1.—9.

Friday, 30th July, 1886. The Committee sat at 10.30 o'clock. Present: Mr. Mitchelson (Chairman), Mr. Hatch, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Ormond, Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Mr. Whyte. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A petition was received from the Petitions Classification Committee to the same purport as those already sent in, and was taken as read. Letters were read from Messrs. Maxwell and Vaile, which it was decided should be added to the printed evidence. A summary of the passenger-traffic return, as re-calculated, was received from the Eailway Department, and ordered to be printed. The Committee adjourned until the printing of the evidence should be completed.

Wednesday, 4th August, 1886. The Committee sat at 11 o'clock. Present: Mr. Mitchelson (Chairman), Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Gore, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. O'Conor, Mr. Ormond, Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Me. Walker, Mr. Whyte. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A petition, similar to those already sent in, was received from the Petitions Classification Committee, and taken as read. Drafts of proposed resolutions for a report were submitted by several members of the Committee. After some discussion, it was agreed, on the motion of Mr. O'Conor, to have all such resolutions put in print for the better consideration of the Committee. The Committee adjourned until Friday, the 6th instant.

Friday, 6th August, 1886. The Committee sat at 11 o'clock. Present: Mr. Mitchelson (Chairman), Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Gore, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. O'Conor, Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Mr. Walker, Mr. Whyte. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Resolved, That the Chairman and the Hon. Mr. Eichardson should be a Sub-committee to draft a report. The Committee adjourned until 10.30 o'clock on Monday, the 9th instant.

Monday, 9th August, 1886. The Committee sat at 10.30 o'clock. Present: Mr. Mitchelson (Chairman), Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Gore, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. O'Conor, Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Mr. Walker, Mr. Whyte. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A draft report was submitted, and the following paragraphs were carried, the voting being as follows:— Ayes : Mr. Hatch, Mr. O'Conor, Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Mr. Whyte. Noes : Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Gore, Mr. Macandrew. The Select Committee appointed to inquire into and report upon the system of railway fares and charges as proposed by Mr. Samuel Vaile, of xVuckland, have carefully inquired into the same, and have agreed to the following report:— Your Committee had a great deal of evidence laid before it regarding the practicability or otherwise, and the probable financial results, of Mr, Vaile's scheme, and, on the whole, the evidence derived from experience and ascertainable facts was unfavourable to it; on the other hand, the evidence given in its favour seemed to depend largely, if not entirely, on individual and speculative estimates of the probable increases of traffic, in certain proportions, over the various distances, and in the different classes. In the opinion of the Committee the evidence failed to sustain Mr. Vaile's contention on the following points:— On the motion of the Hon. Major Atkinson, it was agreed to adjourn until next day, in order to give members further time to consider the report as drafted. The Hon. Major Atkinson gave notice that at the next sitting he would move that the paragraphs passed be reconsidered. The Committee adjourned until next day at 11 o'clock.

Wednesday, 11th August, 1886. The Committee sat at 10.30 o'clock. Present: Mr. Mitchelson (Chairman), Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Gore, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. O'Conor, Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Mr. Walker, Mr. Whyte. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A draft report was submitted. The first two paragraphs were passed, with verbal alterations. Paragraph 3 : A division was taken as to whether this paragraph should be retained. Ayes : Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Gore, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Walker, Mr. Whyte.

VI