M.H.R., and Hon. Major Steward, M.H.R. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman read a memorandum received from the Hon. Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G., Chief Justice of the Colony of New Zealand, containing observations on appeals from the Court of Appeal in New Zealand, forwarded in response to the request of the Chairman. It was decided to convey the thanks of the Commission to Sir Robert Stout, and to print the memorandum in the appendix. Mr. Leys moved, That the report be signed by the Commissioners before their dispersal, and that it be left in the hands of the Chairman to hand in at his discretion, on or before the 31st instant. Mr. Millar moved, as an amendment, That the report be not signed until such time as the tables and statistics are attached thereto. A division being called for, the names were taken down as follows: — For the amendment: Mr. Millar, Captain Russell. Against the amendment: Mr. Beauchamp, Mr. Leys, Mr. Luke, Colonel Pitt, Mr. Reid, Mr. Roberts, Major Steward. Amendment negatived. The Commission then divided on the question, " That the original resolution be agreed to." For the resohition : Mr. Beauchamp, Mr. Leys, Mr. Luke, Colonel Pitt, Mr. Reid, Mr. Roberts, Major Steward.