I.—4a

V

Comparative Table.

(17.) Excepting the Eoss Day Dawn and No Town No. 2, the companies are practically in liquidation, and practically no calls will be required. (18.) Besides this, Cook and Gray had the use of moneys obtained from charges to these companies, for Mr. Cook did not always pay his application-money when due, and he did not pay his allotment-money till about nine months after it was due, and in the meantime Cook and Gray drew large fees from the companies, as follows : — Before paying allotment or calls, £ £ s. d. Mr. Cook, Boss Day Dawn, paid in 70, and Cook and Gray drew out 247 10 0 Wicklow, „ 50 „ „ 239 15 0 Lees Ferry, „ 50 „ „ 239 15 0 Ngahere, „ 50 „ „ 216 18 9 No Town No. 2, „ 50 „ „ 232 0 0 Tucker Flat, „ 65 „ „ ' 227 5 0 Golden Grey, „ 50 „ „ 220 15 0 Total „ £385 „ „ £1,623 18 9 (19.) Messrs. Cook and Gray had to pay for the services of the secretary and certain sums for other brokers, which are not included in the above table. (20.) Mr. Cook did not stand to lose much if these companies failed, but he had the chance of winning much if they were a success; and in the latter case he was by the flotations to receive fully paid-up shares worth £6,390, while he would be responsible for contributing shares worth £7,500. (21.) The Committee recommend that the law be altered on the lines above indicated, and that the law be so amended that all mining companies should be registered under the Mining Companies Acts. (22.) The question of titles having been extensively dealt with in the evidence, the Committee find that in the case of companies in which the vendors' shares have been allotted the titles are held by the company, but in the other companies the titles are held by the vendors, though the company's money has been spent on them. Bichd. H. J. Beeves, 30th October, 1901. Chairman Joint Committee.

'aid [r, :ool to iompanies. ieceivei .oo] am .ray from lompanies. Company. Date. Amount. Total. Date. Amount. Total. . Wicklow Paid Application Allotment .. 9 May, 1890 22 Feb., 1891 £ s. d. 50 0 0 50 0 0 £ a. d. By Brokerage .. Secretary's salary Director's fees 21 May, 1900 £ a. d. 139 0 0 87 10 0 £ s. d. I. Ngahere Subsequent shares 15 0 0 115 0 0 21 0 0 247 10 Q Paid Application Allotment .. 23 April, 1900 6 Mar., 1901 50 0 0 50 0 0 By Brokerage .. Secretary's salary Director's fees 24 Sept., 1900 175 0 0 87 10 0 I. Lees Ferry .. No calls made .. 100 0 0 3 18 9 266 8 9 Paid Application Allotment .. 15 June, 1900 22 Feb., 1901 50 0 0 50 0 0 By Brokerage .. Secretary's salary Director's fees 15 June, 1900 150 0 0 100 0 0 1. Tuoker Flat No calls made .. 100 0 0 21 0 0 271 0 0 Paid Application Allotment .. 19 May, 1900 About 25 Jan., 1901 65 0 0 65 0 0 By Brokerage .. Secretary's salary Director's fees 19 May, 1900 150 0 0 56 15 0 i. No Town No. 2 Subsequent calls paid 65 0 0 195 0 0 21 0 0 227 15 0 Paid Application Allotment .. 8 May, 1900 22 Feb., 1901 50 0 0 50 0 0 By Brokerage .. Secretary's salary Director's fees 8 May, 1900 185 0 0 87 10 0 >. Golden Grey Calls subsequently 500 0 0 600 0 0 7 0 0 279 10 0 Paid Application Allotment .. 21 May, 1900 25 Feb., 1901 50 0 0 50 0 0 By Brokerage .. Secretary's salary Director's fees 25 May, 1900 139 0 0 87 10 0 '. JSoss Day Dawn No calls made .. 100 0 0 21 0 0 247 10 0 Paid Application Allotment .. 27 Mar., 1900 27 Dec, 1900 50 0 0 50 0 0 By Brokerage .. Secretary's salary Director's fees 27 Mar., 1900 175 0 0 106 0 0 Some calls paid with allotment 830 0 0 930 0 0 21 0 0 302 0 0 Total .. Total .. £1,841 13 9 £2,140 0 0