XXXIII

H.—2.

Wednesday, 27th March, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: Mr. MoKenzie (Chairman), Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKerrow. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. On Tuesday, the 26fch March, the Commission visited Springfield and inspected the SpringfieldPatterson's Creek Section of the Midland Bail way, returning to Christchurch the same evening. Dr. Pindlay (counsel for Eeceiver), Mr. Dalston (attorney for the New Zealand Midland Eailway Company), and Mr. Blow (Under-Secretary for Public Works) were in attendance. William Hood Gaw, Traffic Superintendent for the South Island for New Zealand Eailways, Dunedin, was called, sworn, and examined. Charles Barnes Shanks, Chief Draughtsman, Survey Department, Christchurch, was called, sworn, and examined. Prank Ward, Crown Lands Eanger, Christchurch, was called, sworn, and examined. Gordon Hurrell Morland McClure, District Surveyor, Christchurch, was called, sworn, and examined. William Hay Gavin, Eesident Engineer, Public Works Department, Patterson's Creek, was called, sworn, and examined. Besolved, on the motion of Mr. Graham, That it is desirable that the Commission should call local evidence in respect to the prospective value of the Midland Eailway. At 12.45 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10 a.m. to-morrow.

Thuesday, 28th Maech, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: Mr. McKenzie (Chairman), Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKerrow. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Dr. Pindlay (counsel for Eeceiver), Mr. Dalston (attorney for New Zealand Midland Eailway Company), and Mr. Blow (Under- Secretary for Public Works) were in attendance. Gordon Hurrell Morland McClure, District Surveyor, Christchurch, attended, and put in a return of the values of the Midland Eailway Company's unsold lands in the Canterbury District (Exhibit No. 64). Frank Ward, Crown Lands Eanger, Christchurch, attended, and put in a return of the values of the Midland Eailway Company's unsold lands in the Canterbury District (Exhibit No. 65). Peter Miller Stewart, contractor, Papanui, was called and further examined. William Chrystall, merchant, Christchurch, was called, sworn, and examined. William Hay Gavin, Eesident Engineer, Public Works Department, Patterson's Creek, was called and further examined. Hugh Cassidy, coach-proprietor, Springfield, was called, sworn, and examined. At 3.15 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10 a.m. to-morrow.

Peiday, 29th Maech, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: Mr. McKenzie (Chairman), Mr. Praser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKerrow. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was received from the Mining Eegistrar of the Warden's Office, Greymouth, forwarding the return asked for by the Commission on the 14th March, and the return (Exhibit No. 68) was ordered to be received. Dr. Pindlay (counsel for the Eeceiver) and Mr. Blow (Under-Secretary for Public Works) were in attendance. William Wood, merchant, Christchurch, was called, sworn, and examined. George Gatenby Stead, merchant, Christchurch, was called, sworn, and examined. James Goss, timber merchant, Christchurch, was called, sworn, and examined. Hunter Macandrew, District Engineer, New Zealand Eailways, Christchurch, was called, sworn, and examined. John Tippett Smith, bookseller and stationer and acting-Mayor, Christchureh, was called, sworn, and examined. Andrew Anderson, mechanical engineer and contractor, was called, sworn, and examined. Frederick Waymouth, company-manager, Christchurch, was called, sworn, and examined. At 4.15 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.

Satueday, 30th Maech, 1901. The Commission met at 10.30 a.m. Present: Mr. McKenzie (Chairman), Mr. Praser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKerrow. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Dr. Pindlay (counsel for Eeceiver), Mr. Dalston (attorney for the New Zealand Midland Eailway Company), and Mr. Blow (Under-Secretary for Public Works) were in attendance, v—H. 2.