Papers Past | Parliamentary Papers | Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives | 1876 Session I | EAST COAST ELECTION. (REPORT OF THE SELECT...

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1876. NEW ZEALAND.

EAST COAST ELECTION. (REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON; TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE.)

Report brought up and ordered to be printed, 22nd August, 1876.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from ihe Jour>ials of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the sth day of July, 1876. Ordered, That the East Coast Election Committee have leave to adjourn for the space of ono week.— (Mr. Moorhouse.) Friday, thb 14th day oe July, 1876. Ordered, That the East Coast Election Committee have leave to adjourn until Thursday, the 27th day of July.— (Mr. Moorhouse.) Tuesday, the Ist day of August, 1876. Ordered, That the East Coa6t Election Committee have leave to adjourn until Thursday, the 15th day of August.— {Mr. Moorhouse.)

REPORT. The Committee to whom the Petition of George Bentham Morris against the return of George Edward Read as Member for the East Coast Electoral District, in the Province of Auckland, was referred, beg to report as follows : — 1. That George Edward Read was not duly elected as a member to serve in the present Parliament for the East Coast Electoral District. 2. That the said George Edward Read was, by his agents, guilty of bribery at the last election for the said district. 3. That it was not proved that the said bribery was committed with the knowledge or consent of the said George Edward Read. 4. That George Bentham Morris is duly elected a member to serve in the present Parliament for the East Coast Electoral District. 5. That costs be awarded to the petitioner. 6. That the respondent, George Edward Read, do pay the petitioner, George Bentham Morris, the sum of £150, as the petitioner's costs. W. S. Moorhouse, 22nd August, 1876. Chairman. I—l. 2,

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. Wednesday, sth July, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to order at 10 o'clock a.m. Present : Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout. Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wason, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. The petition and order of reference were read. Mr. Shaw attended as counsel for the petitioner, George Bentham Morris, and Mr. Barton as counsel for the respondent, George Edward Bead. Mr. Shaw opened the case for the petitioner, as set out in the petition (vide Appendix), and tendered a certificate from the Deputy Begistrar of the Supreme Court, at Auckland, of the conviction of Cholwell Dean Pitt in the Supreme Court, for bribing electors to vote at the East Coast election for the sitting member, George Edward Bead. Mr. Barton applied for time to argue as to the admissibility of the certificate. Resolved, That the point be argued at next sitting of the Committee. Mr. Shaw applied for an adjournment for one week, to enable him to bring witnesses from Tauranga. , Resolved, That the application of Mr. Shaw be granted, subject to the leave of the House being obtained. Resolved, That at the next meeting of the Committee after the adjournment, the petitioner deliver to the Committee and to the sitting member a list of all the cases of bribing and treating on which he means to rely, and that he be confined to the cases therein specified. Resolved, That the Chairman do make application to the House for leave for the Committee to adjourn for one week. The Committee then adjourned till 10 o'clock a.m. to-morrow.

Thursday, 6th July, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Johnston, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Stout, Mr. Curtis in the Chair. Extract from the Journals of the House of Bepresentatives was read, granting leave to the Committee to adjourn for one week. The Committee then adjourned till Wednesday next, 12th July instant, at 10 o'clock a.m.

Wednesday, 12m July,* 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present : Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wason, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. Mr. Shaw, for the petitioner, delivered to the Chairman, and to Mr. Bartou, for the respondent, a specified list of all the cases of bribing and treating on which he intended to rely, in accordance with the resolution of the Committee. (Vide Appendix.) Mr. Shaw also handed in affidavit of George Bentham Morris, the petitioner, asking for a further adjournment of the Committee, to enable him to procure the attendance of certain important witnesses from Tauranga in support of his petition, and stated that he was prepared to proceed with such evidence as he could then produce. Resolved, That Mr. Shaw proceed with his case, the Committee agreeing that they would hear such evidence as he was prepared to produce. A shorthand reporter attended. Mr. Shaw then called George Edward Bead, who was sworn by the Chairman, and examined by the Committee. Mr. Shaw then called Fairfax Johnson, who, being sworn by tho Chairman, was examined by Mr. Shaw and the members of the Committee, and then withdrew. Mr. Barton addressed the Committee, and asked for further time to cross-examine the last witness, as he was not prepared to do so at present. Resolved, That the Committee do adjourn until to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock, and that Mr. Bartou be then prepared to state to the Committee when he would be prepared to cross-examine the witness Fairfax Johnson. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow at 10 a.m.

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Thursday, 13th July, 1867. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wason, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Barton cross-examined the witness Fairfax Johnson, who, after further examination by the Committee, then withdrew. Mr. Shaw made formal application for a further adjournment for a fortnight to enable him to procure the witnesses from Tauranga. Mr. Barton opposed the application for further adjournment, on the ground that sufficient time had been already granted. The counsel then withdrew, and the Committee proceeded to consider whether Mr. Shaw's application for a further adjournment should be granted. Resolved, That Mr. Shaw's application be acceded to, subject to leave of the House being obtained. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock.

Friday, 14th July, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present : Mr. Stout, | Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Curtis in the Chair. The Chairman not being present, Resolved, That the Committee do adjourn till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock.

Satuedat, 15th July, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Peesent: Mr. Curtis, | Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. The Chairman stated that he had applied for and obtained leave of the House for an adjournment of the Committee for a fortnight. The Committee then adjourned till Thursday, 27th July instant, at 10 o'clock a.m.

Thuesdat, 27th July, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Peesent: Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wason, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. The minutes of last two meetings were read and confirmed. Mr. Shaw read telegrams received from Tauranga explaining non-arrival of witnesses. Mr. Shaw then called Mr. Henshaw, who, being sworn, was examined by Mr. Shaw and crossexamined by Mr. Barton, and then withdrew. Mr. Barton handed in letters from Mr. Henshaw to Mr. Bead's Election Committee, containing an apology for certain language used by him to the chairman of that committee; also, letter from Messrs. Bees and Tyler, solicitors, Auckland, to Mr. Bead, on behalf of Mr. Henshaw, claiming a certain sum of money for election expenses. Mr. Shaw tendered depositions and declarations of three Natives taken and made before the Resident Magistrate at Tauranga. Besolved, on the motion of Mr. Whitaker, That Mr. Shaw and Mr. Barton be heard to-morrow, on the admissibility of the various documents tendered by Mr. Shaw as evidence. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock. Feiday, 28th July, 1876. The Committee met, pursuant to adjournment, at 10 o'clock a.m. Peesent: Mr. Curtis, Mr. "Wason, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Stout, Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed.

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Leave was granted to Mr. Shaw to recall the witness Henshaw. A reporter attended. The witness, after being further examined, withdrew. Mr. Shaw put in, as secondary evidence, the certificate of the conviction of Cholwell Dean Pitt, at the Supreme Court at Auckland, on a charge of bribery. (Vide Appendix.) Mr. Barton objected to the admission of this document as evidence against Captain Bead. The parties having been requested to withdraw, the Committee proceeded to consider the admissibility of the said certificate ; and, after deliberation, Resolved, That the document be received on its merits as confirmatory evidence. The parties were then called in, and informed of the decision of the Committee. Mr. Shaw tendered depositions of Hori Ngatai, of Tauranga, taken and made before the Eesident Magistrate at Tauranga (vide Appendix) ; also affidavit of his having been unable to procure the attendance of Hori Ngatai and other important witnesses. Mr. Barton objected to the deposition being received by the Committee, on the ground that it would not be admitted in a Court of law as evidence in a prosecution for perjury. The Committee, after deliberating, decided to allow the document to be received. Resolved, That Mr. Barton be heard to-morrow on behalf of the respondent. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock. Saturday, 29th July, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Stout. Mr. Whitaker in the Chair. Mr. Barton applied for an adjournment of the Committee till Monday next, 31st instant. Adjournment granted. The Committee adjourned till Monday, 31st July, at 10 o'clock a.m. Monday, 31st July, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wason, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Shaw and Mr. Barton were in attendance. Mr. Barton made application to the Committee to have the consideration of the ease further adjourned, to enable him to procure the attendance of Major Pitt and several Natives, and also several members of a committee sitting at Gisborne to promote Mr. Bead's election ; and produced affidavit of Mr. Wilson, solicitor, Gisborne, in support of his application. The parties having withdrawn, the Committee considered the question of further adjournment. After deliberation, Mr. Stout moved, That Mr. Barton be allowed a fortnight, in order to obtain any witnesses he may be able to produce, on the understanding that if witnesses are not then in attendance, no further time or adjournment will be allowed. Mr. Whitaker moved the following, as an amendment: —That the respondent be granted an adjournment for a fortnight; and unless the Committee see that other witnesses who could not be procured within that time are likely to. attend within a reasonable time, no further adjournment will be granted. On this amendment, the Committee divided, — Ayes, 3. Noes, 3. Mr. Johnston, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Montgomery, . Mr. Stout, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Wason. Mr. Moorhouse gave his casting vote for the amendment, which was therefore carried. The parties were called in, and informed of the resolution of the Committee. Mr. Shaw thereupon applied for further time to produce Hori Ngatai, a Native, and the Returning Officer. Mr. Whitaker moved, That further time having been granted to the respondent to procure evidence, the petitioner be also allowed the same time to supplement his case. Mr. Stout moved, by way of amendment, That Mr. Shaw be allowed to call Hori Ngatai and the Returning Officer, if in attendance in a fortnight. Upon this amendment the Committee divided, — Aye, 1. Noes, 5. Mr. Stout. Mr. Johnston, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. Wason, Mr. Whitaker. The amendment was therefore lost,

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The motion being put, was agreed to unanimously. Mr. Barton applied to have the ballot papers used in the East Coast election produced before the Committee. Resolved, That the Chairman make a request to F. E. Campbell, Esq., Clerk of the House, to produce the same at the next, meeting of the Committee. Resolved, That the Chairman do make application to the House for a further adjournment for a fortnight. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock.

Tuesday, Ist August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wason, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Major Campbell attended with the ballot papers of the East Coast election. Mr. Shaw applied to have the whole of the ballot papers used at the East Coast election examined by the Committee, in order to show the number of votes recorded for each candidate, Mr. Barton stated, as the ground of his application, that he desired the ballot papers to be examined in order to prove the credibility of the witness Fairfax Johnson, and the depositions of the Native Hori Ngatai. Resolved, That the Committee do not at present see any grounds for granting Mr. Barton's application. Mr. Shaw's application being likewise considered, Resolved, That the ballot papers be not examined for the purpose required, and that the petitioner be allowed to prove the numbers polled for each candidate, either by viva voce evidence of the Beturning Officer, or by his affidavit. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Stout, That to-morrow, at 10 o'clock a.m., the respondent deliver to the Committee and to the petitioner a list of all the cases of bribery and treating on which he means solely to rely, and that he be confined to the cases therein specified. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock.

Wednesday, 2nd August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Wason, Mr. Stout, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Montgomery in the Chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Barton, for the respondent, delivered to the Chairman, and to Mr. Shaw, counsel for the petitioner, a statement of the charges made against Mr. Morris, in accordance with the resolution of the Committee. (Vide Appendix.) The parties having withdrawn, the Committee proceeded to a consideration of the charges specified in respondent's statement. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Stout, That the second charge in the statement is too va<me, and is not in compliance with the resolution of the Committee, and therefore the Committee cannot entertain it. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Stout, That the respondent must now specify, in the first charge, the place where the refreshment was supplied, and whether any elector partook of the refreshments offered. The parties were called in and informed of the decision of the Committee. Mr. Barton hereupon delivered to the Committee an amendment to the first charge contained in the respondent's statement. (Vide Appendix.) Mr. Shaw applied to have Captain Morris, the petitioner, examined, in reply to the charges made against him by the respondent. The parties withdrew. After deliberating, Mr. Whitaker moved, That the Committee do not see any reason for departing from the ordinary course of procedure. Mr. Stout moved, by way of amendment, That the Committee permit such examination tomorrow. On this amendment the Committee divided, — Ayes, 2. Noes, 2. Mr. Stout, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Wason. Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Montgomery, as Chairman, gave his casting vote against the amendment. The amendment was therefore lost. The original motion was then put and agreed to. Leave of the House having been obtained for a further adjournment for a fortnight. The Committee adjourned till Tuesday, 15th August instant, at 10 o'clock a.m.

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Tuesday, 15th August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to order and adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present : Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wason, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. A reporter attended. Mr. Barton opened tho case for the respondent, George Edward Bead, and called Adolphus Frederick Hardy, who, on being sworn, was examined by Mr. Barton, aud cross-examined by Mr. Shaw. Bobert Cooper was called, and, being sworn, was examined by Mr. Barton, and cross-examined by Mr. Shaw. William W. Wilson was then called and sworn, and examined by Mr. Barton, and cross-examined by Mr. Shaw. Mr. Barton tendered affidavits proving failure of service of summons on Cholwell Dean Pitt, one of the witnesses for the respondent. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock.

Wednesday, 16th August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wason, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. The minutes of preceding meeting were read and confirmed. A reporter attended. Mr. Barton called Albert Montagu Crapp, who was duly sworn by the Chairman, and examined by Mr. Barton, and cross-examined by Mr. Shaw. The witness then withdrew. William Dunahoo was then called by Mr. Barton, and, being sworn, was examined by him, and cross-examined by Mr. Shaw. Tho witness then withdrew. Mr. Barton here tendered joint affidavit of Mr. W. F. Crawford and Mr. Frederick Dufaur, also affidavit of Louis Pierre Dugleaux, in support of his case for the respondent, they having been members of a committee appointed at Gisborne to further Mr. Bead's election. (Vide Appendix.) Mr. Shaw objected to the admission of thu affidavits, on the ground that the respondent had not used all due diligence to secure the attendance of the deponents before the Committee. The parties having withdrawn, the Committee proceeded to consider the question of the admissibility of the affidavits as evidence. After deliberation, the Committee decided to allow the affidavits to be received. The parties having been called in, were informed by the Chairman of the decision of the Committee. Mr. Shaw delivered to the Chairman affidavit of Mr. Francis Edward Hamlin, Beturning Officer for the East Coast election, stating the number of votes polled for each candidate. (Vide Appendix.) Mr. Shaw applied to have Captain Morris examined, which was granted. George Bentham Morris, being sworn, was examined by Mr. Shaw, and cross-examined by Mr. Barton and the members of the Committee. Before the conclusion of the examination, The Committee adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock.

Thursday, 17th August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wason, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. The minutes of preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Further examination of Captain Morris by Mr. Whitaker. This concluded the evidence. Mr. Barton, counsel for respondent, declined to address the Committee further. Mr. Shaw, for petitioner, then reviewed the evidence adduced, and quoted various authorities in upport of the prayer of the petition. The case on both sides being concluded, The Committee adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock.

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Friday, 18th August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present : Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Wason in the Chair. Tho minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Committee having agreed to examine the evidence individually, adjourned till to-morrow (Saturday) morning, at 10 o'clock.

Saturday, 19th August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present : Mr. Curtis, Mr. Wason, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Stout, Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair, The minutes of the preceding day were read and confirmed. The examination of the evidence by the Committee not being completed, the Committee adjourned till Monday next, 21st August, at 10 o'clock a.m.

Monday, 21st August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present : Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wason, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. On tho question being put, the Committee decided it was not necessary that the evidence should be read over. The following questions, arising out of the evidence, were severally put by the Chairman:— 1. Was bribery committed ? 2. Was bribery committed by Major Pitt ? 3. Was bribery committed by Fairfax Johnson ? The Committee decided in the affirmative to each. Mr. Curtis moved, That the committee sitting in Gisborne, by whom Major Pitt was employed, was an ordinary election committee, acting on behalf of George Edward Read, with his full knowledge and consent. And the question being put, was agreed to unanimously. The following resolutions, moved by Mr. Whitaker, were unanimously agreed to : — (1.) That George Edward Bead ia not duly elected as a member to serve in the present Parliament for the East Coast Electoral District. (2.) That the said George Edward Read was, by his agents, guilty of bribery at the last election for the said district. (3.) That it was not proved that the said bribery was committed with the knowledge and consent of the said George Edward Read. The Committee then proceeded to consider the question of the duo election of George Bentham Morris, and, having deliberated, Mr. Curtis moved, That George Bentham Morris is duly elected a member to serve in the present Parliament for the East Coast Electoral District. To which the following amendment was moved by Mr. Whitaker : — That inasmuch as it was admitted by the petitioner, George Bentham Morris, in his evidence before tho Committee, that he travelled through the electoral district canvassing the electors, and on several occasions during such canvass treated electors with drinks at public-houses, that he was guilty of treating within the meaning of " The Corrupt Practices Act, 1858," and that the said George Bentham Morris was not therefore duly elected. And the amendment being put the Committee divided, — Ayes, 2. Noes, 5. Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Johnston, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Stout, Mr. Wason. The amendment was therefore lost; and the original motion being put, the Committee divided, —

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Ayes, 5. Noes, 2. Mr. Curtis, Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Stout, Mr. Wason. The motion was therefore carried. Mr. Curtis moved, That costs be awarded to the petitioner. On this motion the Committee divided, — Ayes, 5. Noes, 2. Mr. Curtis, Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Stout, Mr. Wason. The motion was therefore carried. Mr. Curtis moved, That the Clerk of the Committee be instructed to ascertain the amouut of costs incurred by the petitioner. On this motion the Committee divided, — Ayes, 5. Noes, 2. Mr. Curtis, Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Stout, Mr. Wason. The motion was therefore carried. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock.

