C—l 2

26

Waiharera, Friday, 3rd April, 1914. The Commission met at Waiharera on the 3rd April, at 7.30 p.m., to receive evidence from persons interested. All the members of the Commission were present. The following witnesses were present and voluntarily offered evidence : Richard Ellerby, gum-digger, of Waiharera; Joseph Dudgeon, gum-digger, of Waiharera; Patrick Shine, gumdigger, of Waiharera; John Pausina, gum-buyer of Waiharera; Toni Kosovich, gum-digger, of Waiharera. The Commission adjourned at 9.30 p.m., to meet on the 4th instant, in the schoolroom, at 7.30 p.m.

Waiharera, Saturday, 4th April, 1914. The Commission resumed its sitting at Waiharera on the 4th April, at 7.30 p.m., to receive further evidence from diggers and others. During the day members of the Commission visited various portions of the gum reserves in the district. The following witnesses were present and voluntarily offered evidence: James Steed, of Waiharera, gum-digger; Frederick James Hagger, of Kaimaumau, gum-buyer; Edward Costar, of Waiharera, gum-digger. Waipapakauri, Monday, 6th April, 1914. The Commission met at Waipapakauri on Monday, the 6th April, at 6.30 p.m., to receive evidence from persons interested. All members of the Commission were present. The following witnesses were present and voluntarily offered evidence : Joseph Evans, sen., trader, of Waipapakauri; George Cosson, settler, of Awanui; James Bonar Wright, gum-digger, of Waipapakauri; Edward Evans, hotelkeeper and storekeeper, of Waipapakauri; Michael William Gleeson, gum-digger, of Waipapakauri; Grgo Sulenta; gum-digger, of Waipapakauri; Robert Marshall, gum-digger, of Waipapakauri. Ahipara, Tuesday, 7th April, 1914. The Commission met at Ahipara on Tuesday, the 7th April, at 8 p.m., to receive evidence. The following witness was present and volunteered evidence as recorded : Joseph Dragicevich, farmer, stock-dealer, and gum-buyer, of Ahipara. Ahipara, Wednesday, Bth April, 1914 The Commission resumed at Ahipara on Wednesday, the Bth April, at 8 p.m., to receive evidence. The following witnesses were present and volunteered evidence : Thomas Stewart Houston, J.P., of Ahipara; James Noble Berghan, J.P., of Ahipara; William Atherton, gum-digger, of Ahipara. Ahipara, Thursday, 9th April, 1914. The Commission held a further meeting at Ahipara on Thursday, the 9th April, 1914, at 10 a.m., all members of the Commission being present. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Stafford, seconded by Mr. Hebden, That the Houhora Kauri-gum Reserve, Houhora Kauri-gum Extension Reserve, and Houhora Kauri-gum Extension No. 2 Reserve be retained as kauri-gum reserves. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. McKay, seconded by Mr. Hebden, That the Otaia Kauri-gum Reserve, the Otaia Kauri-gum Extension Reserve, the Otaia Kauri-gum Extension No. 2 Reserve, and the Otaia Kauri-gum Extension No. 3 Reserve be retained as kauri-gum reserves. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hebden, seconded by Mr. McKay, That the Rotoroa Kauri-gum Reserve and the Rotoroa Kauri-gum Extension Reserve be retained as kauri-gum reserves. (Memo : Portions of both these reserves are included in the provisions of the Kaitaia Land Drainage Act, 1913.) It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hebden, seconded by Mr. Stewart, That the Ahipara Kauri-gum Reserve and the Epakauri Kauri-gum Reserve be retained as kauri-gum reserves. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Hebden, That in respect of the Opoe Kauri-gum Reserve, the Opoe Kauri-gum Extension Reserve, and the Opoe Kauri-gum Extension No. 2 Reserve, the existing reservation be retained, but that members of the Commission desire to place on record that there are scattered areas of non-gum-bearing land of considerable extent in the aggregate within these particular gum reserves the boundaries and areas of which it is impossible to define until a careful topographical survey of the reserves has been made,

Waipapakauri, Monday, 6th April, 1914. The Commission met at Waipapakauri on Monday, the 6th April, at G. 30 p.m., to receive evidence from persons interested. All members of the Commission were present. The following witnesses were present and voluntarily offered evidence : Joseph Evans, sen., trader, of Waipapakauri; George Cosson, settler, of Awanui; James Bonar Wright, gum-digger, of Waipapakauri; Edward Evans, hotelkeeper and storekeeper, of Waipapakauri; Michael William Gleeson, gum-digger, of Waipapakauri; Grgo Sulenta; gum-digger, of Waipapakauri; Robert Marshall, gum-digger, of Waipapakauri.

Ahipara, Tuesday, 7th Apbil, 1914. The Commission met at Ahipara on Tuesday, the 7th April, at 8 p.m., to receive evidence. The following witness was present and volunteered evidence as recorded : Joseph Dragicevich, farmer, stock-dealer, and gum-buyer, of Ahipara.

Ahipara, Wednesday, Bth April, 1914 The Commission resumed at Ahipara on Wednesday, the Bth April, at 8 p.m., to receive evidence. The following witnesses were present and volunteered evidence : Thomas Stewart Houston, J. P., of Ahipara; James Noble Berghan, J. P., of Ahipara; William Atherton, gum-digger, of Ahipara.

Ahipara, Thursday, 9th April, 1914. The Commission held a further meeting at Ahipara on Thursday, the 9th April, 1914, at 10 a.m., all members of the Commission being present. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Stafford, seconded by Mr. Hebden, That the Hquhora Kauri-gum Reserve, Houhora Kauri»gum Extension Reserve, and Houhora Kauri-gum Extension No. 2 Reserve be retained as kauri-gum reserves. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. McKay, seconded by Mr. Hebden, That the Otaia Kauri-gum Reserve, the Otaia Kauri-gum Extension Reserve, the Otaia Kauri-gum Extension No. 2 Reserve, and the Otaia Kauri-gum Extension No. 3 Reserve be retained as kauri-gum reserves. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hebden, seconded by Mr. McKay, That the Rotoroa Kauri-gum Reserve and the Rotoroa Kauri-gum Extension Reserve be retained as kauri-gum reserves. (Memo : Portions of both these reserves are included in the provisions of the Kaitaia Land Drainage Act, 1913.) It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Hebden, seconded by Mr. Stewart, That the Ahipara Kauri-gum Reserve and the Epakauri Kauri-gum Reserve be retained as kauri-gum reserves. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Hebden, That in respect of the Opoe Kauri-gum Reserve, the Opoe Kauri-gum Extension Reserve, and the Opoe Kauri-gum Extension No. 2 Reserve, the existing reservation be retained, but that members of the Commission desire to place on record that there are scattered areas of non-gum-bearing land of considerable extent in the aggregate within these particular gum reserves the boundaries and areas of which it is impossible to define until a careful topographical survey of the reserves has been made,