XLVII

H.—24

Gruymouth, Monday, 19th April, 1909. The fourteenth meeting of the Commission was held in the Borough Council Chambers, Greymouth, on Monday, the 19th April, 1909, at 10 a.m. Present: The Hon. T. Y. Duncan (Chairman) and all the members. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Evidence. Mr. William Butler, examination continued from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. At the conclusion of Mr. Butler's evidence he was complimented by the Chairman on the clear and complete manner in which it had been given. Mr. John Jackson, secretaiy, Wharf Labourers' Union, examined from 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Mr. Andrew Dalziell, sleeper-getter, Greymouth, 12.30 p.m. to 12.55 p.m. The Commission adjourned till 2 p.m. Mr. E. A. Wickes, secretary, West Coast Trading Company, Greymouth, 2 to 4.25 p.m. Mr. J. D. Gillies, engineer and sawmiller, Greymouth, 4.25 p.m. to 5.5 p.m. Mr. James Jack, sawmiller, Kotuku, from 5.5 p.m. to 5.55 p.m. The Commission then adjourned till 9 a.m. on the 20th instant.

Gubymouth, Tuesday, 20th April, 1909. The fifteenth meeting of the Commission was held in the Borough Council Chambers, Greymouth, on Tuesday, the 20th April, 1909, at 9 a.m. /'resent: The Hon. T. Y. Duncan (Chairman) and.all the members. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Evidence. Mr. James Ashley, District Traffic Manager, Greymouth, examined from 9 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. Mr. David Tennent, manager for Stratford, Blair, and Co., sawmillers, Greymouth, 9.45 to 12 noon. Mr. H. L. Michel, merchant, Hokitika, 12 noon to 1 p.m. The Commission adjourned from 1 to 2 p.m. Mr. J. Bishop, manager, State Coal-mine and Sawmill, Runanga, 2 p.m. to 2.10 p.m. Mr. J. H. Lewis, Resident Engineer, Public Works Department, examined 2.10 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. Mr. Campbell Bell, representative, sawmill-workers, 2.30 p.m. to 3.7 p.m. Hon. A. R. Guinness, M.P., Greymouth, 3.7 p.m. to 3.20 p.m. Mr. C. M. Benzoni, District Railway Engineer, 3.20 p.m. to 3.50 p.m. Mr. E. J. Lord, Town Clerk and Borough Engineer, 3.50 p.m. to 4.12 p.m. Mr. J. W. Callwell, auditor, Greymouth (information to be given in committee). Mr. Osmond Butler, sawmiller, Greymouth, 4.15 p.m. to 4.55 p.m. Votes of Thanks. Moved by Mr. Morris and seconded by Mr. Leyland, That a vote of thanks be passed to the witnesses who have given such valuable evidence in Greymouth.—Carried. Moved by Mr. Field and seconded by Mr. Mander, That a hearty vote of thanks be passed to those gentlemen who have assisted to entertain the Commission during their stay in Greymouth.— Carried. Moved by the Hon. T. Y. Duncan and carried, That a letter be sent to the Hon. Mr. Guinness, thanking him for the kindness and assistance he gave to the Commission during the time it has been in Westland. Moved by the Hon. T. Y. Duncan and seconded by Mr. Clarke, That the Mayor and Borough Council be thanked for the use of the Borough Council Chambers and committee-rooms, and assistance rendered by their staff to the Commission.—Carried. In Committee. The Commission then went into committee at 5.5 p.m., when confidential particulars regarding the expenditure and profits made by Messrs. Stratford and Blair during the past three years were submitted to the Commission by the manager, Mr. Tennent. At 5.25 p.m. Mr. Callwell gave some confidential particulars regarding the profit and loss made by Messrs. Baxter Bros, during the preceding two years. A confidential return was also furnished by the Manager of the Runanga State Sawmill. The Commission adjourned at 5.55 p.m. to Taihape on Tuesday, the 27th April.

Taihape, Tuesday, 27th April, 1909. The sixteenth meeting of the Commission was held in the Courthouse, Taihape, on Tuesday, the 27th day of April, 1909, at 9.15 a.m. Present: The Hon. T. Y. Duncan (Chairman), and all the members except Mr. Hanan, who was unavoidably detained in Wellington and took his seat at 7.30 p.m. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Oregon-pine Importation. Moved by Mr. Field, and seconded by Mr. Barber, That the Customs Department be requested to furnish a return showing the importation of Oregon pine at each port in the Dominion during each month from the Ist January, 1907, to the 30th April, 1909. —Carried.