Tuesday, 22nd August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 a.m. Present: Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wason. Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. The petitioner's costs, as furnished by Mr. Shaw, were laid before the Committee. Mr. Read having stated to the Chairman that he wished to make an application to the Committee, it was Resolved, on motion of Mr. Whitaker, That Mr. Read be permitted to state what is the application he desires to make. Mr. Read then attended, and applied to the Committee to hear the evidence of Mr. Chadwick, of Tauranga, in reference to the treating at the East Coast election. Mr. Read having withdrawn, Mr. Wason moved the following resolution with reference to Captain Read's application : —The Committee do resolve that they cannot reopen the case by hearing Mr. Chadwick's evidence upon the question of treating. Mr. Whitaker moved, as an amendment, That the question of costs being still under consideration, the question of treating, so far as it affects costs, be heard by the Committee. And the amendment being put, the Committee divided, — Ayes, 2. Noes, 5. Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Johnston, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Stout, Mr. Wason. The amendment was therefore lost. The Committee then divided on the original motion, — Ayes, 5. Noes, 2. Mr. Curtis, Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Stout, Mr. Wason. The original motion was therefore carried. The Chairman thereupon informed Mr. Read, who was in waiting, that the Committee declined to hear the evidence of Mr. Chadwick. On motion of Mr. Stout, Resolved, That the Chairman certify that the respondent, George Edward Read, do pay the petitioner, George Bentham Morris, the sum of £150, as the petitioner's costs. (For certificate, vide Appendix.) The draft report of the Committee having been submitted was adopted, and the minutes of this day's proceedings confirmed. ,

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MINUTES OF EAQDENCE.

Wednesday, 12th July, 1876. Captain Bead examined on oath. 1. Mr. Shaw, of counsel for the petitioner.] I shall ask you, Captain Bead, if Major Pitt was your agent generally for managing the affairs of the election on your behalf in the District of Tauranga ?— No; I had no affairs in Tauranga requiring it. 2. Did you employ him to do anything for you in connection with the polling at Tauranga, or with this election at all ?—No. 3. Tou did not ?—No. 4. Did you give him any money to be expended in connection with it ? —No. 5. I understand that a steamer was specially chartered to take him from Gisborne to Opotiki, or some other place ?—To Opotiki. 6. Did you pay for that special service? —I did not charter the steamer or pay for it. 7. Did you procure it to be chartered, or induce anybody to do it for you ? —I did not. 8. Then I understand you to say that Major Pitt was in no sense acting for you in connection with that election at Tauranga ?—He had nothing to do with me. Ho never received any instructions from me. I believe he did from a Committee, which I did not appoint, and which I had nothing to do with. 9. Then, if he said he was appointed by you, he was not speaking the truth ?—He was telling what was not true. 10. And if anybody else made oath that you had done so, or had told them that you had done so, that would be untrue also ?—Yes. 11. If one Thomas Joseph Henshaw, for instance, gave evidence that you yourself told him that you had appointed Major Pitt as your agent, would that be true or not ?—lt would not be true. I never saw Henshaw but once, and that was a long time after the election. He was my agent at Tauranga. 12. If he swore that, would it be untrue ? —He could not swear it, because I never saw him. 13. If he did, would it be untrue?—lt would. He went away some time before that. 14. Tou had a conversation with Henshaw about the election ?—He came to me to demand more money. He had already obtained £85, and then he came for £50 more. I would not give it to him. I was going to kick him out. 15. Did you have conversation with him about Major Pitt then ? —No ; he merely said he wanted £50, to pay the balance of election expenses. 16. And you would not give him the £50 ? —-I said, " Don't talk to me about balances. I want an account of what has come of the moneys you have already had." 17. Who were on the committee at Tauranga ?—There was no committee at Tauranga. 18. It was by the committee at Gisborne that Major Pitt was employed ?—I suppose so. I wished to have nothing to do with the election. But some of them would have me in it. In fact, they almost came and took me by main force. They said if I would only agree to stand they would put me in, because they wanted a candidate who knew something of the place. For five years they had never got anything, and they thought they might as well have something as any one else, bo they wished me to stand, as I was the only candidate who could get them anything. 19. Mr. Wason.] Did you employ a proposer and seconder?—l telegraphed to a man named Brandon to act for mo as proposer. 20. Who was your seconder ? —-I do not know. I had very little to do with the matter. They came to me and said, " If you will stand, we will put you in." 21. Did they promise to pay the expenses of the election ? —They said they would put me in, and certainly I did not know there was going to be any expense to myself. I never had anything to do with an election before. 22. Mr. Shaw.] Then Major Pitt was employed by this committee ?—Tes. 23. And received his instructions from tho committee, and not from you ?—Most decidedly not from me. 24. Then it was by the committee ? —Tes. 25. Do you know that as a fact, or do you merely know it from hearsay?—l have heard people say that the committee gave him instructions. 26. Were the instructions written ? —Tes. 27. Have you seen the instructions? —Tes ; he was to do the thing in a proper legal manner. 28. There was some reference to the chartering of a steamer. Did lie go to Opotiki in the steamer ? —Tes, I believe so. 29. Did you speak to Major Pitt before he went on to the steamer ?—I might have spoken to him, but I did not say anything at all to him about these duties. 30. Tou never spoke to him about the election before he went on to the steamer?—No; never about the election. I really had nothing to do with the election. 31. However, the steamer was chartered. Did you pay the account?— The account has been paid by the Committee, and by me. 32. Tou paid part of the account ?—I believe I did. 2—l. 2.

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33. Mr. Wason.] Did you repay the Committee everything it had expended on the election ?—1? paid some, and some the committee paid themselves. 34. Did the committee render you an account of the expenses of the election ?—No; they have never rendered me any account yet. I have paid some sums. At the time I was asked to stand, I did not know there would be any expenses, or you may depend I would not have gone into it. 35. Tou have not paid all the demands of your committee ? —I should think not. Why, they had committees all over the country. The publicans got up committees, and lam charged here and charged there with all sorts of charges. I was surprised to find I was cheered everywhere, but it was all explained afterwards. But I did not pay them. 36. Henshaw sent in a bill for £50 more; but you did not pay that ? —I asked for an account of what he had spent. 37. He did not furnish it?— No. 38. And you would not pay either him or the committee ? —No. 39. The committee have charged sums you did not pay and do not intend to pay ? —-Tes. 40. Mr. Whitaker.] How many committees were there? —There were committees all over the country, but I did not appoint them. They said they were going to put me in without any expense. I did afterwards appoint Henshaw to get votes. .41. Mr. Curtis.] What amount did you actually pay to Henshaw ? —I did not exactly pay him. I paid his passage, and then we bought a horse and a saddle and bridle. He drew a lot of money on my account, altogether about £85. Then he came back and wanted more, but I would not give it to him. He then sent me blackguard letters, and threatened to do all sorts of things—almost to hang me. 42. How did he get money on your account ? —He got it from my agent at Napier. 43. Who was that agent ? —Mr. George Eichardson, a man whom I have known for thirty years. 44. Mr. Whitaker.] He was a kind of general agent for you. He had nothing to do with the election ?—No. 45. He is not in the district even ? —No. 46. Mr. Curtis.] What sums have you paid to the committee ? —I do not know exactly; I have paid a good deal, I can tell you, and very much against my will. 47. Tou cannot say how much ? —No, I have no books here. But these people are still coming for more, and threatening to sue me. 48. Did you pay any portion before the election was over ?—Not a sixpence. I had no idea until the election was over that there was going to be any expense. 49. Mr. Barton.] Do I understand you to say that the committee was a sort of volunteer committee, who came and asked you to stand ? —Tes. 50. And yog expected you would not have anything to do with expenses ?—No. 51. Did you interfere with what the committee were.doing?—No; but after I began the contest, I tried to get votes. 52. Henshaw was the only agent you had ? —He was going to assist Bradley. 53. Bradley was your agent? —-Tes. Henshaw said he knew a lot of people, and I said I would give him something to assist Bradley. 54. Tou thought you were going to be put in without any expense, and then found (the usual thing in these cases, I believe) that you were expected to pay for everything?—Tes; I never had any idea that I was going to be charged with the expense. It seems, when they said they meant to put me in, they intended to put me in the hole. 55. Were you desirous of becoming a candidate? —No. They had been at me previously to go in for the Provincial Council, but I would have nothing to do with them. 56. And when you at last acceded to their requests, you find yourself charged with bribery?— Tes. 57. Did you have anything to do with the appointment of these committees all over the country ? —No ; I never knew anything whatever about their existence till the bills came in. 58. I suppose the publicans got up the committees in the usual way, and then sent in the bills?— Tes; I had not the least idea of bills being run up by these committees. 59. Mr. Shaw.] But you put yourself in the hands of your committee when you consented to stand—that is, the committee which you say waited upon you and asked you to stand ?—Well, they said they would put me in. 60. Then you understood they were acting for you with that object in view?—Tes ; but that was the only committee I knew of. But it seems the whole of Gisborne was acting as a committee. Fairfax Johnson examined on oath. 61. Mr. Shaw.] Tour name is Fairfax Johnson ?—Tes. 62. Where do you live ?■—Tauranga. 63. Do you remember the election for the East Coast, in January last, for the House of Representatives ? —I do. 64. A little before the election, do you remember having seen Major Pitt ?—I do. 65. The election took place on the 6th, did it not ?—Tes. 66. When did you see Major Pitt ? —I saw him on the 3rd or 4th January. 67. Where did you see him ? —On the strand at Opotiki. 68. What did ho say to you ?—Do you wish to know what he said about personal affairs, or merely what ho said about this election ? 69. I speak with reference to the election only. What did he say ?—After greetings, he asked me whom I was going to vote for. I said, " I have not made up my mind yet, but lam on Captain Morris's committee." He said, " Well, I have known you for a long time: stick to me, and let us get ' the old man ' in." I knew that he meant Captain Read when he said " the old man." 70. Did he say whom he was acting for ? —He said he was acting as agent for Captain Read. He superseded another man.

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71. Well ?—I said, " What is your price ?" 72. What did he answer?—He said, "Oh, anything in reason." I said, " Put £20 in my hand, and I am your man." 73. What was the reply ?—He said, " I will see you again on the morning of the election." 74. Was anything said about the Natives ? —lt was agreed that I was to use my influence with them. He said, " Use your influence with the Natives, and give me your vote, and I will give you £20." 75. Were any more words used on that occasion ?—No ; he said, " Call upon me on the morning of tho election, and I will give you the money." 76. What occurred next ?—When the morning came, I rode into town, and met Major Pitt on the Straud. He said, " Halloa, where have you been ; you are late ; I have been all over the place for you." I then wrote him out a list of the names of the Natives who had promised to vote for Captain Bead. This was done at the committee-room, besido the polling-booth. Each man's name was written upon a slip of paper, and Major Pitt gave them to his secretary to initial. This being done, the secretary gave them to the scrutineer, so that he knew how each man was going to vote. 77. Tou put the names upon the slip of paper ?—Tes. 78. After they had been initialled, what became of them ?—They were given to the scrutineer; at any rate were handed into the booth. 79. Well, what did you do then ? —Major Pitt and myself went into a back room, and there he handed me twenty £1 notes. 80. Did he say for what purpose they were given ?—To give to the Natives for their votes. 81. What did you do when you got these notes ?—I took the Natives away into a private part of the town and gave them each a£l note —in all, £19. The other I spent in " shouts." 82. Do you recollect any of the names of the Natives to whom you gave these £1 notes ?—Tes. 83. Name them?—l remember some, but not all. There were Peter Poutier,a half-caste ; Joseph Faulkner, a half-caste ; William Fairfax Johnson, my son, a half-caste; Alfred Poutier, son of the other Poutier, also a half-caste; HereWini, Herewini Ngawharau, Herewini Keti, Herewini Bera, Wharapeta, Teira Tarautete, Eauriti, Hikitene, Hamueraki Taki, Te Mete. I cannot recollect any more names. 84. Was it before or after the voting that you gave them money ? —Before. 85. Why did you give it to them ?—To induce them to vote for Captain Read. 86. When you were in the committee-room, what was Captain Bead doing ?—He was not there. 87. What was Major Pitt doing ? Did he appear to be directing the clerk and superintending business ? —Tes; that was what he was doing there. He took the names from me, and then gave them to his clerk to initial. 88. Mr. Stout.] Tou speak of Captain Bead's committee - room. How do you know it was his committee-room ? Did you see any placards ?—Tes; there was a placard with the words " Captain Bead's Committee-room and Befreshment-room." 89. Did Captain Morris have a room ?—Tes; his room was placarded exactly the same. 90. Mr. Wason.] When you met Major Pitt first, you said you were on Captain Morris's committee ?—Tes, so I was. 91. Have you not received any consideration from Captain Morris's committee ? —Certainly not. 92. Tou received nothing from Major Pitt for yourself?— No. 93. Tou gave £19 to the Natives, and spent the other £1 in drinks?—Tes; and when I went home I found I had spent more than £l. 94. Tou demanded £20 from Major Pitt ?—Tes. 95. Did he understand you were not to get that ? —Tes : I was to use my influence with the Natives; and the only way in which I could use my influence with them was to put something in their hands. 96. Did you make any claim on Captain Bead for expenses ?—No. 97. Mr. Johnston.] Why did you disclose this matter ?—I did not like to disclose it, but it was found out. The Natives told about it, and I was asked if it were the fact, and I did not like to tell a lie. 98. The other side have made no attempt to get you to make this statement ?—No; I know nothing about the other side. The Committee adjourned.

« Thursday, 13th July, 1876. Fairfax Johnson cross-examined. 99. Mr. Barton.] I wish to know whether my notes of certain things you said yesterday are correct. I think you said you were on Captain Morris's committee, but had not made up your mind to vote when you first met Major Pitt ?—Yes ; I said that. 100. Tou asked him for £20, but not for yourself. Is that correct ? —Tes. 101. Since the election you have made no claim on Major Pitt or Captain Bead ? —No. 102. Tou also said you would not have disclosed this bribery business, had it not been that the Natives did so, and you were found out ? —Tes ; just so. 103. Very well. Now, first of all, have you any ill-feeling towards Captain Bead? —Tes ; I have. 104. Have you had any ill-feeling against him for some time past ?—Tes. 105. Tou had an ill-feeling against him at the time you were taking this £20. Tou had it previously, and you have it now ? —Tes ; but that is private. 106. Have you ever expressed yourself to the effect that you would serve him out ? —I do not know whether I have so expressed myself. But such was my intention, I thought a day of retribution would come.

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107. And you think this is the day ?—I hope so, at any rate. 108. How did you vote at this election. Of course, you did vote. How did you vote ?—I will not answer that question. I did vote ; I will tell you that. 109. I press the question ?—-Well, I will answer it in my own way. I did not vote for Captain Bead; but I did vote. 110. The next question is, did you not vote for Captain Morris ?—Well, I will answer you; I did vote for Captain Morris. 111. Were you on Captain Morris's committee when you asked for this £20?—Tes. 112. After you took, or agreed to take, the £20, did you see Captain Morris or act on his committee ?—No. 113. Never go into his committee-rooms afterwards? —No. 114. Tou felt, then, that the acceptance of the £20 disqualified you from sitting on the committee ?—Tes. 115. Did you not speak to Captain Morris, after you received the £20 ?—No; he went away to Gisborne. 116. Did you see the chairman of his committee, or any member of it?—No ; that is to say, I met them, but never spoke to them. 117. Tou did not tell them about this matter?— No. 118. When did you first begin to talk about the matter ?—Ten days after the election. 119. That is, after you were found out by the Natives speaking on the subject?—Tes. 120. You have not always said the same, have you ?—Tes. 121. Did you not say different in the Court?— No. 122. Then the newspaper reporter must have invented it. Did you not say that as soon as the election was over, you told every one about the matter ?—Tes, I did, after it got " blown." 123. Never mind about " blowing." Did you not do it before it got " blown" ?—No. 124. I will read what it is reported you said: —" I have informed other persons since 6th January what took place between myself and Major Pitt; in so doing, I have always told them the same as I now state." There is nothing there about not speaking of the matter until the Natives did what we might call " peached " ?—I am speaking truth now, as I have always done. 125. Tou asked for the £20 not for yourself?— Certainly not for myself ; except the £1 I spent. 126. Practically, you kept nothing? —No. 127. How old is your son ? —Twenty-six. He is a married man with four children. 128. Did you spend the £1 in "stout" for Bead or Morris's supporters? — Anybody who came along. 129. Whom were you canvassing for? For whom did you get votes ? —They told me they were going to vote for Captain Bead. 130. Then you took the £20 and distributed it; never made any claim on Captain Bead, and never intend to make any claim upon him ; but out of ill-feeling to Captain Bead, got this money and paid it away on purpose to catch him. That was why you took the money?— Yes; I did not consider him a proper person to represent a constituency. 131. And you thought the proper way to prevent his representing a constituency was to take money from some person and try to upset the election ? —Tes. 132. I suppose you would not tell a lie ? —No ; not willingly. lam getting too old for that. 133. But you would do a little bribery. Do you know that this is an offence for which you could be dealt with by the law ?—I have heard so since. 134. Are we to understand that you took this money on purpose to put him out if he got in ? —Tes. 135. Oh! Tou would premeditatedly commit the offence of bribery, but would not on any account tell a lie ?—Well, I would not tell a lie knowingly. 136. Now, I ask you this: Tou swore yesterday you gave every one of these Natives you speak of £1 each ? —I will swear the same to-day. 137. Did you give, them each the £l without diminution ?—Without my having a sixpence, I gave each man his £1 in the presence of the other Natives. I did not give it to one man in one corner and to another man in another corner. 138. Well, now you have told us that you promised your own vote to Captain Bead, as a matter of fact, for whom did you vote ? —Tou have misunderstood me. I did not say I gave my promise to vote for Bead. I said I would use my influence with the Natives for him. . 139. And not your own vote ? —No. 140. Were you in Court during the whole time ?—No ; I was not in Court when the Natives were examined. 141. Were you in Court when Mr. Bees was opening the case? —No. 142. Tou were not in Court before you were called as a witness ?—No. 143. Did you not say iv Court that the money was paid for your vote and influence ?—No. 144. I will read what you were reported to have said before Major Boberts, at Tauranga:—" It was an understood thing that the money was paid for my vote and influence; in the first instance, Major Pitt told me that if I would use my vote and my influence, he would give me £20." Did you not say that ?—No. _ J 145. Did you say at the Court you had voted for Captain Morris ? —I did not. The question was asked me, but Major Boberts overruled it. 146. No one was present when you were handed the money by Major Pitt ?—No. 147. No one saw or heard the bargain made between you ?—No ; it was done in the street, and I do not think any one overheard us. 148. Here is the roll. Will you point out how many of the Natives you mentioned are to be found in it ? —Witness went through the roll, and pointed out all the names he had mentioned, except that of Kauriti.

