1.—7

2

and consequent influence of Mr. Steward as a member of Parliament in dealing with the Government for the sale of the company's debentures, and that the payment of commission was apparently a secondary consideration to that of securing his services in the conduct of the negotiation for sale. 4. That your Committee are of opinion that, while Mr. Steward has avoided any technical breach of the Disqualification Act, they unanimously regard the transactions referred to as calculated seriously to reflect upon and impugn the integrity of any member of Parliament engaged therein, and to give rise, as has been the case in this instance, to public scandal. 5. That it may fairly be assumed that, had the Government dealt directly with the companies, the amount of the commission might have been saved to the colony. 6. That it is greatly to be regretted that neither Mr. Steward nor Sir Julius Vogel, as appears by their respective evidence, recognizes any impropriety in a member of Parliament acting as a paid agent in making a sale to the Government. James W. Thomson, 9th July, 1886. Chairman.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Pbiday, 4th June, 1886. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Barron, Mr. Bruce, Mr. Cadman, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Pulton, Mr. Garrick, Mr. McMillan, Mr. Pearson, Mr. J. W. Thomson. The order of reference was read. On the motion of Mr. Barron, Resolved, That Mr. J. W. Thomson be appointed Chairman. On the motion of Mr. Pulton, Resolved, That Mr. W. J. Steward, M.H.R., be requested to attend the meeting of this Committee on Wednesday next, the 9th instant, at 10.30 a.m. On the motion of Mr. Pulton, Resolved, That the Committee be adjourned till Wednesday, the 9th instant, at 10.30 a.m.

Wednesday, 9th June, 1886. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. J. W. Thomson (Chairman), Mr. Barron, Mr. Bruce, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Pearson. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman read a telegram from Mr. W. J. Steward, M.H.R., relative to his attendance before this Committee to give evidence. On the motion of Mr. Fulton, Resolved, That the Committee do now adjourn.

Friday, 11th June, 1886. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. J. W. Thomson (Chairman), Mr. Barron, Mr. Bruce, Mr. Cadman, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Garrick, Mr. McMillan, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Pearson. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. W. J. Steward, M.H.R., attended the Committee. The Chairman read the order of reference to Mr. W. J. Steward and informed him of certain statements which had been made referring to him. Mr. W. J. Steward then gave evidence before the Committee, and produced and read certain papers. On the motion of Mr. Pulton, Resolved, That a certain letter produced by Mr. W. J. Steward should be left with the Chairman, for him to decide as to whether it should be a record of tho Committee. Mr. W. J. Steward then retired, and the Committee deliberated. On the motion of Mr. Fulton, Resolved, That the fixing of the date for the next meeting of the Committee should be left in the hands of the Chairman, and also that he should arrange as to when the Hon. Sir J. Vogel, M.H.R., and Mr. J. C. Buokland, M.H.R., should be requested to attend before the Committee to give evidence. The Committee then adjourned.

Saturday, 12th June, 1886. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. J. W. Thomson (Chairman), Mr. Barron, Mr. Bruce, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Garrick, Mr. McMillan, Mr. Pearson. Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman explained to the Committee the nature of the letter left in his hands at last meeting, and then read it. It was suggested by Mr. Garrick that the Chairman should confer with Mr. W. J. Steward, M.H.R., as to leaving with the Committee a copy of the letter with certain eliminations. A certain part of Mr. W. J. Steward's evidence of yesterday, 11th instant, was read, with reference to his meeting with chairman of Duntroon and Hakateramea Railway. Sir J. Vogel, M.H.R., attended the Committee to give evidence. Mr. W. J. Steward, M.H.R., attended the Committee. Sir J. Vogel, M.H.R., having been asked by the Chairman to give the Committee any information he possessed with regard to tho purchase by the Government of district-railway debentures, Sir J. Vogel produced and read certain documents, and gave evidence. Sir J. Vogel, having been thanked for his evidence, then retired. Mr. W. J. Steward, M.H.R., then gave certain further evidence. On the motion of Mr. Barron, Resolved, That the Chairman communicate with tho Liquidator of the Duntroon and Hakateramea Railway Company, requesting him to forward any correspondence between himself and Mr. Steward with reference to debentures of the company. The Committee then adjourned.

Thursday, 17th June, 1886. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. J. W. Thomson (Chairman), Mr. Barron, Mr. Bruce, Mr. Cadman, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Garrick, Mr. McMillan, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Pearson. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman laid before the Committee a copy of a letter from Mr. Prank Slee to Mr. W. J. Steward, M.H.R., from which certain eliminations had been made. ■Mr. J. C. Buckland, M.H.R., attended the Committee to give evidence. The Chairman read order of reference to Mr. J. C. Buckland, and stated to him the reason of his being requested to attend tho Committee.