I.—7a.

Monday, 26th September, 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. Wilson, Scott, Bell, Dalston, Young, Taylor, Lord, Gordon, Snodgrass, Montgomerie, and the Hon. Mr. Seddon attended the Committee. Mr. John A. Montgomerie, District Surveyor at Beefton, made a statement which was taken down by the reporter. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow at 11 o'clock.

Tuesday, 27th September, 1892. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. J. Mills, Dr. Newman, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Shera, Mr. Tanner, Hon. Mr. Ward. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Messrs. Wilson, Scott, Dalston, Bell, Young, Lord, Taylor, Montgomerie, Snodgrass, Gordon, and the Hon. Mr. Seddon were present. Mr. John Snodgrass (District Surveyor, Westport) made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. H. A. Gordon read a statement, and the same was handed in. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow at 11 o'clock.

Wednesday, 28th September, 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, Scott, Dalston, Lord, Young, Taylor, Gordon, Blow, and the Hon. Mr. Seddon attended the Committee. Mr. James McKerrow, Chief Commissioner of Eailways, also attended the Committee. Mr. H. A. Gordon made a further statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Mr. McKerrow made a statement, which was taken down by the reporter. Resolved, on the motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, That, as recommended by the Hon. Mr. Seddon, the expenses of Messrs. Snodgrass and Montgomerie for attending as witnesses, viz., £30 10s. and £33 10s., be recommended for payment. The amount stated is at the rate of 15s. per day, they being Government officers. Resolved, on the motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, That the expenses of Mr. E. I. Lord for attending as a witness be paid according to the schedule rates up to the date of his completing his evidence, and allowing for his return to Greymouth, viz., £22 10s., be recommended for payment. Resolved, on the motion of the Hon. Sir J. Hall, That the memoradum of Mr. C. Y. O'Connor "on prospects of railway in the matter of coal carriage to all places within the Province of Canterbury, as compared with carriage by sea, dated 1887," be printed. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow at 11 o'clock.

Thursday, 29th September, 1892. Present: Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Hon. Sir John Hall, Mr. J. Mills, Dr. Newman, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Shera, Mr. Tanner, Hon. Mr. Ward. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. Messrs. Wilson, Scott, Bell, Dalston, Taylor, Young, Blow, Gordon, McKerrow, and the Hon. Mr. Seddon attended the Committee. Mr. McKerrow made a further statement, which was taken down by the reporter. During Mr. McKerrow's examination, and after the members of the Committee had crossed-examined Mr. McKerrow, Mr. Blow proceeded to cross-examine Mr. McKerrow as representing the Public Works Department. Mr. McKerrow raised the question as to Mr. Blow's right to do so as the Hon. Mr. Seddon was present. After discussion, the witnesses were asked to withdraw. The Committee then discussed the question, and it was resolved, on the motion of Dr. Newman, That, as the Hon. Mr. Seddon was not present during the whole of the examination in chief of Mr. McKerrow, that Mr. Blow be allowed to conduct the cross-examination of Mr. McKerrow. Mr. McKerrow was then asked to attend the Committee, and having done so, the Chairman explained that on a previous occasion during the examination of a witness, the Hon. Mr. Seddon being absent, Mr. Gordon was permitted to cross-examine a witness, and read the above resolution to Mr. McKerrow. Mr. McKerrow explained that he meant no discourtesy to the Committee, nor to Mr. Blow, and in order to expedite matters he would consent to his being examined by Mr. Blow, though he maintained he had been within his right in objecting. The other witnesses were then admitted, and the decision arrived at was announced by the Chairman, and Mr. McKerrow's cross-examination was proceeded with. The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow at 11 o'clock.

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