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149. Where does the Native whose name is here —302 on the roll—live ? Does he not live some two miles from your place?—Tes. 150. Did you not say in the Court that these Natives all lived about two hundred yards from your house?— No. 151. Did you not say at the Court, " I saw those persons in consequence of the first interview I had with Major Pitt; they (meaning the Natives) live about 200 yards from my house "? —Tes. 152. Mr. Shaw.] There are four Herewinis mentioned. I suppose Herewini is a family name, and the other names are distinctive ? —Tes. 153. Tou say positively it was not until these Maoris began to talk about what they had received that you spoke about the matter. After it became known, then you told a large number of people ?— Tes ; I was asked whether it was true, aud I said, " Tes, it is." The Committee adjourned,

Thursday, 27th July, 1876. Thomas Joseph Henshaw examined on oath. 154. Mr. Shaw.] What is your name ?—Thomas Joseph Henshaw. 155. Tou live at Tauranga ? —Tes. 156. About the end of last year did you see Captain Bead ? —Tes, Sir. 157. It was in December, I think ? —Tes ; in December. 158. What are you ? —At present, I am keeping a private family hotel at Tauranga. 159. At that time, I believe Captain Bead was a candidate for the East Coast District in the House of Bepresentatives ?—Tes. 160. Where was it you saw him ? —At Gisborne. 161. Had you any conversation with him then? — Tes; I had had frequent conversations with him. 102. Did you offer your services to him in any capacity ?—Tes; I did offer my services as his canvassing agent to go to Tauranga. 163. Tou acted as his agent in what respect ? —As canvassing agent for him. 164. In connection with the election ? —Tes, Sir. 165. When did you receive that offer ?—He employed me, and said I was to go to Tauranga. 166. Did you take steps to go there ?—Tes. How do you mean? 167. Did you take steps to go ? Did you put yourself in the way of getting to the place where you were to act as his canvassing agent ?—Tes, I did. 16S. Were you to act generally in connection with the election, or how?— Captain Bead simply told mo to go up and use my influence, and to do all I could to secure him votes; in fact, to act as his canvassing agent. 169. Did he give you any money ?—Tes ; £20 previous to my starting. It was a cheque for £20 which he gave me. 170. And did you get to Tauranga ? —I went to Napier first, and from there to Tauranga. 171. Did you get any more money there? —Tes; I telegraphed to Captain Bead for money, and he sent me £25 more at Tauranga, to liquidate my expenses. 172. To whom did that money come ?—Through the Telegraph Department to me. I got it from Mr. Sheath, the Postmaster. 173. Did you see Major Pitt there at all ? —Tes ; he arrived the day after I did. 174. At this time, when you were engaged by Captain Bead to go there as his agent, did you know that there was any committee at Gisborne? — Well, if there was a committee, I did not know anything at all about it. Captain Bead was the only person to whom I spoke on the subject. 175. Did you know, of your own knowledge, that there was a committee there ?—Not before I started. 176. How soon after your arrival was it that you saw Major Pitt?—l will not be positive in swearing as to the date. I think it was the following night I met him, in the Times office. 177. And you say that, so far as you know, there was no committee when you left Gisborne ?— I had nothing to do with any committee before I left Gisborne. 178. Had you any conversation with Major Pitt ?—Tes, I had. 179. What did he say to you on that occasion? —-He told me that he had come up as agent for Captain Bead, by way of Opotiki. I came the other route from Napier. 180. Were these the exact words he used? —Tes; that he had come up as agent for Captain Bead. 181. Did you continue to act at the election at all?—Tes, I continued to act, but under Major Pitt's surveillance or jurisdiction, as it were. 182. Did you look to him as the head agent ?—Tes. 183. Did you incur any expenses ? —I did, Sir. 184. AVere they paid to you?— Major Pitt paid them. 185. Did you go to Gisborne after the election P—l did. 186. Did you see Captain Bead there ? —I did, Sir. 187. Did you say anything to him ? —Tes, Sir, I spoke to him about 1 scarcely understand your question. 188. What did you talk to him about? —I asked him for my expenses for having acted as his agent. We had a long conversation. 189. Did you find any fault with him? —I found fault with him for not paying me for my work, or not giving me what I was justly entitled to.

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190. Did you say anything about his having appointed Major Pitt ?—I asked him how it was that he appeared not to have the same opinion of me as he had prior to my starting, and he said it was owing to information received from Tauranga, or from some other place—l think he said Tauranga —that he found I was not a popular man in Tauranga and the wrong man to send, and that, consequently, he was compelled to send Major Pitt as agent for him. Ho said that distinctly. 191. Did you see Major Pitt from the time that you were at Tauranga, after the first meeting with him, acting in connection with the election ? —Oh, yes; wo were acting together all the time. 192. What part did he seem to take in it ? —He seemed to be the head agent, and I simply acted under his orders. 193. Did he direct everything as an agent, authoritatively ? —Tes. A question arises, what constitutes a head agent? Ho gave me money to liquidate the expenses, and that sort of thing. In fact, he took everything out of my hands. 194. And you acted under him ? —Tes. 195. And Captain Read distinctly told you that he had, from something he had heard about you not being popular at Tauranga, superseded you, and appointed Blajor Pitt ? —He did not say he superseded me. He said he was compelled to send Major Pitt as his agent, after me. 196. Mr. Barton.] Now, Mr. Henshaw, I will read over some notes I have taken of your evidence. Tou say you received £20 on leaving Captain Read; that at Tauranga you telegraphed for £25 more, and got it; that you saw Major Pitt at Edgecumbe's office, and learned that he was to be chief agent; that you had nothing to do with any committee, as Captaiu Read employed you?— That was when I left Gisborne. 197. Tes; lam simply reading my rough notes, and asking you as to their correctness. I understood you to say that you had nothing to do with any committee, and when you came up they did not consider you had anything to do with any committee, because you were employed by Captain Read ? —Tes ; I knew of no committee at this time. 198. But at any time ; did you know at any time after you came to Tauranga ?—I knew of no committee until after I had started from Gisborne, and had nothing to do with the committee up to this time. 199. Did you not say, " I had nothing to do with any committee at any time"?—l did not say that. 200. Well, did you have anything to do with any committee at any time ?—I had in this way : byapplying to the committee for payment, aud tendering my account. The chairman, Mr. Wilson, wrote to me a letter in return to my application, saying that as the committee did not employ me, they could not pay me, and referring me to Captain Bead for payment. 201. Very well. Tou say you saw Major Pitt on his arrival, and that he told you he had come up on behalf of Read ; and that, afterwards, you acted under him ?—Tes. 202. And he paid you all the expenses you had incurred? —Tes. 203. How much?—lt was £21 2s. 6d. " 204. This was in addition to the £25 and the £20 ?—Tes. 205. Afterwards, when you spoke to Captain Bead at Gisborne, ho said it was in consequence of your unpopularity that he had been compelled to send Major Pitt ?—Tes. 206. Now, I ask you this. Tou found Pitt at Tauranga the day of your arrival, and he then said this to you. How could Captain Bead, in the course of probably twelve or thirteen hours, or perhaps less, have found out that you were unpopular? —-I do not know how he found it out. He told me I had not left many hours before he found it out. 207. He found he had been hasty in appointing you ?—Tes. 208. Captain Bead was flush of money, I presume, seeing that after he had given you £45, you got another £21 2s. 6d. from him, notwithstanding that he had discovered you were unpopular, and in fact, twelve or thirteen hours after you left, had deemed it necessary to send some one else up because of your unpopularity ?—So he told me. 209. Do you mean to say that, after he had sent some one up to supersede you, he allowed you to incur £21 2s. 6d. more in expenses?—Pitt did-not supersede mo exactly ; and as to letting me incur the expenses, that was done by Pitt. 210. Now, is your relation of facts correct?—Tes. Captain Bead said that owing to his having received information of my unpopularity shortly after I left, he had therefore sent Pitt up as principal agent. 211. He must have sent him up within two or three hours after you left?— That may be. 212. May I ask you this: Notwithstanding your unpopularity, he did not dismiss you ?—Certainly not. 213. Notwithstanding this great unpopularity, they thought it necessary to keep you and use you ? —Tes, it seemed so. 214. I want to know this: After you received the £66 2s. 6d. —for that was in all the amount you received—did you get a horse and saddle and bridle? —Tes; Mr. Bead had authorized me to get that. 215. And you did receive them ?—Tes. 216. Tes ; well now after all this, did you not send in a bill for more? —I did; I went back to Gisborne and asked for more money. 217. Did you get it?— No. 218. Did you employ lawyers to sue Captain Bead for it ?—I did not; I spoke to Mr. Bees. 219. Did you not instruct Messrs. Tyler and Bees to proceed against him ? —I did not employ them. I spoke to Mr. Bees, and asked him what I ought to do. I had no money with which to employ him. 220. Did you not instruct them to send Captain Bead a letter ?—I did not; but I believe they did send him a letter. 221. Did you not read the letter ? —I did not.

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222. Do you mean to tell the Committee that a respectable firm of lawyers would send a letter unauthorized ?—I do not know the purport of the letter. 223. Who told you to say that ? Do you wish the Committee to believe that ?—I say distinctly that I only spoke to Mr. Bees, and did not know he was going to send a letter to Captain Read. He merely said to me, " We will see about tho matter." (Letter read.) 224. That letter was unauthorized by you ? —The whole of it. I never heard of it before. I simply told Mr. Rees my case. 225. If you had received the £87 you demanded in that letter, would your evidence have been different from what it has been. Now, on your oath mind ? —I presume I have been on my oath ever % since the commencement of my evidence. My evidence could not be different from what it is, because I am merely speaking the truth. 226. Tou happen to differ from other witnesses who have also said they were speaking the truth ? —I do not know anything about that. 227. Do you know a Mr. Crapp ? —I know threo Mr. Crapps. 228. Then it is pretty certain you know one. Did you send one of these two or three Mr. Crapps to Captain Read ?—No; I did. not. 229. Was not some proposal made by one of the Mr. Crapps to Captain Read on your behalf— proposals which were of the same purport as the letter, aud demanding £87 without more ado, or you would make it pretty warm for him when you came to give evidence ?—No. 230. Then he went unauthorized, just as Messrs. Rees and Tyler wrote without authority?—Tes ; I was talking to Crapp, but did not send him. 231. Where does Crapp live?—At Gisborne; I know very well the one you refer to. I did not send him or anybody else. 232. Tou happened to be talking to Mr. Crapp, and then he voluntarily went to Captain Read. Is that the way in which we are to understand it ? —I did not tell him to go ; and if he did go, this is the first I have heard of it. 233. At any rate, you wanted £87 besides the money you had been paid, and the horse, saddle, and bridle, which had been given to you?—l considered I was entitled to that sum for what I had done. 234. And as you were not paid, you were determined to take it out by giving evidence against him ?—I do not know anything about taking it out of him. 235. Did you not apply to the committee for the money?—l did. 236. Although you have sworn that you had nothing to do with tho committee ?—I said I had had nothing to do with the committee at the time I left Gisborne. 237. Very well. When you applied to the committee, you were referred to those who had employed you ? —Tes ; that was the effect of a letter written by Mr. Wilson to me. 238. Did you act iv such a way to the committee that it became necessary for you to apologize for your conduct?—l did ; and I will tell you all about it. 239. Never mind telling us all about it; that is the fact, is it not ? —-Tes. 240. Mr. Wason.] I should very much like to hear the explanation, and it is but right that the Committee should have it ?—Perhaps the Committee will allow me to explain. When I was going away from Gisborne, I met Major Pitt, and he said to me, "Where are you going, Henshaw?" I replied, "I am going to Auckland, to place my affairs in the hands of Rees and Tyler, and try and get payment." He said, " Oh, don't do that; you were rather hasty in using such language to tho committee. If you write a letter to Wilson, apologizing, it will be all right." Of course, I thought I had better pocket my pride, and I wrote this letter of apology, saying that I was sorry for having written so hastily, and trusted that he would accept my apology in a proper light. I wrote in the hope of being paid. I met Wilson afterwards, and said to him, " I have written a letter of apology to you for the hasty language I used towards yourself, and hope you will receive it." I then added, "I should like some money." Wilson said," That's all we wanted," and that it would be all right. It was agreed that he should send me some money. On my arrival in Auckland, I wired to him, and asked him if he intended to send me some money, as he had promised it. There was no answer to that telegram, and therefore I wired to him again, asking him if he had received the previous telegram. If not, I would not take steps to recover. To this I received no answer ; and then I wired to the telegraphist, asking him if the telegrams had been received and delivered. He replied to me that they had been received —both of them —but that there was no answer yet. I then went to Messrs. Bees and Tyler, and asked them what I had better do. 241. Mr. Whitaker.] In this note of apology, you say you hope "it will be received in a proper light." I suppose that means you hoped he Would pay the money ?—-That was what I was looking after ; but I did not exactly intend to convey that meaning in those words. I thought the apology might be misconstrued. 242. The letter was written for the purpose of getting money ?—Tes, it was. 243. Then the " proper light" meant that you hoped he would forthwith pay the money ?—Something of that. 244. Mr. Barton.] Have you been convicted of any offence in Auckland ? —Me, Sir ? Never! 245. Or tried for any offence ?• —I decline to answer that question. 246. Mr. Stout.] Tou say, Mr. Henshaw, that Major Pitt ordered " this and that" to be done. What did he order at Tauranga ? —He ordered md to buy bread and meat for the polling booth, which was at my place. 247. Was he there himself ?—Tes. 248. Was there a committee-room there ? —Tes ; there was a committee in the passage, if you can call it a room. Johnson and another man were superintending the usual routine. 249. What is " the usual routine " at Tauranga ? —The same as anywhere else, I suppose ; people were asked to give their votes, and taken across to the polling booth.

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250. Mr. Johnston.] How many days elapsed from the time of your departure from Tauranga till your return ?—That I cannot say for certain; I have not kept a memorandum of dates. I think that it must have been about three weeks. I think I left about the 25th December and returned about the 13th or 14th January. 251. During those three weeks did your expenses come to £150 ? —I consider my services worth £2 or £3 per day. 252. You have sent in a bill for £150; was that a fair charge ? —-Besides my personal services, there was the use of my house for committee-rooms. I had to clear my shop out and also my parlour. 253. I think you said you kept a private hotel? —I do now, but did not then. I kept a shop then. 254. Mr. Whitaker.] Where were you residing before this election commenced ? —I was residing at Gisborne, and my wife was at Tauranga. 255. Your residence was at Gisborne ? —lt was not my fixed residence, because my wife was living at Tauranga. I went to Gisborne to get employment. I went into the employment of Mr. Adair. This did not suit me. I was going back, and thought the agency for Mr. Bead a good opportunity. 256. And you sent in a claim for £150 for services you rendered him ?—Yes. 257. Did you influence many votes ? —I asked a good number of people to vote for Captain Bead. 258. What was the nature of the influence used?—l merely told the electors I met that he was a jolly fellow, and was a fit and proper person to represent the district. 259. Mr. Johnston.] And for that you charged £150? —Well, I thought I did something for the money. 260. Mr. Wason.] You were working for about twenty-one days ?—Yes. 261. And you reckon your time worth £3 a day. It seems to me you ask more than £3 a day, a good deal ?—I could not travel about for nothing. 262. Oh, you wanted £3 a day and travelling expenses ? —I consider I was entitled to the amount I claimed from Captain Bead for the work I did and the accommodation I provided. 263. Did you pay any money away, or would you have paid any money away if the £87 had been paid you ?—I did not; and if I had got the money, I would have taken good care not to have paid it away. 264. Did you make out an account, or did you merely demand the sum?—-I demanded the sum. 265. Can you give us any account of the expenses you were put to ? —No ; I expended all I could in Captain Bead's service. 266. You have made nothing out of the transaction ?—No. 267. And had to give up your shop and parlour as well ?—Yes. 268. You have stated Pitt ordered you about and paid your expenses, That was after he superseded you ? —Yes. 269. Were you acting as a subordiuate to him ?—Yes. 270. And he paid your expenses?—No ; he simply authorized me to buy certain things, and when I did buy the things, such as bread and meat, I got the tradesmen's accounts, gave them to him, and he supplied me with the money to pay them. 271. You were with Pitt on the day of the election?— Yes. 272. I should like to know how you voted ?—I voted for Captain Bead. 273. Mr. Montgomery.] What were the provisions—the bread and meat —for? —For keeping open house. It was necessary to keep something for the Natives to eat. All the other candidates did the same. Captain Morris and Mr. Kelly did the same. 274. These were paid for by Pitt?—Yes ; he gave me the money, and I paid the tradesmen. 275. How many electors did you call upon during these three weeks ? How many votes did you solicit? —I could not say. I asked every person I met. 276. Did you hold out any inducement besides talking to them ? —I did not. 277. The Chairman.] You did not bribe anybody?— No. 278. Mr. Barton.] Did you not leave Tauranga on the 23rd December, and return on the 12th January ?—I will not swear to dates. 279. Mr. Shaw.] You'first got £20, which you spent in travelling expenses up to Tauranga ?— Yes. ' 280. Then you got £25?— Yes. 281. And that is the only money you had besides tho £21 2s. 6d. which you paid for bread and meat, and other things ?—Yes. 282. Did you not sell the horse ?—Yes. 283. Mr. Whitaker.] What did you do with the money you got for that?—l paid incidental expenses out of it. It is not fair to bring me down to these small matters.

Friday, 28th July, 1876. Thomas Joseph Henshaw re-examined on oath. 284. Mr. Shaw.] Did Captain Bead speak to you yesterday, just as you were coming in here ?—Tes. 285. What did he say?—He asked me how I was. I said I was quite well. He said, "Well, if you tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, I will make you a present of a cheque for £20." 286. Was that all ?—That was all. 287. What did you say ? —I said I came here to tell the truth. 288. Mr. Whitaker.] Do you claim the £20?— Oh, no, Sir.

