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Monday, 26th August, 1901. W. Holsted in attendance, and examined,on former oath. (No. 6.) The Chairman: I think it would be well to examine Mr. Hoisted on matters connected with any of the companies, and finish with him. Will you proceed with your examination of him, Mr. Easton ? 1. Mr. Easton.] I would like to ask, Mr. Hoisted, how many of the twelve companies which have been referred to are working ? Is the Aylmer Lead Company working ?—No. 2. The Ponsonby?—There is a question of that going into liquidation. 3. The question of liquidation of the Ponsonby Company has been raised ?—Yes ; it is to be considered on the 28th of this month. 4. Will you tell the Committee the position of the Lees Ferry Company?—A motion for liquidation has been passed, and the confirming meeting is to be held to-day. 5. It is piactically in liquidation?— All but the appointment of a liquidator. 6. What is the position of the Golden Gray Company?—l am not the secretary to that company now, and cannot say. 7. Mr. Mirams's books will show? —Yes. 8. Can you tell us the position of the Dobson No. 2 Company?—lt worked for about six months or upwards, and is now in liquidation. The results were not satisfactory. 9. How about the Crown Diamond Company ?—No steps have been taken in the direction of ordering a dredge for that company. The directors have decided to await the results obtained from the Buby Creek and Ford's Creek, I think. 10. Has any suggestion been made by any of the shareholders to liquidate the Crown Diamond Company ? —Not as far as I know, but I can only speak from memory. 11. What is the position of the Wicklow Company?—l am not now the secretary to that company either, and cannot say. 12. Mr. Mirams's books will show that? —Yes. 13. Can you tell the Committee the position of the Ngahere Company ? —That, too, has left my office ; Mr. Mirams has been appointed liquidator. 14. What is the position of the Auckland Beach Back Lead Company ?—I know nothing of that. 15. Will you tell the Committee what Mr. Cook was owing to the Aylmer Lead Company on the 15th of this month ? —-I have not got the books here, but I made a note of that before I came away. He has paid £372 10s., and owes £223 16s. 16. What was Mr. Howes owing to the company on that date ?—£37 10s. 17. Mr. Mace holds 1,000 shares ; what did he owe on the 15th ?—£49o; he has paid £240. 18. How much did Mr. Howes owe to the Crown Diamonds Company on the 19th of this month?—l have not got the books here, but I think it was about £5. 19. With regard to the Lees Ferry Company, is Mr. Allan Holmes's name shown on the share register as a holder of shares ?—No ; the position of Messrs. Holmes and Thompson and myself is the same in this company as the Tucker Flat Company —we each held one share. 20. But your names are not shown on the share register. The names of the seven who formed the foundation-stone of the Lees Ferry Company are: W. G. Somerville, C. C. V. Leijon, A. Holmes, J. Davidson, J. G. Sawell, W. Hoisted, and T. H. Thompson. Those are the seven men who signed the articles of association. Were the moneys paid by the three of you who held only one share each accounted for in the books of the company ?—-Undoubtedly; our shares are included in the others. Mr. Somerville is at the present time a holder of a number of shares, and his name appears on the register; the names of Messrs. Leijon, Sawell, and Davidson also appear on the register. The shares of Messrs. Holmes and Thompson and myself are paid for by Mr. Cook, and are included in his allotment. Our position is the same in this respect as with the Tucker Flat Company. Mr. Cook gave us each a share, and he pays the calls on them. They are included in his holding. 21. As to the deed of sale of the Lees Ferry Company, you are aware that I made repeated applications to see that deed ?—Yes, I am aware of that. 22. Was that deed sent up here from your office, or did Mr. Holmes send it up?—lt was sent to me the day before I came away, 23. Do you know that that deed has never been stamped ?—I have had nothing to do with it. 24. Have you ever seen it ?—I cannot say that I have. 25. Were you aware that there is no stamp on this deed of sale from Taylor to Cook?—I was not aware of it. 26. Were you aware that it has not been witnessed ?—I have had nothing to do with it; that did not come within my functions. 27. Do you know whose name the Lees Ferry Company's claim stands in to-day ?—I presume it belongs to the company ; but that is a question for the company's solicitor. AH the documents in connection with the transfers of the claims are at his office, except those that we have here now. 28. The Chairman] For all you know, then, the mine may still be registered in Mr. Taylor's name ?—I cannot gainsay that, as far as my own knowledge goes. 29. Mr. Easton.] You cannot throw any light on the matter?—l cannot. As far as I know, the mine belongs to the company. I may say, however, that the company had a notification from the solicitor to the effect that the titles were complete, and that we could allot the vendors' shares. 30. The vendors' shares have been allotted in this company—Lees Ferry ?—Yes. 31. Mr. W. Fraser] Did you say you had a letter to that effect from the solicitor ?—Yes ; but I have not got it here.