THE TE AROHA ELECTION ENQUIRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 996, 3 April 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE TE AROHA ELECTION ENQUIRY.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. ) Auckland, April 1. The hearing of the petition against the return of Mr W. S. Allen tor the Te Aroha seat was commenced to-day at the Te Aroha Court-house, before Chief Judge Frendergast and Judge Connolly. Messrs Heaketh and Clayton appeared for the petitioner, and Messrs Theo. Cooper and C. Buddie for Mr Allen. The petition was long, bat the allegations were virtually three, viz., that Mr Allen did not signify his consent to his nomination either by letter sent by post or affidavit to the nomination paper, or by telegraph message; that scrutineers were not appointed in writing by the candidate ; and that there had been bribery and illegal treating by the agents of the respondents. Mr Theodors M. Sawer, Returning Officer for Te Aroha, produced a cablegram conveying Mr Allen’s consent as follows :—“ I, William Shepherd Allen, consent to be nominated for Te Aroha district." He produced a list of the scrutineers appointed on behalf of Mr Allen, signed by Henry Buttle, one of the nominators. Colonel Fraser, the petitioner, gave evidence that a man named Edwin Edwards told hiin he was acting on Mr Allen’s committee. Witness asked if he was getting the same pay as the others. L 4 a week and all expenses.£le said that no definite arrangements had been made other than that all reasonable expenses wonld be paid. Witness was about to state a conversation which took place after the election, but Mr Cooper objected that anything which took' place after the election could not be evidence, as the agency terminated with the election. Mr Hesketh urged that the evidence was admissable to prove the agency. The Chief Justice eaid the statement of a person was no proof of agency. That must be pioved by facts, Judge Conolly said if such evidence was admissable no candidate would ba safe if at any time after the election a person could come forward and say he was an agent and had bribed someone. Mr Hesketh said that that ruling would preclude a large portion of the evidence he intended to call. John Meagher, a miner at Paeroa, was the next witness, but as this man was described on the petition as John Maher, farmer, Mr Cooper submitted that bis evidence could not be received. After some argument, in which Mr Hesketh claimed that the petition could be amended, the Chief Justice said he thought it would be better to take the evidence and decide afterwards whether or not the petition ought to be amended. Meagher deposed that Snodgrass, a baker at Paeroa, gave him an envelope addressed to him and Cornes. It contained L2 in notes. Witness kept LI and gave the other to Cornes, with whom he had agreed to divide whatever money they received. He and Cornes were on Allens committee. After some hesitation witnes said he did not support Mr Allen, but volunteered to go on the Committee to see if there was any money in it. He was told that Mr Allen was a moneyed man, and was prepared to spend thousands over hi 3 election; and he (Meagher) wished to get a share of it. James O’Hara, carter, deposed that Edwin Edwards, who appeared to be supporting Mr Allen, gave him five shillings and asked him to vote in Paeroa, but he refused. He had voted an hour before at Karangahake. Edmonds told him he had given money to other parties, that he had sent LI to Meagher, El to Cornes, and L 5 to a man named Cock. Harry Buttle deposed that he bad acted as Mr Allen’s agent by verbal instructions given by Mr Allen. He (Buttle) did not appoint Edmonds as an agent. He reimbursed certain persons for expenses. Edwin Edwards deposed that L2 given Meagher was to pay his and Cornes expenses in coming to Paeroa to vote, and that the 5s he gave to O’Hara was a loan. The Court then adjourned till to-inor-row.