C—B,

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by which time the committee trust that Mr-. O'Conor will conform to the request made for the papers referred to." Amendment agreed to, and ordered to be inserted in the minutes as a resolution. Messrs. Macarthy, Gale, and Allen (directors), and Mr. O'Conor met the committee at 2.30 p.m-> when the foregoing resolution was communicated to them. The committee adjourned till 10 a.m. next day accordingly. ~;,,. .. ,■■;-..! .... . ■;-,,; , '■; ',i i lii ?£• i ;■ ,ud Qi

Sixth day, Tuesday, 22nd November, 1892. The committee met at 10 a.m. Present: The full committee. The minutes of previous meetings were read and confirmed. •■•,.■■" The shorthand-writer presented a written answer to a question in reference to the completeness or otherwise of the report furnished of Mr. O'Conor's statements before the committee. The gentlemen interested in the inquiry were then invited into the committee-room,, when there were present Messrs. Macarthy, Allen, Gale, and Barton (directors). The chairman of the committee made a statement, and a discussion ensued, which was taken down by the shorthandwriter. The directors then withdrew. Mr. Miles proposed, " That, as Mr. O'Conor has not acceded to the request of the committee calling upon him to return to the committee at least one of the copies of the extracts from the records and books of the company which were prepared by clerks appointed by the committee, and were taken from the office by Mr. O'Conor without the sanction or consent of the committee, and as the absence of the information contained in said extracts is delaying the investigation into the charges brought by Mr. O'Conor against the directors of the company, this meeting stands adjourned until Thursday, 24th instant, 10.30 a.m., by which date the committee hope Mr. O'Conor will return the document or documents wrongfully obtained by him, failing which the Committee will place upon the record of these proceedings that Mr. O'Conor, having made serious charges against the directors, has declined to furnish this committee with the aforesaid extracts from the records and books of the company which he (Mr. O'Conor) has asserted contained his evidence in support of the charges made by him, and which in his letter to the committee dated 19th instant he undertook to produce." Mr. Greenland moved, as an amendment, "That the committee do now make inquiries into Mr. O'Conor's statement as to the falsifying of the company's balance-sheet of 1890." The committee divided on the amendment: For, Mr. Greenland ; against, Mr. Miles and Mr. Macdonald. Motion agreed to, Mr. Greenland dissenting. The secretary was instructed to forward a copy of the foregoing resolution to Mr O'Conor without delay. The committee then adjourned until Thursday next, at 10.30 a.m.

Seventh Day, Thursday, 24th November, 1892. The committee met at 10 a.m. Present: Mr. Macdonald and Mr. Miles. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Secretary stated that, according to instructions received at the previous meeting, he had forwarded to Mr. O'Conor a copy of the resolution adopted by the committee calling upon him to return certain copies of documents, &c. Mr. Miles reported that he had received a letter from Mr. Greenland stating that the committee had no authority to act without his presence, that he had been summoned to Westport, and requesting that the committee should adjourn until his return to Wellington. Besolved, "That a telegram.be forwarded to Mr. Greenland requesting him to advise this morning definitely when he can return." Besolved, " That it be placed upon the records of these proceedings that Mr. O'Conor, having made serious charges against the directors of the company, has failed to furnish this committee with the extracts from the records and books of the company which were prepared by clerks appointed by this committee, and were taken from the office by Mr. O'Conor without the sanction or consent of the committee, and which in his letter to the committee, dated 19th instant Mr. O'Conor undertook to produce." Messrs. Macarthy, Gale, Barton, and J. E. Blair attended, when the chairman of the. committee made a statement, and a discussion ensued, which was taken down by the shorthand-writer. The shorthand-writer's report of Mr. O'Conor's certified statement was handed to Mr. Macarthy at 11 a.m. The inquiry was then adjourned until 10 a.m next day, and the committee agreed to meet at 4 o'clock the same afternoon (Thursday), with a view of giving time for receipt of an answer from Mr. Greenland. ; , • Afternoon Sitting. The committee met at 4 p.m. Present: Mr. Macdonald and Mr. Miles. The Secretary reported that he had received no answer to the telegram despatched to Mr. Greenland. Mr. Macdonald and Mr. Miles also reported that they had received no reply. The committee resolved to obtain the opinion of Mr. Brandon, the company's solicitor, as to whether they were justified in proceeding with the inquiry in the absence of Mr. Greenland, and with a view of obtaining that opinion waited upon Mr. Brandon at his office. Mr. Brandon advised that, as Mr. Greenland had left of his own accord, the remaining members of the Committee were not only justified in proceeding to complete the inquiry, but they were bound in justice to the share*