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Messrs. James Mills, managing director of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand ; Francis Fletcher, captain of the scow " Ngaru," Auckland ; and Edward Stephenson, captain of the s.s. " Wellington," trading between Auckland and Whangarei, gave evidence before the Committee. Mr. Hutcheson asked that a copy of the ship's official log, the mate's log, and the engineer's log as at present kept on ships be obtained for the use of the Committee. Mr. Allport, of the Marine Department promised to obtain these. The Committee then, adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow, the 22nd instant.

Friday, 22nd August, 1902. Present: Mr. Fowlds (Chairman), Mr. E. G. Allen, Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. Laurenson, and Mr. B. Thompson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Allport, of the Marine Department, and a shorthand-writer were present. Mr. Allport produced a copy of the engineer's log and bridge-book as kept on the Government steamers for the information of the Committee. Mr. J. F. Kirby, of the Union Steamship Company, continued his evidence, and produced for the information of the Committee an engineer's log, an official log, a deck log, a chief engineer's monthly abstract, a master's home-trade official voyage report, a master's intercolonial voyage report, an engineer's report, and sundry other papers. Mr. William Belcher, secretary, Australasian Federated Seaman's Union, Dunedin Branch, was then examined. The Committee adjourned till 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday, the 26th instant.

Tuesday, 26th August, 1902. Present : Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. Laurenson, Mr. Millar, and Mr. B. Thompson. The Clerk reported that Mr. Fowlds would not be present, and, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, seconded by Mr. Thompson, Mr. Laurenson was appointed Acting-Chairman. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was received from the Marine Department, covering letter from J. Kirby on the subject of seamen deserters. It was ordered that Mr. Kirby's letter be brought up when the evidence was being considered. Mr. Allport, of the Marine Department, and a shorthand-writer were present at the meeting. Captain William Douglas Beid, Superintendent of Mercantile Marine, Auckland, was then examined, and it was arranged to take the evidence of Captain Marciel, Superintendent of Mercantile Marine, Lyttelton, at next meeting. The Committee then adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow (Wednesday), the 27th instant.

Wednesday, 27th August, 1902. Present: Mr. Laurenson (Acting-Chairman), Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, Mr. Hutcheson, and Mr. K. Thompson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Allport, of the Marine Department, and a shorthand-writer were present. Captain James Alfred Henry Marciel, Superintendent of Mercantile Marine, Lyttelton, was then examined. Mr. Allport, at the request of Mr. Hutcheson, produced for the information of the Committee : Form of Certificate of Discharge; form of Certificate of Discharge and Begister of Service; form of Agreement and Account of Crew, Foreign-going Ship; form of Agreement and Account of Crew, Home-trade only, these being the forms used in New Zealand; also "Continuous Certificate of Discharge " as used under the Board of Trade regulations. The Committee then adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow (Thursday), the 28th instant.

Thursday, 28th August, 1902. Present: Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. T. Mackenzie, Mr. B. Thompson, and Mr. Willis. On the motion of Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, seconded by Mr. Hutcheson, Mr. B. Thompson was appointed Chairman for the meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Allport, of the Marine Department, was present, and produced for the information of the Committee: Form of Permit to sign Articles, and form of Declaration under Section 10 of the Act of 1894. The Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones announced that the Union Steamship Company had cordially invited the Committee to lunch on board the " Monowai " to-day at 1 o'clock, and afterwards to witness a boat and fire drill by the crew. It was resolved that, while thanking the company for its invitation, the Committee could not accept it for to-day, as several of the members could not be present, but that it would be very pleased to avail itself of the company's hospitality on some day next week, to be fixed.

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