H.—24

LII

Wellington, Saturday, 22nd Mat, 1909. The twenty-sixth meeting of the Commission was held in the Museum Building, Wellington, on Saturday, the 22nd May, 1909, at 9 a.m. Present: The Hon. T. Y. Duncan (Chairman), and all the members. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence. Letter, dated the 18th May, 1909, from H. Valder, managing director of Messrs. Ellis Burnaud, submitting particulars regarding the firm's profits for the past five years (confidential). — Received. Evidence. Mr. Charles Hutton (previously examined in Taihape), representative of the sawmill workers at Taihape, examined from 9.5 a.m. to 10.20 a.m. Mr. Henry Donovan, sawyer, Taihape, 10.20 a.m. to 11.25 a.m. Mr. J. S. Hutchinson, Railway Storekeeper, Petone, 11.25 a.m. to 12 noon. Mr. Alex. Campbell, builder, Wellington, 12 noon to 1 p.m. Adjournment. Moved by Mr. Ell, and seconded by Mr. Hanan, That the Commission adjourn till 9 a.m. on Tuesday, the 25th May.—Carried. The Commission then adjourned.

Wellington, Tuesday, 25th May, 1909. The twenty-seventh meeting of the Commission was held in the Museum Building, Wellington, on Tuesday, the 25th May, 1909, at 9 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. Alex. Campbell (examination continued), from 9.5 a.m. to 9.55 a.m. Mr. J. P. Maxwell, C.E., consulting engineer, 9.55 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. Mr. W. H. Bennett (previous witness) read figures from census, 10.30 to 10.35 a.m. Mr. F. de J. Clere, architect, Wellington, 10.35 a.m. to 11.45 a.m. Mr. W. D. Murdoch, Building Inspector for City Council, 11.45 a.m. to 12.25 p.m. Mr. G. H. Chapman, West Coast Timber Trading Company, Wellington, 12.25 p.m. to 1 p.m. The Commission adjourned till 2.30 p.m. Mr. G. H. Chapman (examination continued), from 2.30 p.m. to 3.15 p.m. Mr. C. T. Nordell, farmer, Eketahuna, 3.15 p.m. to 3.40 p.m. Mr. F. T. Moore, settler, Johnsonville, 3.40 p.m. to 4.25 p.m. Mr. David Robertson, engineer, Wellington, 4.25 p.m. to 4.45 p.m. Mr. G. E. Humphries, builder and contractor, sash and door factory, Wellington, 4.45 p.m. to 6.5 p.m. The Commission then adjourned.

Wellington, Wednesday, 26th May, 1909. The twenty-eighth meeting of the Commission was held in the Museum Building, Wellington, on Wednesday, the 26th May, 1909, at 9 a.m. Present: The Hon. T. Y. Duncan (Chairman), ami all the members. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Evidence. Mr. A. C. Koch, District Railway Engineer, Wellington, examined from 9.15 a.m. to 9.50 a.m. Mr. James Mackenzie, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington, 9.50 a.m. to 11.52 a.m. Mr. James Burnett, Chief Engineer, New Zealand Railways, 11.52 a.m. to 12.25 p.m. Mr. N. F. Marley, secretary, Wellington Timber-merchants' Association, 12.25 p.m. to 1 p.m. The Commission adjourned till 2 p.m. Mr. William Hopkirk, chairrr an, Wellington Builders' Association, examined from 2.5 p.m. to 3.42 p.m. Mr. William McKone, secretary, Wairarapa Sawmillers' Association, Masterton, 3.42 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mr. William Hopkirk made a personal explanation from 4 p.m. to 4.10 p.m. Mr. J. Reardon, secretary, General Labourers' Union, 4.10 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Commission then adjourned till 7.30 p.m. Mr. Reardon (examination continued), from 7.30 p.m. to 9 p.m; Mr. C. C. Odlin, timber-merchant, Wellington, 9 p.m. to 9.45 p.m. The Commission then adjourned.