a—3

38

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Wednesday, Bth Octobek, 1890. The Commissioners arrived in Greymouth by coach, via the Christchurch and West Coast route, at 6 p.m.

Thuksday, 9th Octobek, 1890. The Commissioners, after conferring with Mr. Martin, District Engineer, and Mr. Stone, Traffic Manager, proceeded to Brunner by train, in company with Mr. Martin, and were shown over the works by Mr. Bishop, the mine-manager. An inspection of the mines was deferred to a future date. In the three local papers—namely, at Greymouth and Brunner—the following advertisement was directed to be inserted from Thursday, 9th October, until Monday, 13th : —" Grey Valley Coal Commission. —The Commissioners appointed by His Excellency the Governor to examine into the Greymouth coal-mining dispute, will hold their first sitting for taking evidence at 10 a.m. on Monday next, at the Greymouth Harbour Board Office. All persons who are desirous of tendering evidence, or who desire to make any representation to the Commissioners, should at once give notice of the same, addressed to the Secretary to the Commission at the above office..—By order of the Commissioners.—H. M. Gobe, Secretary."

Feiday, 10th Octobee, 1890. The Commissioners met in the Harbour Board Offices, Greymouth, at 10 a.m. Present: Messrs. William Brown, B. W. Moody, and Sir James Hector. Sir James Hector was elected Chairman of the Commission. The Commission was read by the Secretary. The day was spent arranging course of procedure, which was fully discussed and formally drawn up in the following form : — Clause I. —A: Extent of interruption. B: Causes of interruption—(a) Breakdown of mine; (b) harbour defects ; (c) storage (short); (d) short shipping ; (c) strikes. Clause 11. — Eemedies for interruption (better storage) —A, by Crown; B, by lessees; C, by miners. Clause 111. —Wages (possible) —A: Before March, 1890 — (a) Hewing and getting ; (b) regulations as to size of coal; (c) all other regulations and conditions affecting winning and obtaining by miners—viz., (1) miners' regulations, (2) engine-power, (3) plant and appliances, (4) miners' accommodation and rents, (5) hours and broken time, (6) store system, (7) general wages in district, (8) pillar-workings, (9) trucking and hauling, &c. (dead work), (10) dead work (prospecting and exploring), (11) number of men mining coal, coke, mining and working fireclay, dead work, exploring. B : Same after Bth March, 1890. Clause IV. —Cost—A : History of leases — (a) Bents and royalties ; (b) if at any time suspended or modified. B : Carriage, mine to port—(«) Previous to railway ; (b) by railway. C : Seacarriage—(a) Previous to present harbour-works ; (b) since construction of harbour-works; (c) to ports of New Zealand ; (cl) to ports in Australia. D: Prices obtained by lessees (various ports). E : Cost of lessee, head office administration —(1) In Dunedin, (2) local office, (3) mine-manage-ment. F: Coal, coke, and fireclay. G: Annual reports for some years —(1) Tonnage on which wages paid, (2) tonnage exported, (3) waste from slack. H : Probable total quantity accessible. I: Cost of appliances—(l) Prime cost, (2) transfer value, (3) present value. J : Interest on the market-value of the properties—(l) In past times, (2) for the future. Clause V. —Process of working—A, Brunner; B, Coal-pit Heath; C, Wallsend. A: (1) Present system of working, (2) possible improvements, (3) method of disposing of slack, (4) turning slack to better advantage, (5) sufficiency and safety of working-plant. B : Same. C : Same, and why stopped. D : General administration —(1) Present system of working, (2) possible improvements. Clause VI. —Miscellaneous —A : Prospective coal-mines.

Saturday, 11th Octobek, 1890. The Commissioners met at 10 a.m. Present : All the Commissioners. The minutes of the previous sittings were read and confirmed. Schedules were prepared of the points on which information will be required by the Commissioners from the following gentlemen : Messrs. Martin, District Engineer; Stone, Traffic Manager ; M. Kennedy, managing director, Grey Valley Coal Company; J. Bishop, mine-manager. Letters were directed to be sent to each of these gentlemen, enclosing this schedule of evidence required of them. « A letter was directed to be sent to Mr. S. Andrew, Secretary to the Miners' Association, Brunnerton, informing him that the Coram jsioners will be prepared to hear evidence in reference