3

1.—6

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. Wednesday, sth September, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to notice at 11 o'clock. Present : Mr. Ballance, Mr. Hamlin, Mr. J. E. Brown, Mr. Harper, Mr. Bunny, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Sharp. Sir Eobert Douglas, Orders of reference, dated 20th and 25th July, 9th, 14th, lGth, and 30th August, read. Resolved, on motion of Mr. Eolleston, That Mr. Curtis be appointed Chairman. Memorandum for the Chairman, dated 4th September, read. The Committee then adjourned until Thursday, 6th September, at 11 o'clock. Thursday, 6th September, 1877. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 11 o'clock. Present: Mr. Ballance, Mr. Beetham, Mr. J. E. Brown, Mr. Bunny, Mr. Hamlin, Mr. Harper, Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Lusk, Hon. D. Eeid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Thomson. Mr. Curtis in the Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Resolved, on the motion of Hon. D. Eeid, That the Bill intituled " The Land Act, 1877," be considered. Clauses 1 to 7 read and agreed to. Clause 8 postponed. Clauses 9 to 24 read and agreed to. Clause 25, sub-sections 1 and 2 read and agreed to. Sub-section 3 read. Amendment proposed, To omit sub-section 3 —(Hon. D. Eeid). Amendment agreed to. Sub-sections 4 to 8 read and agreed to. Sub-section 9 read. Amendment proposed, That all words after the word "hours" in line 7be struck out —(Mr. J. E. Brown). Amendment agreed to. Sub-section 10, read. Amendment proposed, In line 7 omit all words after the word " times " — (Mr. J. E. Brown). And the question being put, That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the clause, The Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes S. Noes, 3. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Brown, Mr. Beetham, Mr. Bunny, Mr. Harper, Mr. Hamlin. Mr. Lumsden, Mr. Lusk, Mr. Eeid, Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Thomson. So it passed in the affirmative. Sub-section 10 agreed to. Sub-sections 11 to 15 read and agreed to. Clause 25 as amended agreed to. Clauses 26 to 37 read and agreed to. Clause 38 read. Amendment proposed, To omit the words " subject to the approval of theGovernor " —(Mr. Bunny). Amendment negatived. Another amendment proposed, To omit the proviso—(Mr. J. E. Brown). Amendment negatived.