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Tuesday, 15th August, 1876. Adolphus Frederick Hardy examined on oath. 289. Mr. Barton.] Where do you live, Mr. Hardy ?—ln Poverty Bay. 290. Are you an elector in the East Coast District ?—Yes. 291. You remember, of course, the election in which Captain Bead was returned ?—I do. 292. Were you a member of any committee up there for any political purpose before that election ?—I was a member of a self-constituted committee. We constituted ourselves a committee. 293. For what purpose? —For the purpose of getting a member to stand for the East Coast District. 294. This was before Captain Bead or anybody was brought forward ?—Yes. 295. You say there was a committee self-constituted, for the purpose of getting a candidate of your opinions for Poverty Bay ? —Yes. 296. Who was chairman of that committee? How many members of that committee wore there ?—I cannot tell; I cannot remember. There were a good many. 297. Where did the committee sit ?—The first meeting of the committee was held in the Court House. 298. In what town?—Gisborne. 299. Well, who was the first candidate that you got ? —Mr. Wilson. 300. Mr. Wilfred Wilson, solicitor ?—Yes. 301. Mr. Stout.] Was he a candidate, or was his name suggested ? —His name was suggested, and he wrote an address to the electors. 302. Mr. Barton.] Was that address published?—l believe so. Yes; it was in the papers. 303. How long was Mr. Wilson the published candidate? —I suppose it must have teen two or three weeks. 304. And was the committee sitting during that time, off and on ? —ln the meantime the committee had been seeing what tho feeling of the district was as to Mr. Wilson. We were seeing whether he was likely to be elected or not. 305. What, then, did the committee do ? —We found that the feeling was not very strongly in Mr. Wilson's favour, and that it was the general wish that Captaiu Bead should stand for the district. 306. How long before the election —the day of polling —was it that the self-constituted committee communicated with Captain Bead ?—I cannot tell you the exact day; but it was a very short time before—only a few days before. 307. Were you one of those who went to see him ? —Yes, I was instructed to ask him if he would allow himself to be nominated —put forward. 308. Will you state what took place between you and others, and Captain Bead, when the deputation went to him ?—I saw Captain Bead, and told him that it was the general wish that ho should allow himself to be put forward, and he very strongly objected. > He said ho had no desire to mix himself up with anything of the sort. At that time, he decidedly stated that he would not stand. Later in the day we had another meeting ; and we then called on him again and requested him to allow himself to be put forward, and he said " Well, if I do this, you will not expect me to attend another committee meeting, or to canvass the district." I said "No ; if you will stand, we will do all that for you ;" and from that time until the day of the election I never saw Captain Bead to speak to. 309. Did he ever attend any meeting of that committee ?—To my knowledge, never. 310. Well, now, do you know anything about Major Pitt, and the part he took in the election?— I know very little about Major Pitt. I only know what the committee told me. * 311. Were there any expenses of that committee ? —I know nothing about expenses. Any expenses I incurred I paid myself. 312. Did you ever ask Mr. Bead to recoup you ?—Never. 313. Have your expenses been considerable ? —Not a very large amount. 314. That is, your own expenses ? —Expenses connected with the election. 315. Did you interest yourself actively about the election—did you hold auy meetings yourself?— Yes ; more than anybody else. 316. Were they attended with expense—for instance, did you go into the country ?—Yes. 317. Did you hold meetings at public-houses ?—Yes ;on different occasions I hired rooms. 318. Of course, that cost money? —Yes. 319. Did you never ask Captain Bead for that money ?—No. 320. Did Captain Bead have any connection with the committee beyond that the committee was working for him ? —I do not think so. He was not at any of the committee meetings during tho contest that I am aware of. 321. Mr. Shaw.] When you went the first time to ask Captain Bead to stand, he refused ?—Yes. 322. How long was that before the election ? —About ten days, as far as I remember. 323. Was Pitt appointed before or after that; or do you know when he was appointed ?—After that time, certainly. 324. After the second interview with Captain Bead ?—Yes; after Captaiu Bead had agreed to stand. 325. I have a note that you said Captain Bead would not at first consent to stand, but afterwards said he would, but would not attend any committee meetings or take any trouble in canvassing whatever ?—He did not say he would not. He asked us if it were necessary for him to do so, and said he hoped there would be nothing of the kind. We told him there would not be, and promised to put him in. 326. Then he gave his consent on your saying, " Oh, we will do that for you." He was to merely stand, and you were to do the work ?—I understood he was to have no trouble in the matter. 327. That you were to do everything for him ?—The committee was to do it for him. He was to have no trouble. We were to canvass the district for him, and it was understood we were to put him in. 3—l. 2.

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328. About these expenses. I understood you to say that you paid out of your own pocket all expenses that you had any cognizance of in connection with this election ?—Yes; all that I incurred myself I paid. 329. Do you know how much in the aggregate these expenses would come to ? Some were in the country districts, and some in town, I understand. How much altogether ?—Between £10 and £20 altogether. I cannot tell exactly. 330. Do you know how much more expense was incurred by members of the committee and paid by them ?—I do not. 331. It may be a large sum, or may be a small sum ? —Yes ; but I do not know. 332. Do you know anything about Major Pitt ? —No. 333. Were you present at all the committee meetings ? —No; I was present at four or five. 334. When the committee was first formed as a committee it was for Mr. Wilson ?—Yes. 335. The duration of its existence before the election, then, would cover more than ten days ?— Three or four weeks. 336. It was in existence as Mr. Wilson's committee for some days ?—Yes ; it was extended over a month altogether. 337. Mr. Montgomery.] I understand Major Pitt was appointed by the committee ?—I believe he was. Ido not know that he was ever positively appointed. 338. You were not present when it was done ? —No ; I had nothing to do with it. 339. Mr. Wason.] Was there a chairman to this committee ? AYe understand there were a great variety of these committees over the district. Who was chairman of this particular committee ? — When it was first formed, at a meeting of the electors at Gisborne, no chairman was appointed, and, as far as I know, no standing chairman was appointed. At each meeting, we elected one of those present to take the chair for the evening. At one meeting I was chairman, and another meeting another person would be chairman, and so on. 340. Is this the usual course at election committees ? —I do not know. I was not connected with an election before. 341. How many members were there on the committee ? —I think I have seen twenty members present. 342. Were there any moneys paid?— Not so far as I know. After the election I never attended any meeting. 343. Do you know anything about the chartering of a steamer ?—No. 344. AVhat do you do at Gisborne ; that is where you live, is it not ?—I live ten miles from Gisborne. lam a sheep-farmer, and at this time I was Chairman of the Eoad Board. 345. Did you know Mr. Henshaw was acting for Captain Bead ? —I did not know'him. 346. Did you hear he was acting for Captain Bead ? —No. 347. Did you hear nothing about it at the committee meeting ?—No ; I knew nothing about it. 348. And you knew nothing about Major Pitt's appointment ?—No. 349. Nor yet about the chartering of the steamer?— No. 350. Was there any secretary to the committee ? —Not that I am aware of. 351. Were the meetings called by advertisement? —No; it was generally known when we were to meet. The committee was split up into sections for different places. 352. To which section did you belong?—l belonged to the country section, and looked after country voters. 353. You did not canvass in town : only in the country ? —Yes. 354. Mr. Whitaker.] I understand there was a large committee dispersed over different parts of the country*and the meetings took place in different parts of the country? —Yes. 355. And you were sometimes at one committee and sometimes at another ?—Yes. 356. It was in point of fact one committee, but subdivided ?—Yes. 357. Mr. Barton.] Can you say whether the committee ever changed its constitution. That is, were the members appointed first by a public meeting only allowed to attend the committee, or did any person go in if he chose to do so ? —No; it was all along the same committee as was appointed by tho ratepayers. 358. Mr. Wason,] Was not the committee empowered to add to its number if it chose to do so ? —No. 359. It never increased in number from the time of the original appointment ? —No. 360. Mr. Whitaker.] Did anybody else attend the committee but those who had been appointed ? —No. 361. But each person attended, and meetings were called as was thought fit ? —Not exactly; there were places and times of meeting planned out, and the plan was kept to.

Tuesday, 15th August, 1876. Bobert Cooper examined on oath. 362. Mr. Barton.] Your name ? —Bobert Cooper. 363. What are you, Mr. Cooper ? —A settler at Poverty Bay. 364. You were there at the time of the election at which Captain Bead was retqrned ?■ —Yes. 365. Were you a member of the committee at Gisborne ?—Yes. 366. How was that committee appointed? —We formed ourselves into a committee to secure Captain Bead's return. I asked Captain Bead for three weeks to come forward as a candidate, but he refused. At last he consented to stand. There was a committee sitting at this time for the purpose of securing the return of Mr. Wilson. 367. What had he to do with it ? —He was at this time putting up, but he was willing to retire in favour of Captain Bead. We brought Captain Bead to this committee-room and asked him to stand,

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and he agreed to do so; and the committee which had previously been working, or rather feeling the way for Mr. Wilson, was re-formed into a Committee to secure the return of Captain Bead. AYe told Captain Bead we would put him in, and he had nothing more to do with the committee. AYe arranged everything ourselves. 368. Do you know how Major Pitt was appointed to go to Tauranga ?—I made the arrangement with Pitt, and I paid for the steamer to take him there out of my own pocket. 369. Did you charter the steamer ? —No ; I made an arrangement with the captain of the steamer to land Major Pitt either on the East Cape, Opotiki, or Tauranga. 370. Where was the steamer going ? —She was going to Auckland. 371. Does she usually call in at Tauranga, or any of the places you have mentioned?— Not usually. 372. But it is usual, upon an arrangement being made?— Yes, upon an arrangement being made, the steamers will land passengers on any practicable part of the coast. 373. That is on a certain sum being paid ? —Yes. 374. What was the sum you paid ?—£3o. 375. Was that the usual sum to pay for a passage to Tauranga?—No. On this occasion the vessel had cattlo on board, having been chartered by Mr. Kelly, and I had to arrange both with Kelly and also with the captain. To Kelly I gave £15, and the captain got £15 also. 376. Had Captain Bead anything to do with the transaction ?—He knew nothing about it for two or three days after it took place. AVhen he came down I told him what had been done, and he said I had taken too much upon myself, as there was no necessity for sending Pitt. I said, "It was necessary," and he replied, "It was not, as he already had an agent looking after his interest there." He inquired what the expense was, and I told him if he came to the committee-room I would tell him. He also said there would be jealousy arising between the two agents, and that his interest would suffer, and that there would be a complete " mess " made of the thing. 377. Then Captain Bead had nothing to do with the transaction ? —Nothing whatever. 378. Was this committee a committee appointed by Captain Bead, or a committee formed voluntarily ?—lt was a voluntary committee, formed to work for the interests of the district. Captain Bead never even came to the committee, except when it was Wilson's committee, aud he agreed to stand. It was the committee that induced him to stand. 379. Did you know, when you sent Pitt, that Captain Bead had an agent at Taurauga ? —Yes, I knew that. 380. But you never consulted Captain Bead, either before you sent Pitt or after, until you told him Pitt had gone ? —No; because I knew he would not let Pitt go if I told him I was going to send him. 381. Why would he not let Pitt go ?—Because he had got Henshaw as his agent, and I knew he would not agree for two people to go up. It was mentioned in the committee, and some one suggested that he should be consulted; but it was decided uot to tell him anything about it, for fear he would not agree. We did not like the idea of Henshaw acting as agent, because we thought he was not good enough ; and as we heard Major Pitt was a good man, we decided to send him, as we were anxious to secure the return of Captain Bead. 382. I want to know this, Mr. Cooper —I hope you will not take it as au impertinent question — but were you ever privy to any intended attempt at bribery on the part of Major Pitt?—Not in the least. We told him to do all he could to secure the return of Captain Bead, but never supposed he would attempt to bribe any one. 383. You never authorized him to bribe any one? —No. 384. Mr. Shaw.] You say you yourself made the arrangement with Major Pitt to go to Tauranga ? —Yes. 385. And it cost you £30 altogether ?—£3o. 386. That was after Captain Bead had been before the committee, and had consented to stand ? — After he had been before AVilson's committee. 387. Did you give him any money at that time? —Yes, £30. 388. No more?— No. 389. That was when he first started ?—-Yes. 390. Did he get any more from any other member of the committee ? —I do not know. 391. Was anybody acting as treasurer, who had special charge of the moneys?— There was no money. 392. He may have got moneys from other members of tho committee ?—Yes, he may have certainly, but ■ 393. He may have got £500 ?—Yes, he may have; but as I had to go round town to get together what I gave him, I should have heard if he had received money from any one else. 394. Do you mean to say that the money must have beeu given through you, or with your knowledge ?—ln this particular instance. 395. AVhen he started ?—Yes. 396. You can say he did not get any money except from you ? —lf he had, I should have heard of it. 397. I think you have said, or indicated, that each member of the Committee was acting independently? —Yes; but for all that, if a man paid money, he would say, "I paid So-and-so so much," and the other members would know what had been paid. 398. AVas there any credit at the bank that you could draw upon, or how was money raised ? Did Captain Bead furnish you with money, or authorize you to draw ? —No; Captain Bead did not pay anything until the election was over. 399. There was a bank account on account of the committee ?—Not at that time. 400. "At that time" —was there at any time?— No. 401. Did you send Pitt any money after he went away ?—I did not send him any money, nor did any members of the committee do so, that I am aware of.

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402. Do you know any one who did ?—No. 403. When the election accounts were afterwards beginning to be gone into, how much money, or about how much, was found to be on account of Pitt's expenses ? —I was not present when the meeting at which the accounts were gone into took place. I was away at the Native Lands Court at the East Coast. 404. Do you know how much Bead has contributed towards the payment of the accounts ?—I do not. Some of the accounts are not paid yet. I had nothing to do with the thing after Captain Read was returned. 405. I understand that you brought Read personally before the committee ?—Before Mr. Wilson's committee. 406. I suppose you explained he was a very desirable candidate ? —He was half an hour with the committee before he would consent to stand. 407. But was all the sweeter when you got him to stand ? —Yes. 408. You appreciated his value ?—Yes. 409. He consented to accept all efforts you made on his behalf ? —AVe told him he should have no trouble, because we would put him in. 410. He went away with that impression ?—Yes. 411. You state you did not charter a steamer; you simply paid so much for a steamer to call at the places mentioned ? —Yes. 412. She called at Opotiki ?—Yes. 413. Captain Bead was never before the committee after that ? —No. 414. You did use every effort for Captain Bead ?—Yes, and put him in. 415. Mr. Barton.] You were the person who actually sent away Pitt?- —Yes. 416. Who directed you to send him away ?—One or two persons and myself talked the matter over, but Kelly first put the idea in my head. He said it would be a good thing to send Pitt, but as I thought he merely wanted to get a few pounds for the trip I took no action. Subsequently, Mr. Crawford and Mr. Dufaur and I considered the matter. We knew he was well acquainted with Tauranga, but the question arose as to whether Captain Bead would like him to go. I said, " Oh, never mind him, we'll send Pitt; because if Bead don't get in we shall get the worst of it." So we sent him. 417. Mr. Montgomery.] What instructions did you give Major Pitt ?—To use all his influence to secure votes for Captain Bead, but in no way to commit himself. 418. He was to canvass for votes? —Tea. 419. Mr. Johnston^] When it was finally arranged between you and Captain Bead that, should he consent to stand, you were to use your best efforts to secure his return, was it understood between you that he was to accept responsibility for what expenses you might incur? —No. 420. How was it that Captain Bead came to grumble at what you had done in incurring unnecessary expense by sending Pitt, so that there would be two concurrent canvassers at Tauranga ? —lt was not arranged that he was to pay expenses; yet, naturally enough, the expense was put upon Captain Bead. 421. This expense for the steamer, £30, was cast upon Captaiu Bead? —Yes. 422. And if the expense had been much larger, had you any reason to believe he would be responsible ? —There are some expenses he will not pay. 423. You had no limit in your mind as to how far you might go ? —No. 424. Mr. Wason7\ You said you had to go round to get money for Pitt ? —Yes ; it was night time, tho banks were shut, and I had to get the money in an hour or two. 425. Were you going round collecting? —I got from each hotel as much as I could. 426. You did not go round for subscriptions?— No. 427. Mr. Stout.] AVhere is Pitt now ? —I do not know. 428. Where did he generally live ? —I saw him last at Tologa Bay. 429. How far is that from Gisborne ?-—Thirty-five miles. 430. Do you believe he has been in Gisborne during the past six weeks?—l do not know. 431. Where does he generally reside; has he a farm or a run ?—No; ho generally stays at an hotel in Gisborne. 432. Were there not written instructions to Major Pitt ? —Yes. 433. Where are those instructions?—He took them away with him. He would not go away without them. 434. Was he to interfere with Henshaw? —He was not to interfere with him; still he was put over Henshaw. 435. Did you send him any money ? —I did not. I did not hear of any being sent. 436. What are you ?• —Native lands purchaser. 437. Do you buy for the Government ?—No; I buy for myself. 438. Where were you at this time ?—At this time the Native Land Court was sitting at Tologa Bay, and I went up the Ist of last month and did not come down until lately. 439. I am speaking of during the election. AVere you at that time at Gisborne or in the country- ?—At Gisborne. 440. How many meetings of the committee did you attend ? —Three or four. 441. Did Captain Bead pay anything towards the £30 for chartering the steamer?—l was not there at the settlement of the accounts. 442. Did you tell him how much you had paid for tho steamer calling in ? —Yes. 443. Did you tell how much you had paid Major Pitt?—Yes ; I told him afterwards. 444. That was before the poll?—No ; after the election. 445. I thought you did not see him after the election ?—The accounts were not paid for a fortnight. 446. Did you ever see any telegrams from Major Pitt ? —No.

