H.—2

Mr. Bell (counsel for Crown), Dr. Findlay (counsel for Eeceiver), Mr. Coates (Eeoeiver for the debenture-holders), Mr. Dalston (attorney for the New Zealand Midland Eailway Company), and Mr. Blow (Under-Secretary for Public Works) were in attendance. Patrick Corcoran, farmer, Ahaura, was called, sworn, and examined. Joseph Scott, mine-manager, Blackball, was called, sworn, and examined. Eobert Alison, mine-manager, Bcunnerton, was called, sworn, and examined. Henry St. John Christophers, District Engineer, New Zealand Eailways, Greymouth, was called and further examined. Henry William Young, civil engineer, Greymouth, was called and further examined. Besolved, on the motion of Mr. Hudson, That the District Traffic Manager, New Zealand Eailways, Greymouth, be asked to furnish the following return to-day, viz. : " Adverting to return handed in by Mr. Baxter of estimate derived from passenger traffic from Jackson's after deducting coach and local passengers, the Commission require a return of the coach and local passengers and revenue derived therefrom so deducted ; such return also to specify number of first- and secondclass passengers separately." At 3 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 9.45 a.m. on Monday, 18th March, 1901.

Monday, 18th Maech, 1901. The Commission met at 9.45 a.m. Present: Mr. McKenzie (Chairman), Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Hudson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. On Saturday, the 16th March, the Commission visited the coal-measures at Coal Creek. Letters were received from the Mining Eegistrars of the Eeefton and Ahaura Wardens' Courts, forwarding the returns asked for by the Commission on the 14th March, and the returns (Exhibits Nos. 24 and 25) were ordered to be received. Dr. Findlay (counsel for Eeceiver), Mr. Coates (Eeceiver for the debenture-holders), Mr. Dalston (attorney for the New Zealand Midland Eailway Company), and Mr. Blow (Under-Secretary for Public Works) were in attendance. Ernest Nicholson, Traffic Clerk, New Zealand Eailways, Greymouth, was called, sworn, and examined. George Stephen Cray, sharebroker and mining agent, Greymputh, was called, sworn, and examined. Henry William Young, civil engineer, Greymouth, was called and further examined, and produced certain of the returns ordered by the Commission. The Chairman asked when the balance of the returns ordered by the Commission would be ready, and intimated it was necessary they should be furnished with as little delay as possible. Dr. Findlay said the work of preparing the returns was being pushed on, and that they would be presented at the earliest possible date. Besolved, That the Chairman and Mr. Graham be appointed a sub-committee to check the returns handed in by Mr. Young with the original books. The secretary was directed to write to the Chairman of the Grey County Council conveying the thanks of the Commission to the County Council for its courtesy in placing its offices at the .disposal of the Commission during their sittings in Greymouth. Besolved, That the Commission proceed from Greymouth to Christchurch vid Wellington, and that the next meeting be held at Christchurch on Monday, the 25th March, at 9.30 a.m., and that the counsel for the Crown and the Eeceiver and the attorney for the New Zealand Midland Eailway Company be notified accordingly. At 2.30 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 9.30 a.m. on Monday, the 25th March, at Christchurch.

CHEISTCHUECH. Monday, 25th Maech, 1901. The Commission met at 9.30 a.m. in the Provincial Council Chamber. Present: Mr. McKenzie (Chairman), Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKerrow. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Besolved, That the Commission leave for Springfield to-morrow to inspect the SpringfieldPatterson's Creek Section of the New Zealand Midland Eailway, and return to Christchurch the same evening. Dr. Findlay (counsel for the Eeceiver), Mr. Dalston (attorney for the New Zealand Midland Eailway Company), and Mr. Blow (Under-Secretary for Public Works) were in attendance. Henry William Young, civil engineer, Greymouth, was called and further examined. Peter Miller Stewart, builder and contractor, Papanui, was called, sworn, and examined. David Wallace, goods agent, New Zealand Eailways, Dunedin, was called, sworn, and examined. At 12.30 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 27th March, 1901,

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