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The sub-committee resumed their sitting at 5 o'clock, and at 6.50 o'clock, it was resolved, That this meeting do now adjourn until 11 o'clock to-night. The sub-committee resumed, their sitting at 11 o'clock, and the members of the Committee continued drafting their report. The Chairman was instructed to write to Mr. T. W. Fisher in reference to information (if any) of a deposit having been paid by the Government to the Natives for the purchase of MokauMohakatino Block. "Resolved, That the Chairman have authority to confirm the minutes of this meeting. The sub-committee adjourned at 4 o'clock a.m. on Thursday, the 31st October, 1912. JOINT COMMITTEE. Thursday, the 31st Day' of October, 1912. The Joint Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 11 o'clock, a.m. Present: Hon. Mr. Rigg (Chairman), Mr. Anderson, Hon. Mr. Anstey, Mr. Bell, Mr. Dickie, Hon..Mr. George, Hon. Mr. Luke, Mr. McCallum, Hon. Mt. Paul, Mr. Statham. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The clerk read the letter sent to Mr. T. W. Fisher, Tinder-Secretary Native Affairs, also the reply from him. The Chairman brought up and read the draft report of the sub-committee. Paragraph No. 4 (opinions of the Committee) considered : " That since your Committee is of opinion that the petitioner has not yet exhausted his legal remedies, they cannot determine whether or not the petitioner has been prejudiced by anything so done or omitted to be done by the Government." Mr. Bell proposed to strike out all the words after the word " petitioner " where it first occurs, with a view of inserting other words. The Committee divided on the question, " That the words proposed to be struck out stand part of the paragraph," and the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes, 3 : Hon. Mr. Anstey, Hon. Mr. Rigg, Mr. Statham. Noes, 6: Mr. Bell, Mr. Dickie, Hon. Mr. George, Hon. Mr. Luke, Mr. McCallum, Hon. Mr. Paul. It was therefore resolved in the negative. The following words were then inserted in lieu thereof : " had prior to anything so done or omitted lost all legal claim to the said leases, your Committee does not consider that the petitioner has been prejudiced b}' anything so done or omitted." Paragraph 3 considered : Mr. Bell proposed to strike out the word " may," for the purpose of inserting the words " can only." The Committee divided on the question, and the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes, 6 : Mr. Bell, Mr. Dickie, Hon. Mr. George, Hon. Mr. Luke, Mr. McCallum, Hon. Mr. Paul. ' Noes, 3 : Hon. Mr. Anstey, Hon. Mr. Rigg, Mr. Statham. So it passed in the affirmative. Word " may " struck out and the words " can only " inserted. After the words "Your Committee recommend the sum of £3,000," Mr. Anderson proposed to insert the following words : "or any equivalent by way of annuity." And the question being put, That the words proposed to be inserted be so inserted, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 2 : Mr. Anderson, Hon. Mr. Anstey. Noes, 8: Mr. Bell, Mr. Dickie, Hon. Mr. George, Hon. Mr. Luke, Mr. McCallum, Hon. Mr. Paul, Hon. Mr. Rigg, Mr. Statham. So it was resolved in the negative. Proposed by Mr. Statham, after " £3,000," to insert the following words, "and that the Government take into consideration the advisability of lodging any such sum with the Public Trustee, in trust, for the use and benefit of the petitioner, his wife, and family." And the question being put, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 5 : Mr. Anderson, Hon. Mr. Anstey, Hon. Mr. Luke, Hon. Mr. Rigg, Mr. Statham. Noes, 5 : Mr. Bell, Mr. Dickie, Hon. Mr. George, Mr. McCallum, Hon. Mr. Paul. The Chairman gave his casting-vote with the " Ayes." So it passed in the affirmative. Proposed by Mr. McCallum, to strike out " ,£!?,000." And the question being put, That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the paragraph, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 9: Mr. Anderson, Hon. Mr. Anstev, Mr. Bell, Mr. Dickie, Hot). Mr. George, Hon. Mr. Luke, Hon. Mr. Paul, Hon. Mr. Rigg, Mr. Statham. Noes, 1 : Mr. McCallum. It was therefore passed in the affirmative. In the final paragraph of the report it was proposed by Mr. Anderson to strike out the words " for the reason that the petitioner has not exhausted his legal remedies." And the question being put, That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows : —