H.—2

XXXV

Thursday, 11th Apbil, 1901. The Commission met at 10.15 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. Mr. Bell (counsel for Crown), Dr. Findlay (counsel for Receiver), Mr. Dalston (attorney for the New Zealand Midland Bail way Company), and Mr. Blow (Under-Secretary for Public Works) were in attendance. David Wallace, goods agent, New Zealand Eailways, Dunedin, was called and further examined on oath. Norman Howard Maxwell Dalston, attorney for the New Zealand Midland Bail way Company, was called, and further examined on oath. At 12.30 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.

Fbiday, 12th Apeil, 1901. The Commission met at 2.30 p.m. Present: Mr. McKenzie (Chairman), Mr. Graham, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKerrow. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Bell (counsel for Crown), Dr. Findlay (counsel for Receiver), and Mr. Dalston (attorney for the New Zealand Midland Railway Company) were in attendance. David Wallace, goods agent, New Zealand Railways, Dunedin, was called and further examined on oath. Alexander Barron, Under-Secretary, Lands, Wellington, was called, sworn, and examined. Henry William Young, civil engineer, Greymouth, was called and further examined. At 4 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10.15 a.m. on Monday, 15th April, 1901.

Monday, 15th Apeil, 1901. The Commission met at 10.15 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. Mr. Bell (counsel for Crown) and Dr. Findlay (counsel for Receiver) were in attendance. Robert Baff, overseer, New Zealand Railways, Waipara, was called, sworn, and examined. Samuel Brown, contractor, Wellington, was called, sworn, and examined. At 12.45 p.m. the Commission adjourned.

Feiday, 19th Apeil, 1901. The Commission met at 2.45 p.m. Present: Mr. McKenzie (Chairman), Mr. Fraser, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hudson, and Mr. McKerrow. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Fraser, That the attorney for the New Zealand Midland Railway Company be asked to furnish the following information at his earliest convenience, viz. : A return of all receipts from and expenditure on the line of railway from Brunnerton to Reefton from the 29th February, 1892, to the 30th June, 1892 ; and a return of all receipts from and expenditure on the line of railway from Brunnerton to Jackson's from the 13th March, 1894, to the 30th June, 1894 : this return is to be a separate return from the one already ordered. James Burnett, Inspecting Engineer, New Zealand Railways, Wellington, was called, sworn, and examined. Daniel Thomas Mclntosh, District Engineer, New Zealand Railways, Wanganui, was called, sworn, and examined. Henry William Young, civil engineer, Greymouth, was called, and handed in further returns (Exhibits Nos. 102 to 104). Norman Howard Maxwell Dalston, attorney for New Zealand Midland Railway Company, was called, and handed in further returns (Exhibits Nos. 105 to 108). Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Graham, That the secretary to the Commission be instructed to procure printed copies of all returns and evidence in type, and have them ready for the meeting of the Commission at 10 a.m. on Monday next. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hudson, That the order of the Commission to the Government Printer to break up type only referred to Exhibits Nos. 1 to 60, and that subsequent exhibits are to be submitted in proof form, and the type to be kept standing until the authority of the Chairman is given for its distribution. At 5.30 p.m. the Commission adjourned till 10 a.m. on Monday, the 22nd instant.

Monday, 22nd Apeil, 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. Mr. Dalziel (for Dr. Findlay, counsel for Receiver) was in attendance, and produced certain deeds and documents in regard to the Lands Purchase and Compensation Accounts of the New