H.—6

1890. NEW ZEALAND.

KAIHU VALLEY RAILWAY. REPORT OF COMMISSION APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE KAIHU VALLEY RAILWAY COMPANY (LIMITED).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Commission. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to James McKerrow, of Wellington, in the Colony of New Zealand, Esquire, Chief Commissioner of Railways; Douglas Hastings Macarthcr, of Feilding, in the said colony, Esquire, M.H.R.; and Richard Monk, of Helensville, in the said colony, Esquire, M.H.R; greeting : Whereas on or about the sixteenth day of September last the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives of the Colony of New Zealand, to whom had been referred certain matters in connection with the Kaihu Valley Railway Company (Limited) and the Government of the said colony, reported to the said House, among other things, that a full investigation should be made into the facts by a Royal Commission, which should visit the locality and recommend the steps that in the interests of the colony it might be expedient to adopt: And whereas a copy of the said report and of the minutes of the evidence on which the same was founded is hereto annexed [see Parliamentary Paper 1.-8 a of 1889], and, in accordance with the recommendation contained in such report, it is expedient that a Commission should be appointed for the several purposes therein and hereinafter mentioned and set forth : Now, therefore, I, William Hillicr, Earl of Onslow, the Governor of the Colony of New. Zealand, in pursuance and exercise of every power and authority enabling me in this behalf, and having confidence in your knowledge, ability, and integrity, do hereby, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said colony, appoint you, the said James McKerrow, Douglas Hastings Macarthur, and Richard Monk, to be Commissioners, by all lawful ways and means to inquire into the several matters and things mentioned or referred to in the said report of the said Committee of the House of Representatives, or in the minutes of evidence accompanying the same, or which relate to the several dealings and transactions between the Government of the Colony of New Zealand and the said Kaihu Valley Railway Company (Limited) therein mentioned or referred to, and into all the facts and circumstances connected with or incidental or relating to the security entered into or given by the said company to the said Government, and into all matters and things touching and concerning the same respectively. And (subject, however, to the express terms hereof) I do authorise and empower you, or any two of you, to make and conduct such inquiry under these presents at such place or places within the Provincial District of Auckland, in the said colony, as you may deem expedient, and to call before you and examine on oath or otherwise as may be allowed by law, at any place where such inquiry may be held, such person or persons as you may think capable of affording you information in the premises ; and I direct that all such evidence shall be fully and fairly taken down and transcribed in writing, and shall be signed by the person or persons giving such evidence. And I also hereby empower you to call for and examine all such books, documents, papers, maps, plans, accounts, or records as you shall judge likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject of this Commission, and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever. And I also direct that you, or any two of you, shall visit the locality of the said railway, and of the endowment of land held by the said company in connection therewith, for the purpose of obtaining information in relation to this inquiry. And. I declare that this Commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that you, the said Commissioners, or any two of you, may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof, although the inquiry be I—H. 6.