1.—9

Wednesday, 14th July, 1886. The Committee sat at 10 o'clock. Present: Mr. Mitchelson (Chairman), Mr. Gore, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. O'Conoiv Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Mr. Walker, Mr. Whyte. The minutes of previous meeting were road and confirmed. Mr. Conyers was further examined. Mr. T. D. Edmunds was examined. The Committee adjourned until 10.30 o'clock next day.

Thursday, 15th July, 1886. The Committee sat at 10.30 o'clock. Present: Mr. Mitchelson (Chairman), Mr. Hatch, Mr. Macandrew, Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Mr.. Walker, Mr. Whyte. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Edmunds was further examined. Mr. E. W. Moody was examined. The Committee adjourned until Tuesday, the 20th instant, at 10.30 o'clock, to receive Mr.. Vaile's final remarks.

Tuesday, 20th July, 1886. The Committee sat at 10.30 o'clock. Present: Mr. Mitchelson (Chairman), Mr. Hatch, Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Mr. Walker, Mr.. Whyte. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Seven petitions, to the same purport as those previously sent in, were received from the Petitions Classification Committee, and taken as read. Mr. Vaile attended, and read his final remarks on the evidence given before the Committee. The Committee adjourned sine die, pending the printing of evidence, and the receipt of the return of passenger-traffic, which had been ordered from the Eailway Department.

Thursday, 22nd July, 1886. The Committee sat at 10 o'clock. Present: Mr. Mitchelson (Chairman), Mr. Gore, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. O'Conor, Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Mr. Walker, Mr. Whyte. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Maxwell real a statement reviewing the whole of the evidence, and also produced the return of passenger traffic ordered by the Committee. On the motion of the Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Resolved, That Mr. Thomas, Accountant to the Public W T orks Department, be summoned to give evidence as to the question of the interest on the total cost of New Zealand railways, which had been raised by Mr. Vaile on several occasions. The Committee adjourned until 10.30 o'clock next day.

Tuesday, 23rd July, 1886. The Committee sat at 10.30 o'clock. Present : Mr. Mitchelson (Chairman), Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Gore, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Macandrew, Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Mr. Walker, Mr. Whyte. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. - Mr. W. A. Thomas, Accountant, Public Works Department, attended and was examined. Mr. Vaile read a statement commenting on the return of passenger-traffic. Four petitions similar to those already sent in were received from the Petitions Classification Committee, and taken as real. Mr. Whyte moved, That the portions of the passenger-traffic return showing the results under Mr. Vaile's fares be recalculated on the basis of an equal number of first- and second-class fares, and also on the basis of two first- to one second-class fare. Seconded by Hon. Major Atkinson. —Carried. The Committee adjourned sine die.

Wednesday, 28th July, 1886. The Committee sat at 10.30 o'clock. Present: Mr. Mitchelson (Chairman), Mr. Gore, Mr. Hatch, Mr. O'Conor, Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Mr. Walker, Mr. Whyte. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from Mr. Maxwell asking for instructions with regard to the recomputation of the passenger-traffic return. Mr. Maxwell was instructed to continue the preparation of the return as ordered by the Committee at the previous' sitting. It was also decided that his letter be printed in the evidence. The Committee adjourned sine die.

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