H.—2

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

WELLINGTON. Friday, Ist February, 1901. The Commission sat at the Parliamentary Buildings, Wellington, at 11 a.m. on Friday, the Ist February, 1901. Present: Arthur Morrison, Esq., M.H.E. (Chairman); Frederick Back, of Hobart, Tasmania, General Manager of Eailways, Tasmania ; William Fraser, Esq., M.H.R. ; Charles Hudson, Esq., of Wellington, Assistant General Manager of Eailways ; and Roderick McKenzie, Esq., M.H.E. The secretary and official reporter, Mr. J. D. Gray, was in attendance. The Commission was read. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. McKenzie, That the public proceedings of the Commission shall be open to the Press. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. McKenzie, That the various parties to the case be permitted to appear before the Commission by counsel, if they so desire. The secretary was instructed to notify the parties to the proceedings—viz., J. H. B. Coates, Esq., Receiver for the debenture-holders New Zealand Midland Railway Company (Limited), N. H. M. Dalston, Esq., attorney for the New Zealand Midland Eailway Company (Limited), and the Hon. Minister for Public Works—that the Commission would be prepared to hear them on Monday, the 4th February, at 10 a.m., at the Parliamentary Buildings. At 12.30 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10 a.m. on Monday, the 4th February, 1901.

Monday, 4th February, 1901. The Commission met at 10.30 a.m. Present: Mr. A. Morrison (Chairman), Mr. F. Back, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. C. Hudson, and Mr. E. McKenzie. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. H. D. Bell (solicitor for the Crown), Mr. J. H. B. Coates (Eeceiver for the New Zealand Midland Railway debenture-holders), Mr. N. H. M. Dalston (attorney and general manager for the New Zealand Midland Railway Company), Dr. Findlay (solicitor for the Receiver), and Mr. H. J. H. Blow (Under-Secretary for Public Works), were in attendance. Resolved, at the request of counsel, to give Mr. Bell and Dr. Findlay time until Wednesday, the 6th February, 1901, in which to confer and arrange a course of procedure between them. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. McKenzie, That it be an instruction to the secretary, whenever the Commission call for figures or information, that both sides to the proceedings be advised that the Commission are doing so. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hudson, That Mr. Dalston, Mr. Coates, and the Minister for Public Works be notified that the Commission will require information according to details to be communicated to them, and that they be requested to furnish such information when called upon by the Commission to do so. The Commission then considered the form of the returns in which such information should be furnished. At 1 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10 a.m. to-morrow.

Tuesday, sth February, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: Mr. A. Morrison (Chairman), Mr. F. Back, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. C. Hudson, and Mr. R. McKenzie. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Commission considered the draft form of the returns to be furnished by the various parties to the proceedings, and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. McKenzie, That the following letters be forwarded to-day, viz.: — (1.) To J. H. B. Coates, Esq., Receiver for the New Zealand Midland Railway Company's debenture-holders, Wellington. Sib, — Royal Commission in re the New Zealand Midland Railway Company. I am directed to inform you that the above Commission will require information, as detailed below, concerning the New Zealand Midland Railway Company, and to request that you will be prepared to furnish suoh information when called upon by the Commission to do so, viz.:— (1.) (a.) A return of the total sum realised by you as Receiver for the sale of lands granted by the Crown to the oompany pursuant to sections 7 and 8 of " The East and West Coast (Middle Island) and Nelson Railway and Railways Construction Aot, 1884 ;" suoh return to speoify the number of blook, area of blook, area sold, and amount realised. (6.) A return showing the value of lands granted by the Crown to the oompany pursuant to sections 7 and 8 of " The Bast and West Coast (Middle Island) and Nelson Railway and Railways Construction Aot, 1884," and at present unsold; such return to sp9oify the survey distriots in which the various sections of unsold land are situated, the area of the said sections, and the survey number of the various blocks and unsold sections. Arthub Mobeison, Chairman of Commission.

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