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155.; Wales's account for survey and looking after repairs, £29 2s. 4d. ; Luckie's travelling expenses, £27 Is. 7d. 170. What was the amount of stamp duty?—£l77 10s. 171. Mr. Stewart?] How is it that all this business connected with the offer from McLandress and Hepburn, the letter from Sievwright to you, your acceptance, and claim for took place on one day ?—I was in Dunedin at the time, and I wanted to get back to Wellington as soon as possible. I had arranged to leave on Christmas-eve. 172. Were these communications put in the shape of letters merely to make a record carrying out a previous understanding between yourselves, or were they originated stage by stage ?—They Were made by individual communication. It was necessary to have a record. 173. When you heard of this claim from Mr. Pym you did not go to Mr. Stout, but you wrote to him?—l believe I went to him first, but did not find him. I wrote the letter to him in the insurance office. 174. How did Mr. Pym come on the scene so quickly? Were you all present?—We were not all present. I suppose he was looking after his own interests.

Fbiday, 18th June, 1886. Mr. D. M. Luckie in attendance and further examined. Witness handed in the following return of the annual rentals paid by the various tenants in Dunedin, showing the rents originally paid and those paid at the present time — 18th June, 1886 :—

Witness : There is also a memorandum to which I referred in reply to the Chairman, but did not read at the last meeting of the Committee. It relates to the Dunedin purchase. I addressed a memorandum to the Hon. the Premier on the 25th December, 1884, stating, " I called to inquire whether you have any instructions for me from Sir Julius Vogel respecting payment of Mr. Pym's commission." Mr. Stout's minute, in reply, is as follows : " Memorandum for D. M. Luckie, Esq.— I have had a telegram from the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, stating that the commission due the who acted for the Insurance Department must be paid by the vendors. This means practically reducing the price to about £35,000. I shall wire. I doubt if the vendors consent to this. —E Stout. Meantime I think you had better wait till matter finally arranged.—E. S 25/12/84." 175 The Chairman.] Will you now give us some information with regard to the Auckland property ?— The first information that I had about the Auckland property was a proposal from the Horn Mr. Tole, who was then acting for the Colonial Treasurer, as chairman of the meeting of the __)o__rci 176 What was the proposal ?—This resolution : " That it is desirable for the Board to acquire premises in Auckland, and that the Hon. Sir Julius Vogel and Messrs. Graham and Shannon be a committee to consider the question." 177. That was the first motion on the subject ?—Yes. At another meeting Mr. Fisher was also appointed on the sub-committee. 178. What proposal was then laid before the Board by Mr. Tole—was it m regard to any particular property ?—No. . ..-,,, ~ „ j 179. Was there any proposal from anybody for the sale of premises laid before the Board at this meeting?— This series of resolutions were agreed to: "By permission of the Board, the Hon. Mr Tole moved, without notice—(a.) That it is desirable for the Board to acquire premises in Auckland for the business of the Association. Carried, (b.) That the Hon. Sir Julius Vogel, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Shannon be appointed a committee to consider the question of purchasing a

Tenant. Original Eental. Present Eental. Bemarks. G. H. Glover and Co. R. Rutherford J. Seager Wise, Caffin, and Co. Henry Neill F. Cresswell J. White .. £ s. d. 312 0 0 120 0 0 312 0 0 400 0 0 39 0 0 15 0 0 16 5 0 £ s. a. 312 0 0 120 0 0 312 0 0 400 0 0 39 0 0 30 0 0 Only remained a short time. Taken Crcsswell's shop in addition to his own at £30 per annum for both. R. Brew A. Berger .. E. Sonness L. Court Lightband, Allan, and Co. .. J. and W. Gage H. Carriok J. Wells .. 15 0 0 96 0 0 15 0 0 Berger left. Sonness took the shop. Reduced from 30th September, 1885. Reduced from 1st February, 1880. 400 0 0 200 0 0 40 0 0 20 0 0 96 0 0 300 0 0 156 0 0 40 0 0 15 0 0 Carrick left. Wells took Carrick's shop from 15th December 1885. J. Stamper Morrison and Mitchell Use of right-of-way — Ross and McNeill P. Hayman and Co. Matheson Brothers J. Wilkie and Co. 20 0 0 20 0 0 102 0 0 Let 13th March, 1886. 20 0 0 5 0 0 12 10 0 12 10 0 From 1st December, 1885. a w Total 2,005 5 0 2,007 0 0