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MINUTES OF PBOCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE.

WELLINGTON, MONDAY, 13tH AUGUST, 1906. The Royal Commission appointed under the provisions of section 2 of "The Commissioners Act, 1903," to inquire into and report upon the cause of fires on ships whose cargo is wholly or partly composed of wool, flax, tow, or other combustible material, commenced its sitting in the Upper Court, Magistrate's Courthouse, Lambton Quay, Wellington, at 10.30 a.m. on Monday, the 13th August, 1906. Present: Alexander McArthur, Esq., LL.D., Stipendiary Magistrate, Chairman; Harold Sewallis Blackburne, Esq., Nautical Adviser to the Marine Department, Commissioner; Walter George Foster, Esq., General Manager of the Assets Realisation Board, Commissioner. Mr. O. F. Dunreath-Cooper, shorthand-writer and secretary; Mr. H. E. LeGrove, shorthandwriter. The Chairman read the Commission, wnich was as follows:— Plunket, Governor. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to Alexander McArthur, of Wellington, Stipendiary Magistrate ; Harold Sewallis Blackburne, of Wellington, Nautical Adviser to "the Marine^Department; and Walter George Foster, General Manager of?the Assets" Bealisation Board, Wellington. Whereas it is provided by section two of " The Commissioners Act, 1903," that the Governor in Council may appoint any person or persons to be a Commission to inquire into and report, amongst other things, upon any question arising out of the administration of the Government or the working of any existing law : And whereas it is expedient to appoint a Commission to inquire into and report upon the cause of fires on ships whose cargo is wholly or partly composed of wool, flax, tow, or other combustible material, and as to what such Commission considers necessary to insure the shipment of such cargo and its conveyance from New Zealand to its destination in such a condition that it will not be liable to fire from spontaneous combustion, or any other cause, and also as to the necessity or expediency of amending the existing law with respect thereto : Now, therefore, I, William Lee, Baron Plunket, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, in exercise of the powers conferred by " The Commissioners Act, 1903," and of every other power and authority enabling me in this behalf, and acting by and with the advice of the Executive Council of the said colony, do hereby appoint you, the said Alexander McArthur, Harold Sewallis Blackburne, and Walter George Foster, to be a Commission by all lawful ways and means to examine and inquire into every matter or thing touching the premises in such manner and at such times as you deem expedient. And for the better enabling you to carry these presents into effect, you are hereby authorised and empowered to make and conduct any inquiry under these presents at such place or places as you may deem expedient. And you are hereby authorised and empowered to have before you and examine all books, papers, plans, and writings whatsoever as you deem necessary for your information on the subject-matter of this inquiry, and also to have before you and examine on oath or otherwise, as you may be allowed by law, all witnesses and other persons whom you judge capable of affording you any information touching or concerning the premises.

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