I.—lo

III

Wednesday, 30th June, 1886. Present: Mr. O'Conor (Chairman), Mr. Barron, Mr. Brown, Mr. Dargaville, Mr. T. Thompson. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Mr. George Didsbury, Government Printer, attended, and was examined. A memorandum by the Hon. Sir E. Stout, referring to the cost of printing evidence and returns by order of Select Committees, was read by the Chairman. The clerk was directed to summon the Chief Beporter, the Clerk of the Legislative Council, and the Chief Messenger of the Legislative Council, to give evidence at the next meeting. The Committee then adjourned until Thursday, the Ist July, at 10.30 a.m.

Thubsday, Ist July, 1886. Present: Mr. O'Conor (Chairman), Mr. Barron, Mr. Dargaville, Mr. Garrick, Mr. T. ThompsonMinutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. The Hon. Mr. Beynoids, being present, took exception to certain portions of his evidence before the Committee, as taken down by the reporter, and he having corrected the same, it was received by the Committee as amended. Mr. A. T. Bothamley, Acting-Clerk of the Legislative Council, attended, and was examined. Mr. C. C. N. Barron, Chief Beporter of the Hansard staff, attended and was examined. The clerk was directed to summon the Assistant Librarian and the Custodian, to give evidence at the next meeting. The Committee then adjourned until Friday, the 2nd July, at 11 a.m.

Feiday, 2nd July, 1886. Present: Mr. O'Conor (Chairman), Mr. Barron, Mr. Dargaville, Mr. Garrick. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Mr. D. T. Smith, Assistant Librarian, attended, and was examined. Mr. W. Letham, Custodian of the Parliament Buildings, attended, and was examined. The clerk was directed to summon the Clerk of Parliaments, Captain Home, and the Chief Messenger of the House of Bepresentatives, requesting their attendance at the next meeting. The Committee then adjourned until Monday, the sth July, at 11 o'clock a.m.

Monday, sth July, 1886. Present: Mr. O'Conor (Chairman), Mr. Barron, Mr. Dargaville, Mr. Garrick. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Mr. F. B. Campbell, Clerk of Parliaments, attended, and was examined. The Chairman then read an extract from a letter from Sir Erskine May, referring to legislative expenditure in the Imperial Parliament. Captain C. G. Home, Sergeant-at-Arms, attended, and was examined. On motion of Mr. Dargaville, Resolved, That the evidence taken, and returns, &c, laid before the Committee, be printed. The Committee then adjourned until Friday, the 16th July.

Feiday, 16th July, 1886. Present: Mr. O'Conor (Chairman), Mr. Brown, Mr. Garrick, Mr. T. Thompson. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. The Chairman read extracts from a paper laid upon the table of the House showing deductionsof honorarium of members of the General Assembly for non-attendance. The clerk was directed to summon the Clerk of Parliaments, the Acting-Clerk of the Legislative Council, Mr. Butherfurd (Becord Clerk), and the Chief Messenger of the House of Bepresentatives, to attend the Committee and give evidence on Monday, the 19th July, at 10 a.m. The Committee then adjourned till Monday, the 19th July, at 10 a.m.

Monday, 19th July, 1886. Present: Mr. O'Conor (Chairman), Hon. Major Atkinson, Mr. Barron, Mr. Dargaville, Mr. T. Thompson. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Mr. A. T. Bothamley, Acting-Clerk of the Legislative Council, attended, and was examined. Witness also produced account-books and papers. On the motion of Mr. T. Thompson, Resolved, That witness be requested to furnish further information regarding travelling expenses of members of the Legislative Council. Captain C. G. Home, Sergeant-at-Arms, attended, and was examined, and produced books and papers. Mr. F. E. Campbell, Clerk of Parliaments, attended, and was examined, and laid a memorandum referring to the -work of sessional clerks upon the table. Witness was requested to have a return prepared, showing travelling allowance given to members of the House of Bepresentatives during the Ninth Parliament. Mr. M. Cosgrave, Chief Messenger of the House of Bepresentatives, attended, and wasexamined, and produced books and papers. The Committee then adjourned until Tuesday, the 20fch July, at 11.30 a.m.