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447. You never heard what was being done at Tauranga ? —No. 448. You left it to him ?—Yes ; he had his written instructions when he went away. 449. You did not interfere with him at Tauranga ?—No. 450. Did you copy the instructions ? —No. 451. Who wrote them out ? —Mr. Dufaur, proprietor of tho Poverty Bay Herald. 452. Mr. Shaw.] Aro you connected with Captain Bead in these land purchases? —-No. William Wilfred Wilson, examined on oath. 453. You are a solicitor, residing at Gisborne ? —Yes. 454. You were at Gisborne before and at the time of the election at which Captain Bead was returned ?—I was. 455. Were you a candidate yourself?—l was. I was the first candidate in that district. 456. Did you issue your address to the electors ? —I did. 457. AVas there a committee at Gisborne for furthering your interest ? —There was. 458. Do you know how Captain Bead came to be a candidate ?—First of all there was a meeting of electors to devise the best means of securing a local candidate. I was first asked to stand, and 1 consented, but told the persons who asked me that I could not afford to go to great expense. They agreed to pay certain expenses ; but as I found that the expenses to me were going to be much more heavy than I had anticipated, I declined to' go on with the contest. They then asked me if I would retire in favour of any candidate they might select. I said " No." They asked if I would retire in favour of Captain Bead. I said, " Yes, because he has a large interest in tho district; therefore anything which would benefit him would benefit the district, and whatever might be to his interest would be to the interest of the district." A deputation at once waited on Captain Bead, and asked him to come to a meeting of tho committee. He came up, and for a long time positively refused to stand, but at last, as they said if he did not stand Kelly would go in, and. they did not want Kelly, he said he would stand. 459. Was it to your committee that he consented to stand ?—They had been acting for me, but I had just retired. 460. You were present during the whole time Captain Bead was being pressed to stand ?—I am pretty sure I was. 461. Did you attend any meetings after that ?—I believe I attended all. I have no recollection of being absent from any. 462. Did you ever see Captain Bead there after that ?—I never saw him at any I was present at. 463. Were you ever chairman of the committee ? —Yes ; I think I was chairman as often as any one. There was no standing chairman to the committee. 464. When the committee resolved upon any course of action, did they communicate with Captain Bead to your knowledge ?—I think not. They acted quite independently of Captain Bead. In fact, I thought the committee was conducted very loosely. Each member seemed to do just as he thought fit, very much against my wish. But so it was. One member would order one thing, and another member would order something else ; and so it went on, each member taking upon himself the responsibility of the whole committee. I may say Captain Bead very soon repented of standing. He told me a day or two after he had given his consent that he did not know how he could have been such a fool as to have given his consent. 465. Do you know whether Captain Bead had any agent independently of the committee ?—I have heard that ho had appointed Mr. Henshaw to go to Tauranga. 466. Were you aware that Major Pitt was being sent ? —I was aware of the intention to send him, and aftenvards I heard he had been sent. 467. Did you or any of the committee know at this time that Captain Bead had sent Henshaw?— Some of them did know, I think. 468. Did you know of it ? —I forget exactly the time at which Pitt was sent. I think I knew before that Captain Bead had sent an agent; but the Committee did not like Bead interfering, because they considered he had sent an injudicious person. 469. And so they sent a more injudicious person ?—So it turned out. 470. Now, was the appointment and sending of Pitt done by Captain Bead? —It was done on the motion of tho committee, independently of Captain Bead. Captain Bead, in fact, expressed his dissent at the appointment afterwards. 471. Was it done a day or so before the polling day ?—Yes; the election took place the second or third day after Pitt had gone away. 472. AVhat did Captain Bead say about the appointment of Pitt ?—He said the committee had no right to have sent Pitt. He had his own agent at Tauranga, and that was sufficient. In fact, he had two agents —Henshaw and Bradley. 473. Were either of these appointed by the committee ? —No. 474. Had Captain Bead consulted with his committee before he appointed his agents ?—No ; Henshaw was sent away on a Sunday. The committee did not sit on Sunday. 475. You knew nothing about Henshaw and Bradley being sent? —No. 476. And Captain. Bead knew nothing about Pitt being sent?— No. Captain Bead generally leaves town at 4 o'clock, and Pitt was sent about 9 o'clock at night. I think I heard one of the members ask about instructions given to Major Pitt. I may state the instructions were written by Mr. Dufaur, and were written on a sheet of note paper. As far as I recollect, he was instructed to land at Opotiki, or as near to there as he could be landed, and then canvass round to Tauranga, making Tauranga his head-quarters, and doing everything legal and justifiable to secure the return of Captain Bead. That was the substance of the instructions. 477. What steps did you take to secure the attendance of witnesses here. You are Captain Bead's solicitor?— Yes; I telegraphed up to my clerk to make every endeavour to find Major Pitt, telling him that subpoenas were on the way, the subpoenas having been sent up immediately after the last meeting of the committee. I also sent up subpoenas for Messrs. Crawford and Dufaur.

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I did not send up for. Mr. Cooper, because I heard he was on the way, and also Crapp. I told my clerk to make every exertion to find Pitt, as his evidence was required before the Committee. I have since received affidavits : one from my clerk and one from the bailiff of the Besident Magistrate's Court, setting forth that every effort to find Pitt has been made, but unsuccessfully. 478. Can you say whether Pitt has been threatened with further legal proceedings ? —He has had to pay a fine of £100, and I believe he has been threatened with further proceedings. I happen to know, however, that Major Pitt was in Gisborne when a summons was sent up some time ago. I saw him myself. 479. When was that ? —Perhaps five weeks ago. Mr. Taylor, the solicitor, to whom the papers were sent, asked me several times, if I had seen Pitt, and one occasion I told him I had seen him that morning at the Club. I had heard that Mr. Taylor had instructed the bailiff to serve Pitt, and I gave him information that I believed Major Pitt had gone to Mr. Woodbine Johnstone's. 480. When the efforts of the other party were being made, Major Pitt was actually in the town of Gisborne ? —Yes. (Affidavits put in.) 481. Do you know a Mr. Doubleam in the district ? —Yes. 482. What is he ?—He has been a baker. I believe he is about going into the butchering business. 483. Is he an elector? —I believe so ;he has been a ratepayer for some time. 484. Was any summons served on him at Gisborne ? —No ; I was not aware he could give evidence. 485. Do you know Mr. Fitzgerald Crawford ?—Yes ;heis a brewer at Gisborne. -ISO. Can you tell the Committee why he could not come to give evidence ?—I know he could not come down except at great inconvenience and loss to himself, and I suppose at loss to the publicans, because he is not only the proprietor of the brewery, but he also works it by his own labour. I subpoenaed him because he is one of those who signed the instructions to Major Pitt. 487. Do you know Dufaur ? —Yes; he is editor of the Poverty Bay Herald, and, I believe, proprietor. From my own knowledge, I can say his absence from Gisborne would be likely to injure him greatly in business, because his paper could not be published in his absence, or, if it were published, would not he of much good. 488. Was the committee, as far as you know, acting under the instructions of Captain Bead ? — No; he had nothing to do with directing the committee. 489. Mr. Shaw.] About these accounts. You said you did not recollect being absent from the committee meetings ?—No; Ido not think I was absent from any. Certainly, I did not take much notice, because I had no idea anything would come of tho matter, so did not take much notice. 490. In reference to Pitt going away. Do you know what money he got when he went away ? — Ido not know. The manner in which he came to be appointed was this : There happened to bo a committee meeting, and it was suggested that Major Pitt should be sent to Tauranga, as Henshaw bore a very bad name, and many votes would be lost if he were depended upon. I suppose Pitt was then seen, and having agreed to go, the charterer of the vessel and the captain were sent for, Kelly being the person who first proposed Pitt should go. Adair (the agent of the steamer's company) and Kelly wanted £50, but ultimately they agreed to take £25, which was given. Mr. Cooper makes a mistake when he says £30. The next day I heard Major Pitt was gone. 491. Did you hear anything about money being given to Pitt ?—I believe Mr. Cooper did give him money. 492. Mr. Whitaker.] How was the money got —collected ?—Borrowed, I believe. 493. Do you know whether the committee sent him money or not? —I do not know. If any member of the committee sent money to Pitt, it would be mentioned at the committee meeting, and to the best of my belief nothing was mentioned. There were no telegrams received from Pitt asking for money; in fact, he hardly had time to get down to Tauranga before the election took place. 494. For all you know, Captain Bead may have been in communication with Major Pitt ? —The committee would have known of it if he had. Ido not think it is at all likely. 495. That is your inference ?—Exactly. 496. How much was paid by the committee in respect of accounts ? —I cannot say. 497. Approximated. Has there been £100 paid? —More than that. 498. £150?— Yes." 499. £200 ? —There may have been £200. Some are not paid. Still there may have been £200. But I really do not know. I may be quite wrong. 500. Besides the money paid, there has been a good deal more wanted to be paid, and which is not paid yet ? —Yes; accounts have been sent in to the committee, a very large number, but they have not been recognized. Then others have been sent in for refreshments. 501. About how much ? —I should think about £18. 502. Then, do you say that £218 is the total amount of accounts sent in?—l cannot say quite. There were printing accounts and advertising accounts, and of course it is quite impossible to bear in one's mind all these details. 503. Did you pay all the money that has been paid ? —I do not know. 504. How much did Captain Bead pay ? —I do not know. I believe Captain Bead has paid some. I may say the committee has paid none. AVhat we did was merely to mark tho accounts correct or reduce them in amount, as the case might be, handing them back to the persons in order that they might take them certified to Captain Bead. 505. Captain Bead has not paid all these accounts ?—No. 506. Where was the money- obtained that was paid to Pitt?—That was paid by Mr. Cooper, and was, I believe, included iv the £200. I was chairman when some of the accounts were passed; and Mr. Webb was chairman when others were passed, so I cannot speak as to all. 507. Was Mr. AVebb a member of that committee ?—I think he was. 508. Was Mr. Hay a member of that committee ?—I do not remember. I have, I think, seen him on the committee.

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509. Captain Bead said he was a fool for having stood ?—Yes. 510. Did he give any reason for saying that ? —He said he did not like to be away from his home. He would be then out of his element, and he was a great fool at his time of life to think of mixing up with these sort of things. 511. It had no reference to money matters ? —No. He never attended a committee meeting ; and even when I told him he was returned, he would not go and return thanks to the electors. 512. Had you given him any accounts before that ?—No. There were no accounts sent in for a fortnight after that. 513. Mr. Stout.] It seems you merely marked the accounts as correct, and then sent them on to Mr. Bead to be paid ?—Yes. 514. Why were they marked ?—Because it was presumed Captain Bead would pay the accounts, and would recoup to the committee any sums of money which they might have advanced. Money was paid out for various purposes; for instance, there was an expenditure of £20 for the purpose of bringing down electors from Tologa Bay, which by the way was a waste of money, for the electors could not get down. 515. You say the committee was to be recouped; you mean money paid out was to be repaid ? —Yes. 516. Where did you have your rooms at Gisborne ? —At the Masonic Hotel. 517. Did you have any placards, such as " Bead's Committee-rooms," posted up ? —I think not. 518. Did Mr. Kelly ?—No. 519. Did Mr. Morris ?—No ;I do not think so. 520. There were no placards showing where the various committee-rooms were?—l do not think so. Bobert M. Crapp examined on oath. 521. Mr. Barton.] You are a lemonade manufacturer ? —Yes. 522. At Gisborne ?—Yes. 523. You remember the election at which Captain Bead was returned ? —Yes. 524. Did you know Mr. Henshaw ? —Yes. 525. Have you ever had any conversation with Henshaw respecting his claim against Captain Bead ?—Yes. 526. In what month did the conversation take place?— Some time after the Gth January ; it was in January. 527. AVhat did he say to you ? —I met him and asked him what brought him back to Gisborne. He told me he came to borrow some money, and also said that Captain Bead owed him over £100, which he had yet to draw. He said there was some difficulty in getting money out of Bead, and asked me if I were acquainted with him. 1 said I was, but I wished to have nothing to do with the matter; but afterwards I did see Captain Bead and spoke to him on the subject. He said he would have nothing to do with Henshaw. I told Henshaw this, and he then asked mo to come up to his place and write to Bead for him. I wrote a letter, which I believe was sent to Mr. Wilson. 528. Did you write any letter which was not sent ? —Yes ; I believe one letter was destroyed. I am not sure that there wore not two destroyed. 529. A letter written by you at the request of Henshaw, demanding money from Captain Bead, was destroyed ?—Yes. 530. What was in it ? —[Mr. Shaw objected to the question, because witness Henshaw had not been interrogated as to the letter, and that before the contents of the letter were sworn to, it must be shown that the letter had been destroyed.] 531. Mr. Barton,] What became of the letter?—lt was crumpled up and destroyed. 532. Who crumpled it vp —Henshaw or yourself? —I think it was Dr. Bertie, who was present, who did so. Henshaw, after tho letter was written, asked me what I thought of it: whether it was a proper letter for demanding money. I replied that I thought it was too strong; and then he dictated another, which I wrote, and which was sent. 533. What did this destroyed letter contain?—[Mr. Shaw still objected to the question.] 534. Mr. Whitaker.] The letter was not sent, because it did not represent the opinions of your self and Mr. Henshaw ?—Yes. The Committee ruled against Mr. Shaw. Mr. Barton said he had no desire to press tho question. 535. Mr. Barton.] Did you have conversations with Mr. Henshaw about this matter at other times ? —Yes; he told me at other times he must have the money, and must have a settlement with Captain Bead. William DuNtnoo examined on oath. 536. Mr. Barton.] What are you, Mr. Dunahoo ?—A shipwright. 537. Living at Gisborne?—No, fifty miles from there; at a place called Turangi. 538. Where were you on the day of the election at which Captain Bead was returned ?—At Poverty Bay. 539. You were an elector, I believe ?—Yes. 540. Did you ask Captain Bead any question on the day of the election ?—I saw Captain Bead with Baker. Tho latter asked me whom I was going to vote for. I said, " I will tell no man for whom I am going to vote." 541. Did you speak to Bead ? —I cannot remember. 542. Had you any conversation with Captain Morris? —Yes. 543. What did you ask Captain Morris ? —Captain Morris asked

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544. When did you see him ?—On the day of the poll. 545. At what time ?—On the forenoon of that day. 546. AVell, what did Captain Morris say to you; lam speaking of Captain Morris who was a candidate, and who is here to-day?— Yes. He asked me whom I was going to vote for? I told him I did not know. He said he would give rfte £1 for my vote, and was " on" to give £1 for any votes I could get him. 547. What did he mean by £1 for any votes? —He said he was "on" to give £1 for any votes I could get him. 548. What did you say ? —I told him I never took money for my vote. 549. Did you afterwards prosecute Captain Morris for this, or lay an information against him? — AVhen they summoned me, I asked who had done it, but I could not find out till I got into Court. 550. Did you give information against him? —No, I believe. 551. Captain Morris was committed for trial? —Yes. 552. AVere you bound over to go to Auckland?— Yes. 553. Did you go ?—No. 554. Why ? —I went to Napier to catch the mail steamer, but she did not call in. I had paid my passage-money and this was repaid to me, and I went back home. 555. The bill was then thrown out by the grand jury ?—Yes. 556. At all events you never went to Auckland?—No, and I was very glad of it. I did not want to go, and I tried to keep out of the way of this. I was going up country ou purpose to get away when the summons came. 557. And you had to come ?—Yes. 558. Did you overhear any conversation, or did you have any conversation with Captain Bead about what he was paying for votes, or was any question on the subject asked him by any elector? — Captain Bead came up to the Court House while I and Captain Morris were talking. When he saw Captain Bead coming up, Captain Morris went inside the polling booth, and as soon as Captain Bead came up, he asked me what Morris was giving me for my vote. I said, " You had better go and ask him." 559. What did he say about your vote ? —No more: he burst out laughing. 560. I suppose he thought there was something on ? —Most decidedly, wheu he saw me talking to Morris; moreover, Morris asked me to go and see what the other candidates were giving. He said, " AYe give £1; but if the other candidates arc giving that, we will give more." When Bead had left mo, I went across to Kelly. I told him I had heard he had voted against Irish immigration, and showed him a copy of what ho had said. He said he had not done so ; but I asked the Irishmen there if they would vote for a man who had gone against Irish immigration. 561. Did you hear any one ask Captain Bead for money for a vote? —I heard two men ask him for £1 for each of their votes, but he said he would sec them damned before he w;ould give them a sixpeuce. 562. Mr. Shaw.] You have stated that you never brought any charge against Captain Morris. Is that true? —I never laid an information against him before I was summoned, and I should not have given any information on the subject only Morris gibed me, aud said I would be rolled in the mud if I gave auy information against him. 563. AVhere did this take place ?—At Gisborne. 564. And had it not been for this circumstance, you would not have informed against him ? —No. 565. It was done out of revenge, then ? —Not revenge at all. 566. You say you would not have taken action had he not threatened you ? —Yes. 567. Did you ever say anything like this at Gisborne after he had threatened you, and you had determined to take your revenge ? —lt is not revenge. 568. AVell, did you say anything like this at Gisborne: "If you will drop this case, I will not swear anything against you ; but, mind, I must have my expenses " ?—False, false ! I never said such a thing. 569. Mr. Stout.] AVhat brought you into Gisborne when you lived fifty miles away ?—I have land at Gisborne. My business took me there. 570. Did you take any money from Captain Morris ?—I never saw the colour of his money; neither would I have taken it. AYe drank together on the polling day. 571. Was it in the forenoon or afternoon that this drinking took place ?—lt was in the forenoon, just after we had met. 572. When did this conversation about money take place ?—ln the afternoon. There were two conversations. 573. Did he offer you £1 on both occasions ? —Only in the afternoon ; not in the morning. 574. What time was it in the afternoon ?—I do not know. We were talking together till the time of the close of the poll. 575. When did you vote ?—Just before the close of the poll. 576. Mr. Wason.] For whom did you vote? —For Captain Bead, the man in the proper place,and for whom all the Poverty Bay people voted. 577. Mr. Stout.] Were there two informations laid against Captain Morris ?—Exactly. 578. You laid one, and Carpenter the other ? —Yes. 579. Did the Magistrate dismiss one ?—Yes. 580. AVere you summoned to give evidence on your own information ?—Yes. 581. Your information was the second one?— Yes. 582. Were you the only witness examined ?—I only know I was examined. 583. Was there a polling place where you lived ? —No ; I had to vote at Gisborne. 584. I see your name appears on the roll, and you are put down as a householder ?—Yes ; I had a house at Gisborne. 585. You did not vote till near 4 o'clock ?—A few minutes before that. They sang out thoy were going to close the poll, and I went in.

