The Committee find that the payment was made to Mr. Siovwright, and by him to Mr. Rees as " a retaining fee," in two same of £150 each, on the 2nd and 4th of August, 1879. These dates they point out " fall in the interval " between the defeat of Sir George *' Grey's Ministry on July 29th, and the " prorogation of Parliament on August "lltb, prior to the dissolution." After referring to the terms on which that dis solution was granted, viz., that no measure should be proposed that might not be imperatively required nor any con tested motion whatever brought forward, the Committee proceed to review the evidence of Sir George Grey. From that evidence it appears that the reason why his Ministry considered it advisable to retain counsel was " that Ministers in '• tended to appoint a Commission to " enquire fully into the whole question of " Native rights to land on the West " Ceast of the North Island," and that they thought counsel should be engaged to get up evidence, &c. Counsel was en gaged, but "no Commission was ap " pointed." The reason no Commission was appointed "is understood to be " because of the Governor's general pro " hibitiou just quoted." The Committee are naturally at a loss to comprehend why the Governor's prohibition extends to the appointment of the Commission and not to the payment of counsel to appear "before it. It is, they say, "difficult tb.nn • 'derstand how it was tbat the appoint "ment of the Commission should be " held to come within the prohibitory " language of the Governor, while the " payment of a retaining fee to counsel " to appear before a Commission that " could not be appointed till after the " election of a new Parliament, was held "to be not included in that language. ■"' At the time payment was made, Parlia " ment was in session, Supply was not " disposed of, and a vote might easily '" have been proposed in Committee of " Supply had the Government thought " fit." Having thus disposed of Sir George Grey's evidence, and after referring to the admission of Mr. Sievwright that he con sidered the fee an unusually high one, and that he would not have paid so much " but for the distinct instructions of Mr. 