LXXIX

H.—2

Satueday, 23kd July, 1898. The Commission sat at 10 o'clock a.m. Present : Messrs. Wardell, Poynton, and Colonel Pitt. The Commission was engaged during the day and evening in the preparation of their report. At 11 o'clock p.m. the Commission adjourned until 10 o'clock a.m. on Monday next.

Monday, 25th July, 1898. The Commission sat at 10 o'clock a.m. Present : Messrs. Wardell, Poynton, and Colonel Pitt. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Commission were engaged during the whole of the day and evening in connection with the preparation of the report, and the draft having been completed was sent to the Government Printer to be put in type. At 1 o'clock a.m. on Tuesday morning the Commission adjourned until 10 o'clock a.m.

Tuesday, 26th July, 1898. The Commission sat at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Messrs. Wardell, Poynton, and Colonel Pitt. Minutes of the previous' meeting read and confirmed. The draft report was received from the Government Printer, and, after perusal, was agreed to by the Commission. Colonel Pitt, having to leave for Nelson, authorised the Chairman (Mr. Wardell) by writing under his hand to sign his (Colonel Pitt's) name and affix his seal to the report of the Commission before being sent to His Excellency the Governor. Complaint of George Spencer Fleming : —The Commission resolved that the expenses of the witnesses called by Mr. George Spencer Fleming, of Christchurch, in respect of the charges made by him against certain members of the Police Force during the sittings of the Commission at Christchurch, be paid out of the moneys deposited by him as security for the payment of their expenses, the said charges being held to be frivolous and vexatious. Acknowledgment : — Resolved, That the Commission desires to place on record its appreciation of the manner in which Mr. B. W. Kane, the Secretary to the Commission, has discharged his duties, and its recognition of the arduous duties performed by the reporting staff. Colonel Pitt and Mr. J. W. Poynton, Commissioners, desire to place on the minutes a record of their thanks to Mr. Wardell, Chairman of the Commission, for the uniform courtesy, patience, and kindness shown to them by him throughout the sittings of the Commission. At 4.30 p.m. the Commission adjourned until to-morrow at 10 o'clock a.m.

Wednesday, 27th July, 1898. The Commission sat at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Messrs. Wardell and Poynton. Minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed. The revise of the draft reports was received from Government Printer and corrected. At 4 o'clock p.m. the Commission adjourned until 10 o'clock a.m. to-morrow.

Thursday, 28th July, 1898. The Commission sat at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Messrs. Wardell and Poynton. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A fair copy of the report was received from the Government Printer and duly signed by the Commissioners", and was forwarded to the Eight Hon. the Premier for transmission to His Excellency the Governor. This concluded the proceedings of the Commission.

xii—H. 2.