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586. Were you canvassing ? —I do not know what is the meaning of that word. It has a lot of meanings. 557. Well, in any of the meanings ? 588. Mr. Whitaker.] Did you ask people for their votes for any candidate ?—Yes. 589. Mr. Stout.] For whom ?—For Captain Bead. 590. How long were you canvassing ?—About half an hour before the close of the poll. 591. Did you have a conversation with Kelly? —I had. I asked him if he had voted against Irish immigration. He said " No." 592. Where did this conversation between you and Morris about tho £1 take place ? —Eight against the Court House door. 593. Were there many people about ?—Yes ; sure to be at election time. 594. Astj one near you ?—Only one ; a person whose name I did not know. 595. Did he hear your conversation ?—No. 596. No one was close enough to hear you ?—No ; I think not. 597. Had Captain Bead a committee-room at Gisborne ?—I was not aware of it. 598. You did not see any committee-room ? —No. 599. Did you see any placards about; were there any on Kelly's committee-room ?—I did not see them. 600. Did you see Kelly's committee-room ?—No. 601. Where was Kelly when you saw him ? —Bight outside the Court House. 602. In the street ?—Yes. 603. Did you see Mr. Wilson on the polling day ? —Yes. 604. Did you see Mr. Cooper ?—Yes. 605. On how many occasions ?—Once. 606. Had you any conversation with him ? —No. 607. Did you have any conversation with any of Captain Bead's committee ? —I cannot say I did. 608. Did you ever tell Captain Bead you were going to vote for him ? —I told him I was going to vote against him, because he was one of my enemies. 609. You told him that ?—Two or three times that day. 610. Did he ask you whom you were going to vote for ? —No; Baker came up to me and asked me —Bead was standing by—and I said, loud enough for him to hear, that I was not going to vote for him. 611. Did you speak to Captain Bead about the matter at all?—I said I would not vote for him. 612. Did you tell Captain Morris you would vote for him ?—I did not. He asked me how I was going to vote, and I told him I did not know whom I was going to vote for until the time came. 613. Did you tell Mr. Kelly you would vote for him ? —No; I told him he was an outsider, and would get no votes at all. 614. Did you tell anybody how you were going to vote ?—No. 615. Who wished you to lay an information ?—When I went to the Court, I was disgusted to find who had laid an information. 616. Did any one ask you to lay an information ? —No. 617. You saw the Magistrate ? —Yes. 618. And told him you wished to lay an information ?—Yes, I did. 619. Did any person appear for you when the case came on in Court ? —No. 620. You appeared for yourself?— Yes. 621. And you had a conversation with Captain Bead about the election ?—Not until the following day after the poll. There were a whole lot of people came and asked him if he was not going to give them anything for having voted for him. He said he would see them damned before he gave them sixpence. 622. That was after the polling took place ? —Yes ; the next day. 623. Morris offered you the pound for your vote before the poll had closed ? —Yes. 624. It was only on one occasion he offered it ?—Yes. 625. Had you been drinking that day ?—Only with Captain Morris. 626. How much did you have to drink ? —Well, I leave that to Captain Morris to tell you. 627. Were you sober ?—Before the poll. 628. And after the poll?—Oh, I "went in" then. I was "half-tight" for the rest of the day, when the poll was over. 629. You kept sober until after the polling ?—Yes; kept the " upper storey " clear. 630. Mr. Whitaker.] You said you had some drink ; who paid for it, yourself or Captain Morris ? —I cannot swear. 631. Who gave it to you?— The barman. 632. Who ordered it ?—I cannot say whether I did or whether Captain Morris did. 633. How many glasses did you have ? —At that time ? 634. Yes?— One. 635. Was Captain Morris there ?—Most decidedly he was. 636. Did he have any ? —Most decidedly he did. 637. Had you ever drunk with him before ? —No. 638. Not until election time ? —No. 639. Was this before you had voted ?—Yes. 640. Did anything then take place about paying you for your vote ?—Not until afterwards. 641. AVhat was the name of the public-house at which you were ? —Farjeon's Hotel. 642. AVere there any other people drinking with you? —At election time there are plenty of people drinking. 643. But with you ?—No. 644. Did you see Captain Morris at the hotel at any other time ?—I saw him there after the polling. 4—l. 2.

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645. What was he doing? —Walking about. I saw him at different hotels. I saw him in tho hotel addressing the people from the verandah. Then he came down, and they all followed him on tho understanding he was going to give them something to drink. He quietly cleared out of the room though, and left them there. I myself was one of the victims. 616. You thought he was going to " shout" ? —Most decidedly. 647. Did he " shout" for you at any time during the day ? —As I have said before, I was with him once ; but I cannot say whether he " shouted " for me, or I " shouted " for him. 648. Did you see him "shout " for anybody else ? —I never saw him " shout" for anybody. 649.; Was he in more than one public-house? —Yes. 650. When you were in the public-house with him, was anything said about voting ? —Nothing particular. I knew he was trying to get me. 651. He did not get you ?—No. 652. Mr. Curtis.] Did you receive any money from any one at aU for your vote? —Not a sixpence. 653. The Chairman.] You told Baker that Captain Bead was your bitter enemy. Why then did you vote for him ? —Because I felt that if I had voted against him I should have voted against the best interests of the place. 654. Why was Captain Bead your enemy ?—I was working for him for years, and built several vessels for him. When I left his employ, he told me he would not give me employment again, because I had said I once knew a man fail for £85,000, although everybody thought he was very wealthy. Captain Bead seemed to think I intended it for himself. 655. He thought it was an insinuation against his solvency ?—Yes. 656. When you laid your information against Captain Morris, did any professional man appear for you ? —Yes. 657. Mr. Stout.] I asked that question and you said "No" ?—When you asked me if any one appeared for me, I thought you meant a witness. 658. Who appeared for you ?—Mr. Wilson. 659. Did you go to Mr. Wilson, or did he come to you? —AVright came to me and asked me to go and see Mr. Wilson, who wanted to see me. I went, and Mr. Wilson asked mo what I knew about the bribery. 660. You did not pay Mr. Wilson any fee ?—No ; I had paid quite enough in leaving my home. 661. You left Captain Bead's committee to pay that ?—I was not going to pay it.

Wednesday, 16th August, 1876. Captain Morris examined on oath. 662. Mr. Shaw.] Your name, Captain Morris ?—George Bentham Morris. 663. You are petitioner ? —Yes. 664. You have heard the evidence of the last witness, Dunahoo, who says you offered him £1 for his vote, and £1 for every vote you could get him. What do you say to that evidence?— I say it is not true. I did not offer him any money. I did not speak to him on such a subject. 665. You deny his statement absolutely ?—Yes. 666. Did you see him after the election ?—I was summoned to Poverty Bay, to afaswer a charge of bribery made by a man named Wright; and after this charge had been disposed of, I saw Dunahoo. He came to me and said, "If you will drop all this affair, I won't swear anything against you; but, mind, I must have my expenses." 667. What did you uuderstand him to mean by "this affair"?—l understood him to mean the actions against Pitt and Bead; in fact, all actions arising out of the bribery. He repeated the offer several times, but I said, "If you want money, you had better go to Captain Bead: he is the man for your money." 668. Did you ever have a conversation with Bead about Pitt?—[Question objected to, and not pressed.] 669. Mr. Barton?^ Have you ever communicated with Captain Bead about this petition ?—Not that I am aware of. 670. Not by Mr. Macfarlane, who is a member of the House ?—No. 671. Nor by any other member of the House? —No. 672. Have you seen Captain Bead since the petition has been under consideration? —I have seen him every day since I have been down here. 673. Have you spoken to him about this petition ? —Yes. 674. Have you not told him it was not you but the people of Tauranga who brought the matter before the House and forced you to go on with it ?—No ; I thiuk I said that I had not originally started the petition against him. That it was started by the Tauranga people while I was away at Poverty Bay. 675. Did you say to him, "If you will call no more witnesses, but resign at the end of the Session, I will withdraw the petition " ?—No. 676. You will swear that?—-I am on my oath now. 677. Did you say, " If you get me into the Upper House I will withdraw the petition " ?—No. 678. Did you say anything of the kind ? —AVhat I said was this : " The only way in which the petition could possibly be withdrawn was my taking a seat in the Upper House." 679. Did you not say, " I shall have to show the people that I have done something for the money I have spent; and if you pay my expenses and resign at the end of the Session, or get me put into the Upper House, tho petition shall be withdrawn " ?—No.

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680. But there was something said about the Upper House ?—Yes ; we were talking about the petition, and I said " I wished it were all over, and that if I were put into the Upper House it would be an excuse to my supporters, because I should have to withdraw then. I could not, as a member of the Upper House, seek a seat in the Lower House." He was anxious to have the petition withdrawn. 681. Did you send to Captain Bead to ask an interview ?—No. 682. You know Mr. Macfarlane ?—Yes. 683. Did you, in conversation with him He is an intimate friend of Captain Read ?—I believe he is. 684. Did you not, in conversation with him, say you wished to see Captain Read ? —I think not. 685. If he went to Captain Bead and represented to him, as a fact, that you did wish to see him, was that done by Mr. Macfarlane without any authority from you ? —Certainly, without any authority from me. 686. Do you know a Mr. Stephenson, of Auckland?— Yes. 687. Did you send him to Captain Bead ?—-No ; I said to him, " It seems unsocial to pass a man by, day after day, without speaking to him, and that I thought I would speak to old Bead next day." He said, " I will prepare him for the interview, so that, if you do speak to liim, you will not be snubbed or bo put in an unpleasant position." 688. Aud a conversation took place with Bead next morning ? —Yes. 689. Then, was anything said about his paying your expenses ?—No. 690. Were any persons present when you were speaking ? —No. 691. Was anything said about bringing witnesses down?—-Not a word. 692. Mr. Whitaker.] Had you any conversation about this election with Mr. Stephenson ?—No. 693. No conversation about taking money to reimburse you your expenses ?—There was something of the kind suggested. 694. What was the sum ?—I forget. 695. Do you really mean to tell the Committee you forget ?—Yes. 696. How long ago was it?— About a month ago. I never entertained tho idea, so I took little notice. I was asked what my expenses would be, and I said " Somewhere about £700, taking into consideration all my troubles and tribulations." Some one said," That is a good deal;" aud I replied, " That I would not take that, because if I settled the matter in that way I could never show my face in my district again." I then said, " The only way to get out of the difficulty was my appointment to the Upper House." 697. You were willing to compromise the matter if you were appointed to the Upper House ? — No ; I merely said that would end the whole thing. 698. Who was to get you into the Upper House ? —I do not know. 699. Captain Bead's party?—l do not know. I did not entertain the idea. 700. If it was1 to be done, by whom was it to be done ?—I did not propose that it should be done. 701. Did you ever have a conversation with Stephenson upon the subject ?—I may have mentioned it to him. 702. Did you ever mention a probable compromise with Captain Bead ? —I did not, that I remember. 703. You have said your expenses were about £700. Will you tell us how you made them up ? — I think the expenses of my election came to £137; then there were travelling expenses to Poverty Bay and back, £50 or £60. These latter were large on account of being much detained by floods, and having horses waiting for me meanwhile at great cost. Then there were expenses to Auckland and 704. Well, never mind. You spent £137 in election expenses? —In round numbers I should say £200, as the trip to Poverty Bay was really an election expense. 705. Well, let us keep to the £137. How was that sum spent? Evidently you have kept a careful account, because you mention an odd sum ? —The money was spent in various places, but I cannot remember everything. About £10 was spent at Maketu. 706. How was that spent ? —lt was spent by the committee. 707. Was the money paid after the election ? —Yes. 70S. Did you pay anything before the election ? —No. 709. Had you a committee-room at Tauranga ?—Yes. 710. We have been told there were three booths open ?—I was not there. 711. AVho was your agent there ?—I had none. I had a committee, about twenty in number, the chairman of which was Mr. James Bowdell, but I do not know that he had anything more to do with the matter than anybody else. In consequence of visiting Poverty Bay, I could not get to Tauranga till the last moment. 712. Had you any committee-room at Poverty Bay ?—No. 713. Everything the last witness has said is untrue ?—Positively untrue. 714. An invention? —An invention, with the exception that I might have spoken to him, and might have drunk with him, but I do not recognize his face. 715. Did you take anybody else to the public-house ? —I may have done. 716. Did you or did you not ?—Of the two, I should say I did. 717. How many public-houses did you go into ? —Only one, so far as I remember. 718. What did it cost you for drink on this day?— Ten shilling's perhaps. 719. AVas that spent among electors? —1 presume so. I cannot say how much I spent. It may not have been 10s. 720. Is it true that you called the electors down and then left them without " shouting "? —The fact was they were going to shout for me, but I could not take a shout from all, so I left. A good deal of influence had been brought agaiust me, and I had been addressing the electors to convince them of the error of their ways. 721. When was this ?■—After the polling. 722. No " shouting " before the polling ? —No.

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723. How much was paid during the election—that is, how much was paid when accounts were settled—for drinks ?—About 10s. altogether. 724. Do you know Mr. Black, of Opotiki ? —Yes. 725. Did you incur any expenses at Opotiki ?—Yes. 726. Did you incur any expenses at Tauranga ?—Yes. 727. At any of these places did you pay any money before the election closed.?— No. 728. How many polling places are there? —Seven. 729. Well, at Tauranga: Did you ask people to drink there ?—I may have asked persons to have a drink—l never came into town without doing that—but not in special reference to the election. ?80. Were you at Maketu ? —I went down there before the election. 731. Electioneering ? —Yes. 7355. Who was your principal supporter there ? —There was nobody to support me there. We had to send a person from Tauranga. 733. Did you see any electors there ?—Three or four. 734. Is there a public-house there ? —Yes. 735. Did you shout there ?—No. 736. Did you spend anything there ?—I do not think so. 737. Were you at Opotiki ? —Yes ; I visited that place, and addressed the electors, and stayed there two or three days. 738. Did you shout for anybody ?—ln the same kind of way. 739. Mr. Black was a great supporter of yours ? —Yes. 740. AVas he assisting you in your election ?—Yes. He refused to have anything to do with me at first, because I would not bind myself to vote with Sir George Grey, but said I should please myself. But Mr. Black did not like Kelly, and when it came to choosing between two evils, he thought I was the lesser, and therefore he supported me. 741. Did you at this place ask any person, being an elector, to drink ?—I asked anybody to drink who happened to be near me. I never drink alone. 742. Who keeps the public-house at Opotiki ?—A man named Parkinson. 743. How much did you pay him ? —£2 or £3,1 suppose. 744. How much of that was paid for drink? —I cannot say. 745. Some of it was expended in drink ?—Yes. 746. Did you keep a kind of open house ? —No. If I went out for a walk with any one, I might have asked him to have a drink, but that was all. 747. Can you tell the Committee of any gentleman with whom you had a walk ?—Yes; I went out with Mr. Black. 748. He is an elector ?—Yes. 749. Did you treat him ?—Yes. 750. What is his Christian name ?—I do not know. He is an old fellow with one eye. 751. Can you remember any one else with whom you walked out ? —Yes ; I went out with a man named Cousins, a brewer. AYe had some drink at his brewery. ( 752. The treating was the other way this time? —That was usually the case ; if I treated a man, very likely he would treat me then. 753. You were at this place four times?— Yes. 754. On each occasion did this " shouting " take place ?—No ; on one occasion I only arrived late at night, and left early in the morning. I was merely passing through. 755. There was no opportunity for " shouting " ? —No. 756. Where were you next ?—At Gisborne. 757. How long were you there before the election ? —Three or four days. 758. What were you doing all that time ? —Knocking about amongst the electors ; and during the stay here I went to Ormond, and there addressed the electors. 759. Did you " shout " there ? —I do not think so. 760. You may have " shouted " ? —I may have done. If I wanted anything to drink I had it, and invited any one near to join me. 761. Did you do that as a matter of habit, or at election time only?—lt is a habit I have bad habit, I believe. 762. You " shouted "at Gisborne during the election?—l may have done. 763. You knocked about among the electors for the purpose of securing your election ?—Yes. 764. When you saw people you knew, you took them into a public-house"?— I may have done. I only know the old people. 765. Some of them were electors ? —Yes. 766. Did you see many persons ?—Yes.

