3

D.—4

Now, therefore, I, Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby direct that your powers and functions under the said Warrant are hereby extended and shall be deemed to include the power to inquire into the question whether it is necessary or desirable in the public interest that a new line of railway should be constructed by the Government from Levin to Marton. And with the like advice and consent, and in further pursuance of the said power and authority, I do hereby confirm the said Commission as extended by these presents. Given under the hand of His Excellency the Eight Honourable Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies; and issued under the Seal of the said Dominion, at the Government House at Wellington, this first day of June, in the year of our Lord one thoiisand nine hundred and sixteen. W. H. Herriks, Approved in Council. Minister of Railways. J. F. Andrews, Clerk of the Executive Council.

KEPOET. Wellington, 24th June, 1916. To His Excellency the Governor. Your excellency,— In pursuance of the Commission issued by Your Excellency to us, dated 31st January, 1916, and of the Supplementary Commission issued to us "dii the Ist day of June, 1916, we have the honour to report as follows :— The questions submitted to us were the following :— I. Whether it is desirable in the public interest that the Foxton Harbour Board should be permitted to purchase from the Railway Department the Railway Wharf at Foxton, and, if so, on what basis the purchase-money should be ascertained, and what should be the terms and conditions of such purchase 11. Whether it is desirable in the public interest that the Sandon Tramway should be purchased by the Government and be connected with the Main Trunk Railway at Marton or Greatford as part of the railway system of the Dominion. 111. Whether, in the alternative, it is desirable in the public interest that the County Council having the control of the Sandon Tramway should be permitted to connect that tramway with the Main Trunk Railway at Marton or Greatford. IV. Whether it is desirable in the public interest that a new line of railway should be constructed by the Government from Levin or some other suitable point on the Main Trunk Railway to Foxton. The following additional question is submitted fro us by the Supplementary Commission :— V. Whether it is necessary or desirable in the public interest that a new line of railway should be constructed by the Government from Marton to Levin.