H.—22

18

A. L. Oudaillc, J. M. Muir, and James Mouat. J. Dickson, Esq., M.P., was present and introduced the deputation. The Commission also inspected the kennels of the club at Ocean Beach. The Commission then returned to Dunedin.

Monday, 15th March, 1915. The Commission left Dunedin at 7.52 a.m. and arrived at Naseby at 2 p.m., and at once inspected the course and appointments of the Maniototo Jockey Club; and at 2.15 p.m. met the following deputation from the club, viz.: A. B. Armour, chairman; F. W. Inder, secretary; and Messrs. R. Froyer, J. I. Fraser, E. Brown, J. R. Smith, T. C. Hore, J. Buchanan, R. L. Francis, H. Moore, H. Wilson, T. B. McNeil, J. O'Malley, and A. Garland. R. Scott, Esq., M.P., was present and introduced the deputation. The Commission left Naseby at 2.45 p.m. and arrived at Alexandra at 6.15 p.m.

Tuesday, 16th March, 1915. The Commission left Alexandra at 8.30 a.m. and arrived at Roxburgh at 11 a.m., and at once inspected the course and appointments of the Bengerburn Jockey Club; and at 11.15 a.m. met the following deputation from the club, viz. : W. Bain, president; and Messrs. A. F. Roberts, J. Craig, R. Wilson, W. Townsend, A. G. Laoli, J. N. Gardner, J. Carty, J. C. Gilchrist, R. Cockburn, H. A, Tamblyn, J. McDowell, W. Kingston, C. Gunn, E. Garrett, A,. Donnelly, J. Sullivan, G. Brown, and J. Rattray. R. Scott, Esq., M.P., was present and introduced the deputation. The Commission left Roxburgh at 12.15 p.m. and arrived at Invercargill at 9.15 p.m., and at once met the following deputation from the Southland Trotting Club, viz. : J. B. Thompson, president; W. A. Saunders, secretary; and Messrs. J. McDonald,. W. E. Taylor, J. W. P. Viokery, C. Haslett, F. Mason, J. H. Hill, R. B. Stiven, D. R. Jones, V. Coleman, and E. W. Howarth. J. A. Hanan, Esq., M.P., was present and introduced the deputation. The Commission adjourned at 11 p.m.

Wednesday, 17th March, 1915. The Commission left Invercargill at 9.30 a.m. for Winton, and en route inspected the course and appointments of the Southland Racing Club in connection with the application of the Southland Trotting Club. The Commission arrived at Winton at 11.30 a.m., and at once inspected the course and appointments of the Winton Racing Club in connection with the application of the Winton Trotting Club; and at 12 noon met the following deputation from the latter club, viz. : J. Tobin, president; W. Cowie, secretary; and Messrs. P. Keene, J. Keith, J. Loudrey, H. Finn, W. Muir, D. Calder, R. Jamieson, W. H. Brown, M. O'Brien, J. McDonald, J. O'Shannessey, D. McHugh, W. Swaile, J. Mill, D. W. Thomson, W. Norman, T. Cotter, A. Baird, M. Hishon, P. Parelle, H. Cunningham, George Bain, George Hamilton, R. Wilson, D. O'Malley, and J. Duffy. The Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, M.P., was present and introduced the deputation. The Commission left Winton at 1 p.m. and arrived at Otautau at 2 p.m., and at once inspected the property on which the Otautau Hack Racing Club and the Birchwood Hunt Club propose to race. The Commission then proceeded to Clifden, arriving at 4 p.m., and at once inspected the course of the Clifden Hack Racing Club; and at 4.15 p.m. met the following deputation from the club, viz.: J. H. Tapper, president; S. Fowle, secretary; W. J. Gregor, vicepresident; and Messrs. T. Cochrane, G. Gardiner, J. Watson, G. Tapper, J. Robertson, R. Scott, J. King, and W. Bradley. The Commission left Clifden at 5 p.m. and arrived at Otautau at 6.30 p.m., and at 7.30 p.m. met the following deputation from the Birchwood Hunt Club, viz.: A. A. Liddell, master; E. Matheson, secretary; W. Ledingham, huntsman; and Messrs. J. G. Wade, Thomas Brennan, A. Harrington, E. Harrington, C. H. Williamson, P. Sheedy, J. Salton, G. Bain, J. B. Sutton, A. Macaulay, R. Mills, M. O'Brien, S. Porteous, G. Saxonhy, J. Fisher, J. Brass, W. White, A. Chisholm, W. A. Kerse, D. Gray, M. Royds, W. Keith, J. Brooker, and J. Wilson. At 8 p.m. the Commission met the following deputation from the Otautau Hack, Racing Club, viz. : M. O'Brien, president; and Messrs. A. Macaulay, A. A. Liddell, J. T. Brooker, T. Offreck, A. C. Mills, J. Fisher, jut]., W. White, E. Matheson, IT. Matheson, W. Burke, J. Brass, H. Chrisholm, A. Stevens, A. Harrington, J. Salton, W. Keith, E. Harrington, J. Wilson, G. Williamson. A. Gatehy, J. Devery, D. J. Gray, and M. Royds. The Commission then adjourned.

Thursday, 18th March, 1915. The Commission left Otautau at 7.30 a.m. and arrived at Centre Bush at. 8.30 a.m., and met the following sub-deputation from the Birchwood Hunt Club, viz. : Messrs. W. Crow, A. Jarrett, J. Swale, S. Sutton, and R. Shand. The Commission left Centre Bush at 8.45 a.m. and arrived at Lumsden at 10.15 a.m., and at once inspected the course of the Lumsden Hack Racing Club; and at. 11.30 a.m. met the following deputation from the club, viz. : Loftus I. Jones, president; J. Crosbie, vice-president; S. Griffiths, secretary; and Messrs. D. McLeod, A. MoAlister, A. Brooks, T. Small, A.. Small, D. Cunningham, J. Crawford, G. J. Johnston, and W. Varcoe. The Commission left Lumsden at 2.35 p.m. and arrived at Queenstown at 6.55 p.m.