Thursday, 17th August, 1876. Captain Morris re-examined. 767. Mr. Whitaker.] Yesterday, you had got as far as Gisborne. Now, I want to take you back to Tauranga. You were there three or four days before the election ? —No; I had arrived at Gisborne before the election. 768. How long before the election was it that you went to Tauranga ?—I suppose it was eight or nine days. 769. You went overland ? —Yes. 770. Prior to that, how long had you been a candidate ?—About a month. 771. How long had you been canvassing ?—About a month. I used to go down from my station 772. Where is your station ?—I live three or four miles from Tauranga. I used to come down occasionally to town and canvass,

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773. Tou call Tauranga a town ? —Tes. More than half the electors are Maoris. 774. Do you speak Maori ?—Tes. 775. There are some Maoris at Tauranga ?—Tes. 776. Did you canvass the Maori votes ? —Tes. 777. Did you solicit their votes at Tauranga, or at their settlements? —At their settlements generally. 778. Did you never meet any in Tauranga ?—Tes. 779. How many puhlic-houses at Tauranga are there ? —Two. 780. And did you take them into those public-houses?—l do not think so. 781. Not once ?—No ; I do not recollect having done so. 782. Did you "shout" for any other electors? —I never come into Tauranga without "shouting," whether there was an election or not. 783. Did you generally have a conversation with a man, and then take him into the public-house and " shout" for him ? —No ; I had read the Act. 784. And endeavoured to keep clear of it ?—Tes. 785. Did you canvass the "Wairoa ?—No. 786. There are some electors there ?—Tes; there are two or three white people there. 787. Tou did not canvass that place ? —No ; I asked one man, Fairfax Johnson, whether he would vote for me. 788. What did he say ? —He said he had not made up his mind as to whom he would vote for. 789. Had you an agent at Tauranga ? —I had a committee. 790. Did you not have a paid agent ? —No. A meeting of the electors was held at the rear of one of the public-houses, and a committee was formed. I did not pick a single member; they were appointed by themselves, without any interference from me. 791. But they were duly,appointed; and it was not like the committee at Gisborne, where every man appointed himself ?—They did appoint themselves. 792. But, I presume, no new man would be appointed unless the others agreed ?—No ; names were submitted, and had to be approved. 793. Did you attend any meetings of that committee ?—I do not think I did • I would not be quite certain. 794. Where did the committee sit? —They had rooms on the Strand. 795. At whose house ?—I do not know. 796. At which hotel was it that the committee was chosen ?—At the Tauranga, I think. 797. Did they meet at that hotel after they were appointed ? —No. Immediately they were appointed, they got rooms, issued placards, and so on. 798. Who paid for that ?—-I believe the cost was included in the expenses I had to pay after the election. 799. Did you see any public-house account in the bill of costs forwarded to you ? —No ; the accounts were scheduled. 800. Have you got that schedule with you now ?—No. 801. Can you tell us the names of any persons who received money ? —Tes; I dare say I can remember some. Mr. Maxwell and Mr. Baker were among the number. 802. Was any payment made to persons acting on your behalf?—l think the only paym&nts made were to scrutineers. 803. Were any persons paid for soliciting votes ?—No. 804. Tou know Wairnapu? —Tes. 805. Are there any electors living there ? —-One. I canvassed his vote across the river. He lives the other side, and I asked him across the river if he would give me his vote, being a neighbour. 806. Who was this gentleman ? —Mr. Fielding. 807. What was the name of the public-house at which your committee put up ?—The Tauranga. 808. Was there any drinking on that occasion? —I suppose all had something, more or less. 809. Who paid for it ?—By the people themselves. They "shouted" one for the other. If any one was near me, I " shouted " for them. 810. Tou recollect no individual ? —No. 811. Most in the room were electors ?—Probably they were. I wish to explain that when I mentioned £700 yesterday, that included law expenses. 812. What you told us yesterday about the seat in the Legislative Council, and about the £250, or whatever sum it might be, was correct ? —Tes; perfectly correct.

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APPENDIX. The Petition. To the Honorable the Members of the House of Representatives, in Parliament assembled, The humble Petition of George Bentham Morris, of Tauranga, in the Province of Auckland, New Zealand, an elector of the electoral district called the East Coast District, in the Province of Auckland, New Zealand, on behalf of himself and others claiming and having a right to vote for a Member to serve in the ensuing Parliament for the Electoral District of East Coast, Showeth, — 1. That an election of a member to serve in the ensuing House of Bepresentatives, for the Electoral District of East Coast, took place at Tauranga and elsewhere within the said electoral district, on the sixth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. 2. That such election became necessary by reason of the term for which the late sitting member was elected having expired by effluxion of time. 3. That at the time of such election your petitioner was, and has since continued to be, and still is, an elector of and voter for the said district, and, as such, had a right to vote, and did vote, for a member to serve in the General Assembly of the said colony at such election aforesaid. 4. That at such election there were four candidates—namely, George Edward Read, Georgo Bentham Morris, William Kelly, and Wi Maihi te Rangi Kaheke. 5. That at' such election a poll was legally demanded, granted, and proceeded with, and that, at the close thereof, the numbers of votes recorded for the several candidates were declared to be as follow: — George Edward Bead ... ... ... ... ... ... 215 George Bentham Morris ... ... ... ... .., ... 206 William Kelly ... ... ... ... ... ... 185 Wi Maihi te Bangikaheke ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 And that thereupon the said George Edward Read was declared by the Beturning Officer for the said district to be elected, and was accordingly duly returned as a member to sit in the next ensuing Parliament for the said district. 6. That at such election the said George Edward Read, by his agents, friends, and managers, and by persons employed on his behalf, before, at, and during the time of the said election, was guilty of open and extensive bribery and undue influence in order to procure persons having, or claiming to have, a right to vote at such election to vote for the said George Edward Read at the said election, and to forbear to vote for either of the said other candidates, and in order to procure the said George Edward Read to be returned to serve in the ensuing Parliament for the said district. 7. That the said George Edward Read, by his agents, managers, and by persons employed in his behalf, before and at and during the tine of such election, was guilty of various corrupt acts, and employed undue influence and other illegal and improper means, and caused to be given divers sums of money, and gave and entered into, caused to be made, given, and entered into, divers gifts, rewards, agreements, and engagements, to several persons having and claiming to have a right to vote at such election, in order to procure them to vote at such election for the said George Edward Read, and to forbear to vote for either of the said other candidates, and in order to procure the said George Edward Read to be returned to serve in the ensuing Parliament for the said district. 8. That the said George Edward Read, by his agents and managers, and by persons employed in his behalf, before, since, and after such election was so had and come to as aforesaid —to wit, on the sixth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six —and, in pursuance of corrupt agreements entered into before, at, and during such election, caused to be paid divers sums of money to each of many persons, such persons being voters, to give their votes at such election in favour of the said George Edward Read; and that, amongst such persons so paid as aforesaid, were those whose names are hereunder written, who received the sums of money set opposite and against their names respectively : —

And your said petitioner avows that the said sums of money so paid were given in pursuance of a corrupt agreement made before, at, and during such election with the several voters to whom they were respectively paid as aforesaid, and were given corruptly and illegally for and in consideration that the several persons, being such voters, should give their votes, and would vote, in favour of the said George Edward Bead at such election, aud for and in no other respect whatsoever.

Name. Address. Occupation. Amount. 'e Mete _kuhata Tupaea 'e Harawira ... .noka te Whanake lori Ngatai ... \ Johnson ... | I Opounui, Tauranga... Eangiwaea „ Opureora „ Whareroa ,, Whareroa „ Wairoa „ Farmer Government Official and Parmer ... Government Official and Parmer ... Government Official and Parmer ... Government Official and Parmer ... Farmer £ 5 5 5 2 7 20 s. d 0 C 0 c 0 c 0 c 0 c 0 c

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9. That the said George Edward Read, by himself and his agents, corruptly, fraudulently, and illegally caused to be distributed to the electors for the said district cards or tickets, as follows :— " Poll to-day ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 to 4." And instructed certain of the publicans in the town of Gisborne, Poverty Bay, and elsewhere within the said district, to give, for each of the said tickets or cards, when presented to them by voters or other persons on the day of such election or voting as aforesaid, the sum of two shillings and sixpence, or part spirituous liquors or beer and part money, for the corrupt and illegal purpose of inducing the said voters, or other persons being voters at the said election, to vote for him the said George Edward Bead. 10. That the said George Edward Read, by the said corrupt and illegal practices, was and is wholly disabled, incapacitated, and ineligible to serve in Parliament for the said East Coast District, and the return of the said George Edward Read was and is wholly null and void. Tour petitioner therefore humbly prays,— (1.) That your honorable House may take the premises into consideration, and inquire into the same, and declare the said election and return of the said George Edward Read wholly null and void. (2.) That your petitioner be declared duly elected in the stead of the said George Edward Read; or, (3.) That your honorable House will afford your petitioner such further and' other relief in the premises as to your honorable House may seem meet. G. B. Morris. Signed by the said George Bentham Morris, at Tauranga, in the Province of Auckland, New Zealand, on the eleventh day of Eebruary, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, in the presence of J. M. Roberts, A Justice of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand. This petition was delivered to me on Monday, the fourteenth day of Eebruary, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. The declaration of the poll for the East Coast District was made on the eighteenth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. E. E. Hamlin, Returning Officer for the East Coast Electoral District. I certify that the provisions, stipulations, and requirements of " The Elections Petitions Act, 1858," and " The Elections Petitions Act Amendment Act, 1862," have been duly performed and obeyed by the persons subscribing and promoting this petition. E. E. Campbell, Examiner of Election Bonds. Bond, &c, accompanying the Petition. Know all men by these presents that we, George Bentham Morris, of Tauranga, in the Province of Auckland, and Colony of New Zealand, sheep-farmer, Jonathan Brown, of Tauranga, in the province and colony aforesaid, sheep-farmer, and Ebenezer Goddahd Norris, of Tauranga, in the province and colony aforesaid, storekeeper, held and firmly bound to Her Majesty the Queen, the said George Bentham Morris in the sum of two hundred pounds, and each of them the said Jonathan Brown and the said Ebenezer Goddard Morris each in the sum of one hundred pounds, to be paid to Her Majesty the Queen, her successors or assigns, or her or their certain attorney or attorneys, for which payments to be well and truly made we bind ourselves, and each of our heirß, executors, and administrators, by these presents, sealed with our seals. Dated this eleventh day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. G. B. Morris. Signed, sealed, and delivered by the said above Jonathan Brown. bounden George Bentham Morris, Jona- E. G. Norris. than Brown, Ebenezer Goddard Norris, in the presence of — J. M. Boberts, R.M., A Justice of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand. The condition of the above-written bond is this, that if the said above bounden George Bentham Morris shall well and truly prosecute a petition, duly lodged by him, against the return of George Edward Bead as a member of the House of Representatives for the District of East Coast, at the next sitting of the General Assembly, and shall pay or cause to be paid any costs and penalties which may be awarded against him in that behalf by the said House of Representatives, or by any resolution thereof, then and in that case the said bond shall be null and void, otherwise to continue of full force and effect. G. B. Morris. Signed, sealed, and delivered by the said above Jonathan Brown. bounden George Bentham Morris, Jona- E. G. Norris. than Brown, Ebenezer Goddard Norris, in the presence of — J. M. Roberts, R.M., A Justice of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand.

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In the matter of the Petition of Geoege Bentham Mobeis, of Tauranga, in the Province of Auckland, and Colony of New Zealand, sheep-farmer, a voter qualified to vote at the election of a member for tho House of Bepresentatives for the District of East Coast, held on the sixth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six; and in the matter of " The Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, 1858," and its amendment. I, Jonathan Beown, of Tauranga, in the Province of Auckland, and Colony of New Zealand, sheepfarmer, make oath aud say, — 1. That I am the Jonathan Brown whose name is mentioned as one of the sureties to the bond of the above-named George Bentham Morris. 2. That, after the payment of all my just debts, I am and should be seized and possessed of real and personal estate to the clear amount of one hundred pounds and upwards. Jonathan Beown. Sworn at Tauranga, in the Province of Auckland aforesaid, this eleventh day of February, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, before me — J. M. Eobebts, E.M., A Justice of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand. In the matter of the Petition of Geoege Bentham Moreis, of Tauranga, in the Province of Auckland, aud Colony of New Zealand, sheep-farmer, a voter qualified to vote at the election of a member for the House of Eepresentatives for the District of East Coast, held on the sixth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six; and in the matter of "The Corrupt Practices Prevention Act, 1858," and its amendments. I, Ebenezee Goddaed Noebis, of Tauranga, in the Province of Auckland, and Colony of New Zealand, storekeeper, make oath and say,— 1. That I am the Ebenezer Goddard Norris whose name is mentioned as one of the sureties to the bond of the above-named George Bentham Morris. 2. That, after payment of all my just debts, I am and should be seized and possessed of real and personal estate to the clear amount of one hundred pounds and upwards. E. G. Noeeis. Sworn at Tauranga, in the Province of Auckland aforesaid, this eleventh day of February, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, before me — J. M. Eobeets, E.M., A Justice of tho Peace for the Colony of New Zealand. I approve of Jonathan Brown, of Tauranga, in the Province of Auckland, and Colony of New Zealand, sheep-farmer, and Ebenezer Goddard Norris, of Tauranga, in tho province aforesaid, storekeeper, as sureties. E. E. Hamlin, Returning Officer for District of East Coast. Affidavit of Eespondent's Agent. In Parliament. —In the matter of the Petition of Geoege Bentham Mobeis, of Tauranga, in the Province of Auckland, New Zealand; and in the matter of " The Election Petitions Act, 1858," and " Election Petitions Act Amendment Act, 1862." Take notice, that at the first sitting of the Committee appointed to hear the above petition, Counsel on behalf of the respondent will move that the petitioner, George Bentham Morris, shall be ordered to give to the respondent particulars of the said charges of bribery, treating, and undue influence mentioned in the petition ; and also to give to the respondent the names of the agents, friends, managers, publicans, and other persons whom petitioner alleges were bribing, treating and using undue influence ; and also the names of the persons bribed, treated, and unduly influenced, with sufficient particulars to enable respondent and his agents to summon the necessary witnesses on his behalf, which motion will be grounded on the affidavit of George Edward Eead and Henry Samuel Eitzherbert, sworn on the third day of July, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. And further take notice, that Counsel will move that the further hearing of this case be adjourned until such time after delivering of said particulars as the Committee shall think reasonably required to enable the respondent to bring evidence to answer said charges. Dated this third day of July, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. H. S. Pitzhebbebt, Agent for the respondent, G. E. Eead. This is the paper written marked "A " referred to in the annexed affidavit, sworn before me this fifth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. P. A. Buckley, A Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. In Parliament. —In the matter of Geoege Bentham Moebis, of Tauranga, in the Province of Auckland, New Zealand; and in the matter of " The Election Petitions Act, 1858," and " The Election Petitions Act Amendment Act, 1862." I, Elliot Baeton, of Featherston Street, Wellington, clerk to Henry Samuel Fitzherbert, agent of the respondent, George Edward Eead, make oath and say, —

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On Monday, the third day of July, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-s;x, I served a notice of motion, copy whereof is hereunto annexed, and marked "A," upon Henry Shaw, the agent of the above-named petitioner, by leaving the same at his office in Wellington; and the said Henry Shaw has informed me that he duly received same. Elliot Babtoic. Sworn at Wellington, in the Province of Wellington, this fifth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, before me — P. A. Buckley, A Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Petitionee's List of Cases of BEißEitr and Teeating. In the matter of the Petition of Geoege Bentham Mobeis against George Edwaed Eead. The specific illegal and corrupt acts on which the petitioner intends to rely are as follow:—That George Edward Eead, by his agents and managers, and by persons employed on his behalf before, during, and after the election of a member to serve in the House of Eepresentatives for the Electoral District of East Coast was had and come to —to wit, on the sixth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six—and in pursuance of corrupt agreements entered into before, at, and during such election, caused to be paid divers sums of money to each of many persons, such persons being voters or claiming to be voters, in order to induce such persons to give their votes at such election in favour of the said George Edward Eead, and that amongst such persons so paid as aforesaid were those whose names are hereunder written, who received the sums of money set opposite and against their names respectively : —

John H. Shaw, Agent for G. B. Morris. Letteb of Ngaiiantt te Whabau. Opounui, 12th Hanuere, 1876. Kia te Wapereki c hoa he tika tonu nga moni i riro mai i nga Maori, 25 Pauna, ana moni toko wha nga tangata i tango hia ai tau moni ko tahi te mea kua korero mai kia have rangi c ki mai ana ka nui tana aroha kite Pakeha nana te moni i homai kia ratou. EWa kua mutu ranei ta koutou runanga mo ana moni ? Mehemea kaore ano kia mutu noa c pai ana ka kaha tahou kite whakahaere i roto i nga ra i haere ake nei. Ka huri na to hoa, Na Ngamant. te Wiiabatt. [Tbanslation.] To Mr. Warbeick. Friend, —It is quite true that the Maoris got money ; twenty-five pounds was the amount. There were four persons who received the money, one told me ; but he says he has great regard for the European who gave them the money. Mr. Warbrick, have you finished your consideration about that money? If not, well and good ;we shall be able to act during the days that are to come. Sufficient, Tour friend, Ngamanit te Whaeaij. s—l. 2.

