I.—sa

4

Tuesday, 19th August, 1890. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Pulton (Chairman), Mr. Cowan, Mr. Kerr, Mr. McKenzie, Mr. Bhodes, Hon. Mr. Bichardson, Mr. Smith, Mr. Thompson. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. On motion of Mr. McKenzie, Besolved, That the Chairman request Mr. Brown, M.H.8., to select two or three witnesses from the list of names supplied to the Chairman by that gentleman in his letter of the 14th August last, and that those witnesses be summoned before the Committee to give evidence on the subject of dummyism. Messrs. J. D. Climie, surveyor, and Mr. W. W. Bodmin were examined before the Committee, and their evidence taken down. The Committee then adjourned.

Feiday, 22nd August, 1890. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Fulton (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Kerr, Mr. McKenzie, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Smith, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Whyte. The Committee then took up the consideration of dummyism. The Chairman suggested that the Committee should make an interim report. Mr. Ormond moved, That the interim report of the Committee should be as follows: That, in the opinion of the Committee, the present provisions of the Land Act have led to evasions, and that therefore some amendments are urgently required. Mr. McKenzie moved, as an amendment (No. 1), That the following sentence be embodied in the report: That the amendments made by the present Minister of Lands in the Land Act have led to evasions, and the Act now requires to be re-amended. The Committee divided upon the amendment, and their names were taken down, with the following result: — Aye, 1. —Mr. McKenzie. Noes, 7. —Hon. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Kerr, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Smith, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Whyte. The amendment was negatived. Mr. Smith moved, as an amendment (No. 2), That the following words be inserted in the report after the word " evasions: " " and false declarations." The Committee divided upon the amendment, and their names were taken down as follows: — Ayes, 4. —Mr. Kerr, Mr. McKenzie, Mr. Smith, Mr. Thompson. Noes, 4.—Hon. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Whyte. The voting being equal, the Chairman gave his casting-vote against the amendment. The amendment was negatived. The original motion was then put to the Committee, and agreed to on the voices. Besolved, That the report, as drafted, be presented to the House this day. The Committee then adjourned.

Tuesday, 26th August, 1890. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Fulton (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Kerr, Mr. McKenzie, Mr. Ormond, Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Smith, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Whyte. The Committee took up the consideration of dummyism. Two witnesses —Messrs. Low and Gilliand—being in attendance for examination, Mr. Cowan moved, That the witness Gilliand be examined, but that his evidence be not taken down. Mr. McKenzie moved, as an amendment, That Mr. Gilliand be examined, and his evidence taken down, and that after hearing it the Committee should decide whether they would have it printed. The Hon. Mr. Eichardson moved, That, in the event of Mr. Gilliand's evidence being taken down, the members of the Committee should be specially notified of the day on which the Committee will meet to decide whether the evidence of that witness shall be printed or not. The latter motion being agreed to, the previous motion and the amendment thereto were withdrawn by their respective movers. Messrs. Eobert Low and John Gilliand then gave evidence on oath before the Committee, which was taken down. The Committee then adjourned to the following day for the further examination of Mr. Gilliand.

Wednesday, 27th August, 1890. , The Committee met pursuant to notice.' Present: Mr. Fulton (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Kerr, Mr. McKenzie, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Eeeves, Hon. Mr. Eichardson, Mr. Smith, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Whyte. The Committee took up consideration of the subject of dummyism. Mr. Cowan moved, That the Committee do not proceed further with the evidence of the witness, Mr. John Gilliand, on the ground that, on the previous day, when witness was giving evidence before the Committee, he admitted he had giyen false evidence before the Otago Land Board on the same subject.