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EEPOET. No. 332.—Petition of Joshua Jones, of Mokau. Petitioner prays for permission to present himself at the bar of the House for examination and production of papers, or other relief. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion,— (1.) That the. statements made in the petition regarding the Hon. Dr. Findlay have no foundation in fact. (2.) That Mr. Bamford, Registrar-General, did not proceed to New Plymouth, nor remove caveat re sale of Mokau lands without the necessary legal authority, as stated by petitioner. (3.) That the petitioner was not asked to attend the inquiry held by Sir Robert Stout and Judge Palmer, on the ground that he had no legal standing before the Commission. (4.) That according to the evidence submitted to the Committee, the petitioner does not appear to have any legal interest in the estate, and therefore the Committee cannot recommend that he be heard before the bar of the House. (5.) That, in order to settle the long-standing dispute in connection with the Mokau-Mohaka-tino Block, the Government be recommended to assist in bringing about an amicable understanding between the parties concerned, with the view of settling the land. (6.) That, in view of the fact that the petitioner believed his original lease from the Natives to be legally sound, and taking into consideration the treatment meted out to him by solicitors in England, whereby he lost his legal interest in the estate, the Committee recommends that in any such mutual understanding the petitioner's claims to equitable consideration should be clearly defined. 15th November, 1910. T. H. Davey, Chairman.

MINUTES OF PBOCEEDINGS. Wednesday, 7th September, 1910. The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10.30 a.m., in Room H. Present: Mr. Davey (Chairman), Hon. Mr. T. Duncan, Mr. Hive, Mr. Newman, Mr. Dillon, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Macdonald, Mr. Smith, Mr. E. H. Taylor. No. 332.—Joshua Jones, of Mokau, asking for permission to present himself at the bar of the House for examination, and production of papers. Mr. Okey attended with petitioner. Mr. Jones asked that a report produced before the Select Committee of the Legislative Council in 1908 should be placed before this Committee, also that the evidence now to be taken by this Committee be taken down in shorthand. Both requests were agreed to by the Committee. Resolved, That a special meeting be held on Friday, the 9th instant, to take evidence on this petition.

Friday, 9th September, 1910. The Committee met. Present: Mr. Davey (Chairman), Hon. Mr. T. Duncan, Mr. Hine, Mr. Macdonald, Mr. Newman, Mr. Smith, Mr. E. H. Taylor. Evidence was taken in shorthand on the petition of Joshua Jones, of Mokau. Mr. Okey attended with petitioner, who gave evidence. It was left to the Chairman when to call the Committee together to deal further with the petition. The Committee then adjourned.

Friday, 16th September, 1910. The Committee met. Present: Mr. Davey (Chairman), Hon. Mr. T. Duncan, Mr. Dillon, Mr. Newman, Mr. Smith, Mr. E. H. Taylor. Further consideration of the petition of Joshua Jones was resumed, and, by invitation of the House, the Hon. Dr. Findlay attended on the Committee, and asked permission to be allowed time to peruse the evidence, which was granted him. Resolved, That Mr. Jones be allowed to be represented by counsel. Further consideration of this petition was postponed.