Name. Address. Occupation. Amount. te Mete rkuhata Tupaea te Harawira... _noka ... ... .... lori Ngatai... teter Charles Potier ... oseph Faulkner (half-caste) William F. Johnson (half-caste) Llfred Potier (half-caste) lerewini lerewini Ngaraw-hararau lerewini Ranieka lerewini Kete Wharepapa ... ... ... te Kira Tarautete lamiona te Pako likipene lohipa Ngaheke .awiti fote Wi Jikora loani Ngaraka )ne other Native, whose name is forgotten, received also Opounui, Tauranga Eangiwaia Opureara Whareroa j. • * • Wairoa ,, ... „ „ ... „ ,, ... Parmer £ 6 5 5 2 7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 s. d. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ,, „ „ a „ „ „ ... „ ... ,, ... ,, „ ... 1 0 0

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Deposition of Hori Ngatai at Tauranga. I, Hori Ngatai, of Whareroa, do hereby solemnly and sincerely declare, that on the fifth day of January, 1876, I landed at Tauranga along with Enoka, and was met by Mr. Pitt, Mr. Eead's agent, who said, " Let us go to my house," meaning the Old Victoria Hotel. He, Mr. Pitt, then said, " Will you give your votes to Captain Eead ?" I then replied in a joke, "If you give me something in my hand, I will secure my friends' votes and my own." Mr. Pitt then said, "Have you sufficient confidence in yourself as to be able to lead your people to vote for us?" I then replied, " Tes, if you will put the money in my hand." He, Mr. Pitt, replied, "I will place the money in your hand," aud asked me how much should I require. I replied, " £25, not for me and Enoka, but for the tribe." I further asked him for a separate sum for me and Enoka, and he agreed to give us £2 each, making £29 in all. The same evening I returned to Whareroa and called a meeting of the voters at my house, ten in number, and inquired of them what part they intended to take at the election, and they answered by saying they were in favour of Captaiu Morris and Mr. Kelly. I said, " Are you not willing to follow me?" and they then asked me which side I was for. I replied, "I am for Captain Eead." They then said, " Have you received any money, that makes you so anxious for Mr. Eead ?" I told them I had, and showed them the money, viz. £25. They, the voters assembled, then agreed to vote for the money. I then took down their names, but have lost that paper in the flurry occurring at the time. On the day of election, I and all the voters came to Tauranga and met there the electors from other parts; amongst them Te Kuka, Te Puru, Te Harawira, Te Mete, and Akuhata Tupaea, and spoke to them, telling them we were chiefs ; the others, meaning the men of our tribes, were different to us; but it would be advisable to draw these people with us ; and they all agreed to do so. Te Mete said he would be responsible for his people, and the other chiefs said the same. I then told them, the chiefs, I had money for them, and wrote down their names and those of their people who would vote for Captain Eead, and they amounted to forty. Mr. Pitt then came and asked if all the electors had arrived. I said they had, and gave him the list of forty voters. He then said, " Tou and Enoka must not vote, as you might be found out ;" and I and Enoka agreed not to do so. He then left us, and afterwards came and said to me, " We cannot get our voters into the booth, owing to the crush." Mr. Hallows gave the voters referred to tickets showing their numbers on the roll. I went in to the booth and spoke to Mr. Hamlin, not to vote, but to ask him to have the way cleared so that our people could come in. Mr. Hamlin agreed to do so, and had the way cleared. 1 then arranged my men, and sent them in in parties to vote ; and I believe the whole of the forty so sent in would have voted for Captain Morris ; but when I had showed them the money, I believe they voted for Captain Eead. After the close of the poll, Mr. Pitt said, " Where are your forty voters, as only thirty have been recorded for him, and several of those votes are from Europeans ? " I told him that thirty had voted for Eead, but the other ten, old and foolish, might have voted for Morris and Kelly. Mr. Pitt then agreed to that. We, the chiefs previously mentioned, then met, and I told the other Natives to go home to their respective settlements, and to leave the remainder to me, meaning to my thoughts. The next morning Akuhata Tupaea, Te Harawiri, and Te Mete came to me at Whareroa to receive their share of the money I had received from Captain Pitt, which I then divided as follows : —Te Mete, for himself and tribe, £5 ; Akuhata Tupaea, £5 ;Te Harawira, £5 ; the Whareroa voters, £5 ; and I kept the balance of the money, viz. £5, for my own services. Enoka was present with me in the conversation I had with Mr. Pitt in his house, and saw me receive the money. Mr. Pitt requested me at that time to hide the money. I received at the time I first saw Mr. Pitt the £4 for me and Enoka, in addition to the other £25 intended for the other voters. Hori Ngatai. Taken and sworn before me, this eleventh day of January, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. J. M. Eoberts, E.M., Tauranga. Certificate of Conviction of Major Pitt For Bribery. In the Supreme Court of New Zealand, Northern District. I hereby certify that at a Circuit Court of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, held at Auckland for the Northern District of New Zealand, on the third day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, was indicted for that on the sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, the Electoral District of East Coast in the Colony of Zealand was and still is an electoral district, sending and returning one member to serve for the said electoral district in the General Assembly of New Zealand : And that before the committing of the offences in the said indictment mentioned, to wit on the sixth day of January aforesaid, at the East Coast aforesaid, an election of a member to serve in the General Assembly of New Zealand aforesaid, as member for the said Electoral District of East Coast, was expected shortly to be had and made, which said expected election afterwards —to wit, on the said sixth day of January in the year aforesaid, at the Electoral District of East Coast aforesaid, was had and made: And that Choi well Dean Pitt, unlawfully and corruptly intending to hinder and prevent the free and indifferent election of a member to serve in the General Assembly of New Zealand for the said Electoral District of East Coast, and by illegal and corrupt means to procure George Edward Eead (who before and at the time of the said election was a candidate to represent the said Electoral District of East Coast in the said General Assembly) to be elected a member to serve in the said General Assembly of New Zealand for the said Electoral District of East Coast, did, on the sixth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, at Tauranga, within the said Electoral District of East Coast, unlawfully and corruptly give to one Hori Ngatai a hirge sum of money, in order to induce the said Hori Ngatai to procure the return of the said George Edward Eead to serve in the said General Assembly for the said electoral district, to the great destruction and hindrance of the freedom of election of a member to serve in the

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said General Assembly for the said electoral district: And that the said Cholwell Dean Pitt, further unlawfully and corruptly contriving and intending as aforesaid, did afterwards—to wit, on the same day and year last aforesaid, at Tauranga aforesaid, the said election being then and there so expected as in the first count of the said indictment mentioned —unlawfully and corruptly make a gift of money to the said Hori Ngatai, in order and with the intent to induce the said Hori Ngatai to procure the votes of electors at the said expected election of a member to serve in the said General Assembly for the said electoral district for the said George Edward Eead (who was then and there, and before and at the time of the said election so then expected as aforesaid, a candidate to represent the said electoral district in the said General Assembly of New Zealand), that he the said George Edward Eead might be chosen and returned to serve in the said General Assembly for the said electoral district, to the great obstruction and hindrance of the freedom of the said expected election of a member of the said General Assembly of the said electoral district: And that the said Cholwell Dean Pitt, further unlawfully and corruptly contriving aud intending as aforesaid, did afterwards —to wit, on the same day and year last aforesaid, at Tauranga aforesaid, the said election being then and there so expected as in the first count of the said indictment mentioned, unlawfully and corruptly make a gift of money to the said Hori Ngatai, in order and with the intent to induce the said Hori Ngatai to endeavour to procure the return of the said George Edward Eead (who was then and there, and before and at the time of the said election so then expected as aforesaid, a candidate to represent the said electoral district in the said General Assembly of New Zealand), that he the said George Edward Eead might be chosen and returned to serve in the said General Assembly for the said electoral district, to the great obstruction and hindrance of the freedom of the said expected election of a member of the said General Assembly for the said electoral district: On which indictment the said Cholwell Dean Pitt was convicted, and was, on the seventh day of April, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, sentenced and adjudged to pay a fine of fifty pounds, and to be imprisoned until that fine be paid, which conviction remains in full strength, force, and effect, and in no wise annulled or made void. Dated this thirtieth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. Alfd. H. King, Deputy Eegistrar. Notes of Evidence in Begina v. Cholwell Dean Pitt.—Bribery.—Heard at the Supreme Court at Auckland, on Friday, 7th April, 1876. —Brookfield and Eees for prosecution ; Hesketh for defence.—Plea, Not Guilty. Francis Edward Hamlin, sworn and examined: lam Eegistration and Beturning Officer for East Coast Electoral District. I remember receiving the writ for the return of a duly-qualified member of the House of Eepresentatives. I received the writ on the 15th of December last. George Bentham Morris, William Kelly, George Edward Eead, and Wiremu Maihi Eangikaheke were the candidates. The voting took place on the 6th of January, 1876. I indorsed George Edward Eead as returned. He is commonly known as Captain Eead. There was a polling place at Tauranga for this election. Hori Ngatai, sworn and examined : I live at Tauranga. I know the defendant, Major Pitt. I recollect the day of election of a member for the East Coast. It was on the 6th of January last. I recollect, the day before the election, being with a Native named Enoka. I saw Major Pitt on that occasion. Enoka was with me. It was in the town at Te Papa. We went with Major Pitt into a house called Victoria Hotel. When I got there I supposed there was a committee there. Major Pitt then said something to me as to voting. He said he was a person to conduct the election on behalf of Mr. Eead. He asked me to take part in the election on behalf of Eead. lie said I was to try to get persons for the election. I was to go and endeavour to procure some persons to vote for Mr. Eead. I asked him for money for my own work. I asked for £25. The money was for me to give to people so that they might listen to me. Major Pitt agreed to give me £25. I had to arrange about distributing it. I got the money on the 6th. I and Enoka were to get £4 for ourselves, which was then lying in Major Pitt's possession. I and Enoka saw Pitt on the morning of the 6th, at the same house, when we two went to fetch the money at 8 a.m. It was then he gave us £25, in £1 notes. All he said was to give me the money. He did not say what I was to do with it. It was on account of my love that I returned the money to him, because Ido not understand this work. I returned £9 to him on the 7th, because I did not understand this work. I returned it because I knew that very few people, Natives, voted for Eead. [Mr. Hesketh objected to question, " Did you endeavour to induce Natives to vote for Eead ?" Mr. Eees supported. Disallowed.] Was there any arrangement between you and Pitt ? —I told Major Pitt when I received the money that if I did not succeed in getting persons to vote I should return some of his money. I told him, "If I can get only thirty persons I shall return you some of your money." I offered the suggestions. Defendant said, " Oh, that remains with you " —that it rested with me as to the money and the people. I suggested to Pitt that if I could only get thirty votes I should return £9. I did return £9 on the 7th. Myself, Te Harawera, and Akuhata were present. Enoka was not there. Pitt did not give me the £4 then, but at another time the same day.—Cross-examined: It was arranged on the sth that the £25 should be given on the 6th. It was on the sth that I said that if only a few Natives listened to what I had to say I would return some of the money. Enoka was present when I said this in the Victoria Hotel. The reason the other two went with me was to see the handing over, lest they should suspect I was deceiving them and intended to keep it myself. The £4 was not given to me then, because I did not want the others to see it given. The £4 was given at the corner of Cook's Hotel. Major Pitt and I were alone when I returned the £9. I said, "Here are the £9, which I return to you." That is all that was said. He did not ask me to vote. All he said was that I was to arrange tho votes of the people. He told me I was not to vote.' —Ec-examined: He said, " You are not to vote; you had better remain outside, to settle about the people who are to vote." Enoka te Whana, sworn and examined : I know Major Pitt. I remember being with Hori Ngatai on the sth of January. I saw Major Pitt on Tauranga beach the day before the election. When we

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met him on the beach, we went to the Victoria Hotel. We three went in. Major Pitt then said he wished us to bestir ourselves for Eead ; to vote for Read; that if we did, the money would be paid to us. He said, "Tou two are men of influence, chiefs able to induce people to vote for Eead; but some money will be paid to you ; given to you two." We said, "It is well." Pitt said if the number of persons should reach fifty, I will give £25; if the number did not reach this, some of the mouey was to be returned to Pitt. We said, "It is well." We agreed to it, and returned to our place on the sth. On the 6th, at 7 a.m., we came back to town. When we saw Pitt, we went into the Victoria Hotel. The money, £25, was then handed over to Hori Ngatai. Pitt repeated what he had said previously, that if the number of persons reached fifty, the £25 was to be kept. It was given to us for the purpose of inducing persons to vote for Eead. Pitt said we were to induce them, and to pay them with money.—Cross-examined: When Pitt said that Hori Ngatai was present, he said so on the sth and on the 6th. On both occasions Hori was present. Pitt gave the money and spoke too. I was present when Hori returned the £9. I saw it. It was in the Victoria Hotel. Te flarawera and Akuhata were present, and also Timeti. Hori Ngatai gave the money to Pitt. Something was said. " This money returned because not fifty persons." Ngatai said so. Pitt said some of the £9 would be returned; that £4 would be returned. I heard this with my own ears. The £4 were received. I did see the £4 given back to Hori on the occasion when the £9 was returned. Pitt said to me the people were to vote, but we two were not to vote. —Ec-examined : Pitt told his reasons we were not to vote, lest it should be seen we were paid with money. Akuhata Tupaea, sworn and examined: I recollect the day of election at Tauranga. The day after I saw Pitt at the Victoria Hotel. Hori was also there. I saw Hori returning some of the money, £9. Hon said, " This money must be left with you." That is all I heard or know of. —Crossexamined : Myself, Hori, Harawera, and Pitt were present; these were all. Timete was not there, nor did I see Enoka there. He was on the beach. Pitt took the £9. I did not see-him give back any. We came away together. Te Harawera Kotai, sworn and examined : I recollect the election at Tauranga. The day after the election I saw Hori, Pitt, and Akuhata, at the Victoria Hotel. I saw Hori give Pitt £9. I heard nothing said between them. —Cross-examined: I saw the £9 returned. We were all in the same room. Enoka was not there, nor Timete. Pitt kept the £9 ; he did not gve back any. I and the others (Hori and Akuhata) came away together. Enoka aud Timete were not there. A true copy. Thomas B. Gillies. Bespondent's List of Cases of Bribery and Corruption. In the matter of the Petition of Geoege Bentham Moeeis against Geoege Edwaed Eead. The following are the corrupt acts which respondent means to prove: — 1. That George Bentham Morris, during the election, kept a refreshment-room open for the use of the electors, and there supplied refreshments to said electors. 2. That George Bentham Morris paid the expenses of certain electors, whose names are unknown to respondent, going to and returning from the polling booths, and also paid to each of them a sum equal to a day's wages. 3. That George Bentham Morris promised to one Dunahoo, an elector at Gisborne, to pay to him £1 for his own vote, and £1 for each other vote that he the said Dunahoo could procure for him. Dated 2nd August, 1876. H. S. Fitzheebeet, Agent for G. E. Eead. Amendment to above List by Bespondent. The place where Mr. Morris kept the refreshment-room referred to in the notice (clause No. 1), was Tauranga, where Mr. Morris's agents supplied refreshments to the electors. Dated 2nd day of August, 1876. H. S. FITZHERBEET, Agent for G. E. Eead. Affidavits of Messrs. Dufaub and Cbawfobd. We, FnK-ii-iacK Dufade, of Gisborne, in the Province of Auckland, and Colony of New Zealand, newspaper proprietor, and William Fttzgebald Ceawfoed, of the same place, jointly and severally make oath and say : — 1. That we were members of the Committee nominated, constituted, and appointed by electors of the Poverty Bay District, at a meeting duly convened at Gisborne for such purpose (inter alia), and to secure the return of George Edward Eead as member of the House of Eepresentatives for the East Coast District. 2. That such Committee, acting entirely independently of any wish which Captain Eead might have expressed in the matter, and much against his will, engaged Major Cholwell Dean Pitt to act as agent for the Committee in the Tauranga District, with written instructions to do and pursue every '•legal and justifiable" and proper means to secure Captain Eead's return. F. Dufaub. Severally sworn by the said Frederick Dufaur Wm. F. Ceawfoed. and William FitzGerald Crawford, at Gisborne aforesaid, this fourth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and seventysix, before me — W. K. Nesbitt, E.M., A Justice of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand.

1.—2.

Affidavit of Mr. Dtjgleattx. I, Lotus Pieeee Dugleaux, of Gisborne, in the District of Poverty Bay, in the Province of Auckland, baker, make oath and say, — 1. That, in or about the month of January last past, I was present and did hear one Thomas J. Henshaw, in conversation with one Albert Montague Crapp, of Gisborne, lemonade manufacturer, utter and say words to the following effect —namely, that he (Henshaw) had sent a bill in to Captain Bead's committee, claiming the sum of £80 or thereabouts for expenses connected with and incidental to certain services which ho (Henshaw) alleged had been rendered by him in Eead's interest relative to the late election of a member for the East Coast; and that if Captain Eead's committee failed to pay the amount of money demanded by him, that he (Henshaw) would show Eead up, as plenty of documentary evidence could be forthcoming and produced by him, and then in his possession, to prove not only that he had been employed by Eead, but also held his written authority to do certain things which, if made known to Morris's party, would prove very detrimental to Captain Eead's political interests. Further, that I am acquainted with the said Thomas J. Henshaw, and remember about the period such said conversation took place that he was then and some time subsequently addicted to drinking in excess, and obtained credit from various people in this town for liquor supplied and money borrowed on the strength of his assertions that Captain Eead's committee would be obliged to pay up handsomely, as demanded by him, on account of services of a questionable nature alleged by him to have been rendered on Eead's account in connection with such late election. L. P. DUGLEAUX. Sworn by the said Louis Pierre Dugleaux, at Gisborne aforesaid, this third day of August, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, before me — Ande. Geaham, A Justice of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand. I, the undersigned, William Kerr Nesbitt, hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, Louis Pierre Dugleaux, the party making the above written affidavit, is a person well known in this town, and in all respects worthy of full credit and belief. W. K. Nesbitt, Eesident Magistrate. Affidavit of Betubning OfficEß. I, Feancis Edwaed Hamlin, Beturning Officer for the Electoral District of the East Coast, do make oath and say that, at an election which took place on the sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, for the return of a member to serve in the House of Assembly for the Colony of New Zealand, the total numbers of votes to each candidate were as follows: — G. E. Eead ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 215 G. B. Morris ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 206 W.Kelly ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 186 Wiremu Maihi ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 F. E. Hamlin, Beturning Officer, East Coast District. Sworn before me, at Maketu, this eighth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. E. M. Edgcumbe, J.P. Ceetificate of Costs. In Parliament.—ln the matter of the Petition of Geoege Bentham Mobeis against Geoege Edwaed Bead, of the Electoral District of the East Coast. Wheeeas a Committee of the House of Eepresentatives was appointed to consider and investigate the charges and allegations in the said petition contained: And whereas the said Committee, having duly investigated the said charges, and considered the evidence produced in support thereof, has declared the said charges to be proved, and that the said George Edward Eead shall be declared not duly elected for the said district, and that the said George Bentham Morris shall be declared duly elected to sit in Parliament for the said district: Now this is to certify that the said Committee has awarded the sum of £150 to be paid by the respondent (George Edward Eead) to the petitioner (George Bentham Morris), as costs of the said petition; and the said Committee, by virtue of the powers in that behalf vested in them by law, hereby require and command the respondent to pay to the petitioner the sum of £150. Herein fail not. Given under my hand at Wellington, this twenty-fourth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. W. S. Mooehouse, Chairman of Committee. I hereby certify that I have examined and compared this copy with the original certificate, and that the same is a true copy thereof. Dated this 24th day of August, 1876. Jno. Peecv, Clerk to Committee. By Authority : Geobqe Didsbuet, Government Printer, Wellington. —1876. Price Is. 6d.]

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EAST COAST ELECTION. (REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON; TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE.), Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1876 Session I, I-02

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EAST COAST ELECTION. (REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON; TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE.) Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1876 Session I, I-02

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EAST COAST ELECTION. (REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON; TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE.) Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1876 Session I, I-02

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EAST COAST ELECTION. (REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON; TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE.) Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1876 Session I, I-02

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EAST COAST ELECTION. (REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON; TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE.) Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1876 Session I, I-02

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