I.—4a

Telegram from Mr. Palmer, M.H.8., read. Mr. Palmer attended. On motion of Hon. Mr. Twomey, Besolved, That this Committee do sit with the Goldfields and Mines Committee of the House of Bepresentatives to hear further evidence on this petition. Ordered, That each member of the Committee be supplied with a copy of the evidence already given on this petition. Ordered, That Mr. C. G. V. Leijon and Mr. W. G. Somerville, of Dunedin, and also, Mr. Easton be summoned to appear before the Joint Committee on Thursday next; and that Mr. Hoisted, Mr. Howes, and Mr. Cook be informed that evidence will be given contradicting the evidence previously given by them. Then the Committee adjourned.

Thursday, 12th September, 1901. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m. Present: Hon. the Chairman, Hon. Mr. Barnicoat, Hon. Mr. Jennings, Hon. Captain Morris, Hon. Mr. A. Lee Smith, Hon. Mr. Swanson, Hon. Mr. Twomey. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed. Account for £1 lis., expenses of William Howes, passed for payment. Then the Committee adjourned to sit and confer with the Goldfields and Mines Committee of the House of Bepresentatives on the petition of Herbert Ernest Easton.

HOUSE OP KEPEESENTATIVES. Tuesday, 6th August, 1901. The Committee met at 10.15 a.m. Present: Mr. Palmer (Chairman), Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Carncross, Mr. Colvin, Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. Gilfedder, Mr. Guinness, Hon. Mr. McGowan. On motion of Mr. Guinness, Besolved, That the reading of the minutes of last meeting be postponed until next meeting. On motion of Mr. Carncross, Ordered, That the Chairman do issue his summons to Mr. W. B. Cook, an accountant, Mandel's Empire Hotel, Wellington, to attend this Committee at its meeting on Thursday next, the Bth instant, for the purpose of giving evidence in the matter of the petition of H. E. Easton. The Committee thereupon adjourned.

Thursday, 15th August, 1901. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Palmer (Chairman), Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Carncross, Mr. Colvin, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Herries, Hon. Mr. McGowan, Hon. Mr. Mills. The minutes of the meetings of the Ist and 6th August were read and confirmed. Mr. H. E. Easton, petitioner, attended the Committee, and, having been sworn, gave evidence. Mr. W. B. Cook attended the Committee, and, having been sworn, made a statement. On the motion of Mr. Fraser, Ordered, That the Chairman do issue his summons to the Secretaries of the No Town No. 2, the Lees Ferry, the Tucker Flat, and the Boss Day Dawn Gold-dredging Companies to attend the next meeting of this Committee and produce all books, documents, and balance-sheets of the said companies ; also to the liquidator of the Golden Grey, Wicklow, and Ngahere Companies to attend, and produce books and papers relating thereto. On the motion of Mr. Carncross, Ordered, That Mr. William Howes, accountant, of Dunedin, be summoned to attend this Committee at its next meeting to give evidence, and that the question of Mr. Cook's offer to pay this witness's expenses or otherwise be deferred. The Committee thereupon adjourned.

Thursday, 22nd August, 1901. The Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Palmer (Chairman), Mr. J. Allen, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Carncross, Mr. Colvin, Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Gilfedder, Mr. Guinness, Mr. Herries, Mr. B. McKenzie, Hon. Mr. McGowan, Hon. Mr. Mills, Mr. Millar. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman read a certificate from Dr. Colquhoun, stating that Mr. Sydney Thorpe Mirams was unable to attend the meeting of the Committee, as he was unable to leave Dunedin owing to illness. Thereupon the Committee agreed that the Chairman communicate with Mr. Mirams, requiring him to forward the books of the Golden Grey, the Wicklow, and the Ngahere Golddredging Companies without delay; and a telegram to that effect was at once written and despatched by the Chairman from the room. Mr. William Hoisted attended, and, having been sworn, produced the share register, prospectus, balance-sheets, and papers of the Tucker Flat Gold - dredging Company, and gave evidence. Mr. Hoisted was examined by Mr. Easton and cross-examined by Mr. Cook in reference to the conduct of the business of the Tucker Flat Company, And the witnesses having withdrawn,

VIII