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1882. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE BROGDEN CLAIMS.

Brought up 25th August, 1882, and ordered to be printed*

ORDERS OP REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the Souse of Mepresentativesi Fbiday, the 23rd day op June, ISB2. Ordered, "That a Select Committee be appointed, to consist of five members, to consider and report upon the propriety of giving the consent of the Government to a reference of the Brogden claims under the provisions of 'The Government Contractors Arbitration Act, 1872.' Tho Committee to consist of Sir J. Hall, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Montgomery, and the mover. The Committee to have power to call for persons and papers, and also to sit with any Committee which may be appointed by the Legislative Council for a similar purpose, and to report within one month."—■ (Son. Mr. W. W. Johnston.) Thursday, the 20th Day op July, 1882. Ordered, " That the Brogden Claims Committee have leave to postpone the bringing up of their report for a fortnight."— (Mr. Fulton.) Wednesday, the 2nd Day of August, 1882. Ordered, " That the Brogden Claims Committee have leave to postpone the bringing up of their report for a fortJ night."— (Mr Fulton.) Tuesday, the 15th Day op August, 1882. Ordered, "That the Brog'den Claims Committee have leave to postpone their report for a week."— (Mr. Fulton.) Extracts from the Journals of the Legislative Council. Tuesday, the 27th Day op June, 1882. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, to consist of five members, to consider and report upon the propriety of giving the consent of the Government to a reference of the Brogden claims under the provisions of ' The Government Contractors Arbitration Act, 1872.' The Committee to have power to call for persons and papers, and also to sit with any Committee which may be appointed by the House of Representatives for a similar purpose, and to report Vithin one month. Three honorable members required that the Committee should be appointed by ballot. The Committee having been thereupon balloted for, the Hon. the Speaker announced that the Hon. Dr. Pollen, the Hon. Mr. McLean, the Hon. Mr. Stevens, the Hon. Mr. Miller, together with the mover, would constitute the said Committee."— (Son. Mr. Oliver.) Wednesday, the 26th Day op July, 1882. Ordered, " That the time for bringing up the report of the Brogden Claims Reference Committee be extended for three weeks."— (Son. Mr. Stevens). Tuesday, the 15th Day of August, 1882. Ordered, " That the time for bringing up the report of the Select Committee upon the Brogden Claims Reference be extended for one week."— (Son. Mr. Stevens.)

REPORT. The Joint Committee to which was referred the question of the propriety of giving the consent of the Government to a reference of the Brogden claims under the provisions of " The Government Contractors Arbitration Act, 1872," have the honor to report as follows :— That the Committee find that the contracts affected by this inquiry were nine in number, and that the first six of them, amounting to £560,446, were signed on the 10th August, 1872, six days before the Government Contractors Arbitration Act was introduced into Parliament.