H.—24.

Evidence. Mr. F. W. T. Saunders, manager, New Zealand Powell Wood Process (Limited), examined from 9.30 to 10.30 a.m. Mr. John Punch, sawmiller, Rangataua, 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Mr. G. A. Gamman, sawmiller, Oliakune, 11.30 a.m. to 12.40 p.m. The Commission adjourned till 7.30 p.m., and in the afternoon inspected the mills and workings of Mr. H. D. Bennett at Pukenaua, and the mill of Mr. Robert Smith. On resuming at 7.30 p.m. Mr. Gammon's examination was continued to 8.20 p.m. Mr. Alex. Laird, sawmiller, Taumarunui, examined from 8.20 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mr. R. A. Wilson, timber-merchant, Bull's, 10 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. The Commission then adjourned.

Taihape, Wednesday, 28th April, 1909. The seventeenth meeting of the Commission was held in the Courthouse, Taihape, on Wednesday, the 28th April, 1909, at 9 a.m. Present: The Hon. T. Y. Duncan (Chairman), and all the members. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Letters. Letter, dated 19th April, 1909, from the District Traffic Manager, Invercargill, correcting certain figures in returns of Southland timber. —Received. Letter, dated 21st April, 1909, from the secretary of the West Coast Timber Trading Company, forwarding return of the company's exports of timber to the various New Zealand ports during 1908 and 1909.—Received. Letter, dated 23rd April, 1909, from Mr. H. A. Massey, of Invercargill, regarding evidence given by Mr. Wallis in Dunedin, and Ranger Collins, of Invercargill. —Received. Evidence. Mr. G. J. Neill, representative of sawmill-workers, Taumarunui, examined from 9.15 a.m. to 10.15 a.m. Mr. H. Lundius, Crown Lands Ranger, Wanganui, 10.5 to 11.15 a.m. Mr. John Ammunson, Crown Lands Ranger and timber expert, Ohakune, 11.15 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Mr. W. A. L. Bailey, sawmiller, Taihape, 11.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Itinerary. On the motion of Mr. Jennings, seconded by Mr. Stallworthy, it was resolved, That the itinerary as drafted for the North Island be adopted. The Commission then adjourned from 1 to 2 p.m. Evidence. Mr. H. G. Mackintosh, contractor, Taihape, examined from 2 p.m. to 2.25 p.m. Mr. C. Hutton, bush contractor for Egmont Box Company, Utiku, 2.25 to 3.5 p.m. Mr. H. D. Bennett, merchant, Taihape, 3.5 p.m. to 5.10 p.m. Mr. J. A. Anderson, sawmiller, Turangarere, 5.25 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. The Commission adjourned till 7.30 p.m. Mr. Henry Brown, sawmiller and timber-merchant, Inglewood, examined from 7.30 p.m. to 7.55 p.m. Mr. G. Wrightson, chairman, Builders' Association, Taihape, 7.55 to 8.10 p.m. Vote of Thanks. Moved by Mr. Jennings, and seconded by Mr. Mander, That a hearty vote of thanks be ten dered to those gentlemen who had given evidence at Taihape.—Carried. Mi , . H. D. Bennett acknowledged the resolution, and thanked the Commission for the im partial manner in which examination had been conducted. The Commission then adjourned to Auckland on Friday the 7th May, 1909.

On the morning of Thursday, the 29th April, 1909, the Commission proceeded by train t<) Rangataua, where an inspection was made of the new mill of the Powell Wood Process Company and the treatment of timber by the process thoroughly examined. After driving to Ohakune, an inspection was made in the afternoon of Mr. G. A. Gamman's mill, close to the Ohakune Railwaystation, and the bush-workings visited. On Friday, the 30th April, 1909, the Commission drove from Ohakune to Raetihi and Horopito, and closely viewed the forest in the vicinity. In the afternoon a return was made to Ohakune, and the train taken to Taumarunui. On Saturday, the Ist May, the Commission took the train from Taumarunui to Kakahi, where an inspection, under the guidance of Mr. Weir, the manager, was made of the Government sawmill and the bush-workings. The Commission then drove to Manunui, and inspected the mill of Messrs. Ellis, Burnand, and Valder, and in the afternoon went up their tramway to visit the bush-work-ings. A return was then made to Taumarunui and the train to Auckland caught in the evening. On Monday, the 3rd May, the Commission proceeded in the afternoon by train to Helensville from Auckland, and on arrival took the steamer to Dargaville, reaching Te Kopuru at 6 a.m. on the 4th, when they landed and drove to Dargaville. At 8 a.m. they took the trajn to Kaihu, and

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