_.—2

Friday, Bth February, 1901. The Commission met at 2.30 p.m. Present: Mr. Morrison (Chairman), Mr. Back, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKenzie. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Communications were received from the Hon. Minister for Public Works, Mr. J. H. B. Coates (Receiver for the debenture-holders), >and Mr. N. H. M. Dalston (attorney and general manager of the New Zealand Midland Railway Company), intimating that the provisional programme decided upon by the Commission would suit their convenience. Resolved, pursuant to the programme agreed upon, That the Commission should leave Wellington for Nelson on Wednesday, the 13th February. At 3 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10 a.m. on Monday, the 11th instant.

Monday, 11th February, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: Mr. Morrison (Chairman), Mr. Back, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKenzie. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Back notified the Commission that he had been compelled, with very great reluctance, to send in his formal resignation as a member of the Commission to the Government. His leave of absence expired (luring the present month, and, as he found the Commission would be occupied all March and part of April, he had no alternative but to resign his seat on the Commission. Mr. Bell (solicitor for the Crown), Mr. Coates (Receiver for the debenture-holders), Mr. Dalston (attorney and general manager for the company), Dr. Findlay (solicitor for the Receiver), and Mr. Blow (Under-Secretary for Public Works) were in attendance. Norman Howard Maxwell Dalston, attorney for the New Zealand Midland Railway Company (Limited), Wellington, was called, sworn, and examined. Dr. Findlay informed the Commission that urgent private business would detain him in Wellington until Friday, the 15th instant, when he hoped to leave for Nelson, and he asked the Commission to defer, if possible, taking evidence at Nelson until Saturday, when he would be in attendance, and the Commission promised to meet counsel as far as possible in this respect. The Commission and counsel then conferred upon the evidence to be called at the Nelson sitting, and it was decided that certain witnesses should be called. At 12.30 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.

Tuesday, 12th February, 1901. The Commission met at 10.30. a.m. Present: Mr. Morrison (Chairman), Mr. Fraser, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKenzie. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Blow, Under-Secretary for Public Works, was in attendance. Alexander Christison Fife, accountant, New Zealand Railways, Wellington, was called, sworn, and examined. Percy Sawtell Waldie, bookkeeper, Public Works Department, Wellington, wss called, sworn, and examined. At 11.30 a.m. the Commission adjourned till 2.30 p.m. on Thursday, the 14th February, at Nelson.

NELSON. Thursday, 14th February, 1901. The Commission met at 2.30 p.m. Present: Mr. Morrison (Chairman), Mr. Fraser, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKenzie. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Fraser, That, in consequence of the receipt of the following telegram from the Hon. Minister for Public Works—viz., " The Chairman, Midland Commission, Nelson.■ — The Government have decided to appoint another member to the Commission in the place of Mr. F. Back, resigned. I would suggest the advisability of not taking evidence until the gentleman appointed joins you at Nelson.—W. Hall-Jones " —the Commission decides to postpone taking any evidence until the new Commissioner arrives in Nelson. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Fraser, That the secretary be instructed to advise Mr. Coates, the Receiver for the debenture-holders, in terms of the above resolution, and to advise the Receiver to communicate with the Minister for Public Works accordingly. Resolved, That the Commission leave to-morrow (Friday) for Motupiko, for the purpose of inspecting the Belgrove-Motupiko Section of the railway, and on Saturday to visit the adjacent districts served by the railway, returning to Nelson the same day ; and the secretary was instructed to arrange accordingly. At 3 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 21st February, 1901,

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