H.—lB

WELLINGTON. Tuesday, 2nd July, 1912. The Commission met at the old Parliamentary Buildings at 11 a.m. All the Commissioners were present with the exception of Mr.. W. A. Veitch, M.P. The following witnesses were examined on oath : W. A. Boucher and W. J. Birch. The Commission, met in Committee at 2.30 p.m. and resumed at 4.30 p.m., when Mr. W. A. Boucher supplemented his evidence given during the morning, by making a confidential statement to the Commission. Wednesday, 3rd Jcjly, 1.912. The Commission met at the old Parliamentary Buildings at 10 a.m. All the Commissioners were present. The following witnesses were examined on oath : W. Maddison, J. Trevor, T. Quinlivan, N. Fernandos, A. Bolton, C. J. Ward, J. Hutchen, E. Collie, J. Mitchell, W. W. Jones, C. W. Howard, and M. J. Reardon. Thursday, 4th July, 1912. The Commission met at the old Parliamentary Buildings at 10 a.m. All the Commissioners were present. The following witnesses were examined on oath: F. F. Munro, D. Moriarty, G. L. Fulton, D. Carmody, D. Currie, H. G. Hill, D. P. Matthews, and W. Ferguson. W. A. Blair, solicitor, appeared on behalf of Mr. G. H. Scales, shipping agent, and apologized for his absence, Mr. Scales having left for England that morning. The following witnesses were examined on oath : H. J. Simpson and W. A. Kellow. Friday, sth July, 1912. The Commission met at the old Parliamentary Buildings at 10 a.m. All the Commissioners were present. The following witnesses were examined on oath : F. P. Wilson, J. Lomas, R. W. McVilly, G. L. Marshall, E. C. Jack, and A. Leigh-Hunt. Mr. Levi, solicitor, appeared on behalf of Mr. Brooks, local manage) - of the Dresden Piano Company, and stated that his client felt that he could not give evidence as the directorate was located in Dunedin. The Commission excused Mr. Brooks from attending. The following witnesses were examined on oath : J. Charlesworth, D. J. Cameron, and C. W. Halse. Saturday, 6th July, 1912. The Commission met at the old Parliamentary Buildings at 10 a.m. All the Commissioners were present with the exception of Mr. G. W. Leadley. C. J. Reakes, Director of Live-stock and Meat Division of the Department of Agriculture, was sworn and examined. (The evidence was taken, in part, in camera). The following witness was examined on oath : T. B. Goddard. The Commission went into Committee, adjourning at 12.40 to 2.30 p.m., and finally adjourned at 4.15 p.m. Monday, Bth July, 1912. The Commission met at .1.0 a.m.. at the old Parliamentary Buildings. All the Commissioners were present with the exception of Mr. G. W. Leadley. The following witnesses were examined on oath : F. F. Munro, F. W. T. Rowley, W. Temple, F. T. Moore, C. K. Wilson, M.P., W. A. Flavell, A. J. Bishop, S. Richardson, J. Hutchison, R. S. Alward, F. Townsend, A. Longmore, and M. Fraser. Tuesday, 9th July, 1912. The Commission met at 9.45 a.m. at the old Parliamentary Buildings. All the Commisioners were present with the exception of Mr. G. W. Leadley. The following witnesses were examined on oath : S. S. Brown, E. Bull, W. Simm, F. W. B. Greville, W. Brunskill, G. Aldous, W. T. Young, C. Cathie, W. H. Millward, and A. E. Donne. Mr.' C. P. Skerrett, solicitor, appeared on behalf of Mr. J. G. W. Aitken (of Messrs. Aitken, Wilson merchants) to make an explanation for the latter's non-appearance. The Chairman declined to allow Mr. Skerrett to give reasons or make any statement. Mr. Skerrett protested against this ruling on behalf of his own client Mr. Aitken, and also on behalf of Mr. Tripe, the solicitor for New Zealand for the Merchants' Association, and for Mr. Gold, the secretary for the same association.

xv—H. 18,

CXIII