HINE ENQUIRY.

FINDINGS OF THE COMMITrEE.

SEVERAL CHARGES PROVED.

LEGISLATION AGAINST SUCH PRACTICES RECOMMENDED.

THE CHARGE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT DISPROVED. .

BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.

WELLINGTON, Nov. 26. The Hine Committee's report was presented to the House after midnight.

In the charges against Mr Major the committee finds that as regards the first charge the etvidence taken did not show any breach of any rule of law, but it was a direct contravention of the resolution of the House agreed to on July 14, 1886.

As regards the second charge it has been disproved so far as Mr Major is concerned.

In the first charge against Mr Symes the finding is that the committee, although satisfied Mr Symes did not influence the sale, is of opinion it was improper in the circumstances for him, being a member of Parliament, to accept a gift of £300 from Ba'yly.

Upon the charge regarding West Coast leases the committee says that although Mr Symes may have considered he was entitled to^ charge commission for his services in connection with the collection of moneys voted by Porliament, nevertheless the committee is of opinion that the services in respect of which he received such commission were so closely connected with the duties of a member of Parliament as to render the acceptance of any payment or reward therefor improper.

Upon the third charge of threatening the Stratford Post, the committee finds the threat as alleged was not established. The letter by him produced to the committee may possibly be susceptible of such a construction, although it may not have been intended by the writer.

Kaihau is acquitted of any breach of the law or Parliamentary practice over the Te Akau Block purchase, but in connection with the receipt of payments for presenting petitions the committee is of opinion that the receipt of these payments was improper. Upon the last charge against the Government of tlio day in connection with the Flaxbourne purchase, the committee finds that A. L. Wilson duly rendered and performed services and was regularly and properly paid therefor in accordance with authority for payment certified to by Dr Findlay. counsel for the Crown, and approved by the late Mr Seddon, and that such payment was not made with the intent or obiect of indirectly remunerating the Hon. Macdonald either alone or as partner of the firm of Macdonald, Wilson and Co., or remunerating Mr Wilson for the services of Mr Macdonald as assessor. WELLINGTON, Nov. 26. The Hine Committee also passed the following resolutions : —

(1) Referring to the third charges against Mr W. Symes, the Committee desires to express the opinion that it is a matter for regret that a confidential communication written by Mr Symes to Mr McCluggage, which- by universal custom is always treated as private, should "have been ignored and made public bj those into whose haiids the letter passed.

(2) That. legislation should be passed making it illegal' for a member of Parliament to act on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person negotiating the sale of an estate to the Crown.

A minority report signed by Messrs Massey, Lang, Buchanan and Fraser, stated their dissent from the majority report respecting the Te Akau charge as in their opinions (a) Kaihau did agree with the natives to conduct the sale to the Crown of the Te Akau block. (b) Kaihau did receive from the vendors £2000, which included commission for the sale of Te Akau block. (c) Kaihau's action was in direct contravention of the resolutions of the ■House of July 14, 1886.