1.-.7 A.

discussion, it was resolved to ask Mr. Wilson to supply tho following, viz.: Total cost from Brunner to Reefton, total cost from Stillwater to Lake Brunner, total amount paid to each contractor, and aggregate amount paid to contractors, with the length of the section, cost of material, compensation for land, supervision, and any other items which make up the total cost of £8,000 per mile or thereabouts. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. J. Mills, That a representative from the Midland Railway Company and one from the Public Works Department be asked to go through the correspondence relating to the "mining reserves" and "the regulations as to the land grant," and decide between them what portion of the correspondence they desire the Committee to have printed; and that the correspondence relating to the Incline and Brunner Deviation be not printed at present. The Clerk was directed to urge that the printing be proceeded with as quickly as possible. The above resolutions were communicated to Mr. Wilson and Mr. Blow by the Clerk. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow at 11 o'clock.

Thursday, 25th August, 1892. Present; Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. J. Mills, Dr. Newman, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Shera, Mr. Tanner. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Messrs. Wilson, Lord, Dalston, Young, Scott, Blow, Gordon (Inspecting Engineer, Mines Department), and the Hon. Mr. Seddon were present. Mr. Edward Iveagh Lord, called by Mr. Wilson, made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow at 11 o'clock.

Friday, 26th August, 1892. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. J. Mills, Dr. Newman, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Tanner. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Messrs. Bell, Wilson, Young, Scott, Dalston, Lord, Gordon, and Blow were present. Mr. Henry William Young (Assistant Engineer, Midland Bailway), made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Resolved, That, as the Hon. Mr. Seddon was not present, Mr. Gordon should be allowed to cross-examine Mr. Young on behalf of the Public Works Department. The Committee then adjourned until Monday next at 11 o'clock.

Monday, 29th August, 1892. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Dr. Newman, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Shera, Mr. Tanner. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Messrs. Gordon, Blow, Wilson, Scott, Dalston, Lord, Young, Bell, Hon. Mr. Seddon, and Mr. John Gow (Inspector of Mines) were present. Mr. H. A. Gordon made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow at 11 o'clock.

Tuesday, 30th August, 1892. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Mr. J. Mills, Dr. Newman, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Shera, Mr. Tanner. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. The Hon. Mr. Seddon and Messrs. Wilson, Gordon, Scott, Dalston, Young, Lord, Bell, Blow, and Gow attended the Committee. Dr. Newman brought up under the notice of the Committee a paragraph in the morning's New Zealand Times, referring to the evidence taken before the Committee at yesterday's meeting. The Chairman notified to the gentlemen present that the whole of the proceedings of the Committee were confidential, and no part of them were to be made public. Mr. Gordon made a further statement, which was taken down by the reporter. The correspondence relating to the selection of land under clause 33 of the Midland Bailway Contract, as selected from the file by a representative of the Bailway Company and one from the Public Works Department, was handed into the Committee. Mr. Wilson also handed in balancesheet of the Midland Bailway Company ending the 30th June, 1891, and also one ending the 30th June, 1892 ; and also statements showing the amount paid to contractors on the various contracts, compensation paid, surveys, cost of material, length of each contract, &c, to the 30th June, 1892, as requested by the Committee. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. J. Mills, That the above correspondence, balance-sheet, and return be printed. . .' The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow at ] 1 o'clock.

Wednesday, 31st August, 1892. Present: Mr. Shera (Chairman), Mr. G. Hutchison. Mr. J. Mills, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Tanner. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. The Chairman (Mr. Guinness) being unavoidably absent for a few days, Resolved, pn the motion of Mr. Mills, That Mr. Shera be appointed Chairman during the absence of, Mr. Guinness.

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