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Tuesday, 22nd November, 1892. The inquiry opened at 10 a.m. Present: The full committee, and Messrs. Macarthy, Allen, Gale, and Barton (directors). Mr. Macdonald: Gentlemen, we have met this morning in accordance with a resolution arrived at yesterday that the inquiry should stand adjourned until 10 a.m., with the view of giving Mr. O'Conor an opportunity of making up his mind whether he will supply to the committee the documents that he took away from the clerks appointed by the committee of inquiry after a clear understanding that those documents were to be handed to the committee. Mr. O'Conor does not appear to be present, therefore I presume we are as far forward with respect to the return of those documents as we were yesterday. It will now be for the committee to determine what course of action they will adopt. lam only sorry that we have had to trouble you in bringing you here this morning for apparently no reason, because, as Mr. O'Conor is not here in order to give us an answer, nothing can at present be done. The committee will hold a meeting after you have withdrawn, and decide as to their future course of action, and we shall communicate the decision to the chairman of directors. I do not think we need keep you any longer, as the chairman will be communicated with, and he will advise you as to our decision. Mr. Macarthy : I wish to put it to you that it is the desire of the directors that this inquiry should not cease in its present position. I do not attempt to lay down any course, but wish to express generally on the part of the directors that it is our desire that the proceedings should not terminate here. Mr. Macdonald : In other words, what you desire to put to us is this : that, notwithstanding Mr. O'Conor's default after carrying away the copies of the records and documents, this inquiry should proceed. Mr. Macarthy: Yes. You have expressed a determination to adjourn. I only express the desire that the proceedings should not terminate now. Mr. Miles: I think we must see that the proceedings do not terminate now. We have been engaged in altercation with Mr. O'Conor, who has so far defied us, and has not complied with our request for the papers to be returned which he wrongfully holds. Until that difficulty is out of the way we cannot go on with the inquiry. I shall move a motion in committee that I think will get over the difficulty. If not, I shall be prepared to suggest another course. lam sure we shall be able to get what we want in another way. Mr. Macdonald (to Mr. Macarthy).—l have to thank you for expressing the desire of the directors that the committee should go on with the business. The committee will sit for half an hour, and the secretary will inform you what decision the committee has come to. There is no need to keep you any longer. The directors here withdrew, and after deliberation the committee decided to adjourn the inquiry until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 24th November.

Thursday, 24th November, 1892. The committee met at 10.30 a.m. Present: Messrs. Macdonald and Miles; and in attendance, Messrs. Macarthy, Gale, Barton, and J. E. Blair (directors). Mr. Macdonald: On Tuesday we adjourned until 10.30 this morning, with the object of giving a further opportunity to Mr. O'Conor of returning to the committee the documents which he has taken from the possession of the clerks employed by the committee on the understanding that he was to give them to the committee. The committee then adopted this resolution : " 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, at 10.30 a.m., by which date the committee hope Mr. O'Conor will return the document or documents wrongfully detained 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." The letter referred to in the resolution is as follows :— " Gentlemen, — " Saturday night, 19th November, 1892. " I have handed herewith to the reporter the proof of my statement to you, with corrections, and my certificate signed. The copy which I retain, as agreed, will be at your disposal on Monday, with copies of the extracts bearing upon the case, taken from the books of the company and certified by the persons appointed by you for the purpose. I shall also have an index, which will enable you easily to make reference to the documentary evidence in each particular case. " I have, &c, "Eugene O'Conor, "To Messrs. Macdonald, Miles, and Greenwood [Greenland]-." Since we last met Mr. Greenland has addressed a letter to the committee—or, rather, to Mr. Miles and myself, under cover to Mr. Miles—stating that he has been summoned to Westport, and he protests against anything being done in his absence, and requesting that the business of the committee shall be adjourned until his return. The committee therefore find themselves in this