I.—7a,

Upon which Mr. Guinness moved, by way of amendment, to leave out all the words after the word " Auditor-General," with a view of inserting the following words : "be summoned to attend before the Committee to give evidence relating to the action taken by the Eeceivers of Gold Eevenue under his instructions in suing for rents in arrear by the lessees of special claims and licensed holdings under ' The Mining Act, 1891 '; also in relation to his action in surcharging several Eeceivers for not collecting such rents; also as to the differences of opinion that have arisen between the Auditor-General and the-Wardens in matters of administration." Upon the question being put, That the words proposed to be struck out stand part of the question, a division was called for, and the names were taken down as follow : — Ayes, 2.—Mr. Fraser, Mr. Montgomery. Noes, 7.—Mr. Graham, Mr. Guinness, Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, Mr. McNab, Et. Hon. B. J. Seddon, Mr. Tanner, Hon. J. G. Ward. So it passed in the negative. Words struck out accordingly. Resolved, That the words proposed to be inserted in lieu of those struck out be so inserted. Resolved, That the motion as amended be agreed to. Resolved, on the motion of the Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon, That, in respect to the subject-matter contained in the preceding resolution, the Hon. the Minister of Mines, the Under-Secretary for Mines, the Secretary to the Treasury, and Warden Stratford be summoned to attend before the Committee and give evidence. Mr. Montgomery moved and the question was proposed, That the Auditor-General be summoned to give evidence respecting the note made by him on the audit of the Post Office Accounts. Upon which the Hon. J. G. Ward moved, by way of amendment, to insert, after the words "that the Auditor-General," the following words: "the Secretary and Accountant of the Post Office, and the Secretary to the Treasury." Upon the question being put, That the words proposed to be inserted be so inserted, it was resolved in the affirmative. Words inserted accordingly. Resolved, That the motion as amended be agreed to. Resolved, on the motion of the Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon, That the Committee adjourn till Tuesday next.

Tuesday, 6th September, 1898. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present : Mr. Guinness (Chairman), Mr. Duthie, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. McLean, Mr. McNab, Mr. Montgomery, Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon, Mr. Tanner. In the absence of the Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, Mr. Guinness was elected Chairman, on the motion of the Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Controller and Auditor-General was then examined by the Committee with reference to the action taken by the Eeceivers of Gold Eevenue under his instructions in suing for rents in arrear by the lessees of special claims and licensed holdings under " The Mining Act, 1891," and in relation to his action in surcharging several Eeceivers for not collecting such rents, the evidence being taken down in shorthand by a reporter. The Hon. the Minister and the Under-Secretary for Mines and Warden Stratford were present. The Committee then adjourned, on the motion of the Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon, till to-morrow, at 10 a.m.

Saturday, 10th September, 1898. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Duthie, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Guinness, Mr. McLean, Mr. Montgomery, Captain Eussell, Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon. Resolved, on the motion of the Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon, That Mr. Guinness take the chair in the absence of the Hon. W. J. M. Larnach. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Resolved, on the motion of the Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon, That Warden Stratford be examined. Warden Stratford was accordingly examined by the Committee, his evidence being taken down in shorthand by a reporter. The Controller and Auditor-General, the Hon. the Minister and the TJnder-Secretary for Mines were present. The examination of the Controller and Auditor-General was then continued, the evidence being taken down in shorthand by a reporter. The Hon. the Minister and the Under-Secretary for Mines were present. Resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, That the Committee adjourn till Tuesday next, at 10.30 a.m.

Tuesday, 13th September, 1898. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. W. J. M. Larnach (Chairman), Mr. Duthie, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. McLean, Mr. Montgomery, Captain Eussell, Et. Hon. E. J. Seddon. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

ii