3

I.—sa

Pbiday, 25th July, 1890. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Fulton (Chairman), Mr. Cowan, Mr. McKenzie, Mr. Rhodes, Hon. Mr. Richardson, Mr. Reeves, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Smith, Mr. Whyte. Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. Order of reference read, appointing Mr. W. P. Reeves a member of the Committee. The Committee then continued their inquiry respecting dummyism. Mr. Marchant, Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Wellington District, attended and gave evidence, which was taken down. Mr. Marchant handed in, for the information of the Committee, a copy of a report received from the Surveyor-General of Victoria on the subject of preventing dummyism at land sales. The Committee then adjourned.

Fkiday, Bth August, 1890. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Fulton (Chairman), Mr. Cowan, Mr. McKenzie, Mr. Reeves, Mr. Rhodes, Hon. Mr. Richardson, Mr. Smith, Mr. Thompson. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. The Committee then took up the consideration of dummyism. The Chairman read a report on dummyism from the Commissioner of Crown Lands for Napier. Mr. Brown, M.H.R., attended, and proposed to give evidence on dummyism before the Committee. Resolved, That the evidence of Mr. Brown be taken on Monday next, and that it be taken down by a shorthand-reporter. On motion of Mr. McKenzie, Resolved, That steps be taken to summon the necessary witnesses to give evidence before the Committee on dummyism. Resolved, That the Chairman obtain from Major Steward, M.H.R., Mr. Rhodes, M.H.R., Mr. Brown, M.H.R., and Mr. Smith, M.H.R., the names of witnesses who they consider can give evidence on dummyism. Resolved, That the Chairman telegraph to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Napier, asking him for names of witnesses who can give evidence on dummyism. A letter from Major Steward to the Chairman was read. The Committee then adjourned.

Monday, 11th August, 1890. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Fulton (Chairman), Mr. Cowan, Mr. Reeves, Mr. Rhodes, Hon. Mr. Richardson, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Smith, Mr. Thompson. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. The Committee resumed the inquiry relative to dummyism. Copy of telegram from the Chairman to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Napier, and his reply thereto, read. The Chairman informed the Committee that he had summoned Messrs. Kennedy and Weber, of Napier, to give evidence, and telegrams relative to their attendance were read. Mr. Brown, M.H.R., attended, and gave evidence, which was taken down. Mr. Thomas Brydone, Manager of the Australian and New Zealand Land Company, attended, and gave evidence as to dummyism. The evidence of this witness was also taken down. The Committee then adjourned.

Wednesday, 13th August, 1890. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Fulton (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Kerr, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Rhodes, Hon. Mr. Richardson, Mr. Smith, Mr. Thompson. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. The Committee took up the consideration of dummyism. Gustave Herman Weber, mercantile clerk, attended and gave evidence, which was taken down. Alexander F. Kennedy, accountant, Napier, attended and gave evidence, which was taken down. On motion of Mr. Smith, Resolved, That a report be obtained from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington, setting forth full particulars of the transfer of Section 77, Block XIV., Mangahao, from Miss M. V. E. McArdle to M. W. T. Shute, as granted by the Wellington Land Board on Thursday, the 31st July last; also what improvements have been effected upon Section 77, and what other transfers were refused by the Wellington Board on same day. The Committee then adjourned.