EASTERN MAORI ELECTORAL DISTRICT. (PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE ELECTION OF A MEMBER TO SERVE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THEREFOR.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1876 Session I, I-03a

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1876. NEW ZEALAND.

EASTERN MAORI ELECTORAL DISTRICT. (PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE ELECTION OF A MEMBER TO SERVE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THEREFOR.)

(Laid upon the Table by the Hon. Sir J. Vogel.)

No. 1. Eeceived, 7th February, 1876. Eeturned to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, 7th February, 1876. I. C. Maleng, Private Secretary. Sir, — Napier, 2nd February, 1876. I have the honor, in accordance with clause 9 of the regulations making provision for the matters named in the 9th section of " The Maori Eepresentation Act, 1867," to forward herewith the writ for the Eastern Maori Electoral District, with a special return thereon setting forth the reasons, after reference to the best legal advice obtainable, for not declaring any candidate elected. I also enclose an extract from a letter received from J. H. Campbell, Esq., E.M., Waiapu, stating the reason of no poll having been taken at Kawakawa. I have, &c, S. Locke, To His Excellency the Governor, Wellington. Chief Eeturning Officer.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Writ for the Election of a Member for the Eastern Maori Electoral District. Victoria, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the Islands of New Zealand, Queen, To Samuel Locke, Esquire, Eeturning Officer for the Eastern Maori Electoral District, Greeting : Whereas it is necessary that an election of a Member of the House of Eepresentatives of New Zealand shall take place: Now, therefore, We do hereby require and command you to cause to be elected by the voters duly qualified for that purpose, freely and indifferently, and in manner and form by law and regulations in this behalf described, a legally qualified person to serve as Member of the said House of Eepresentatives for the Eastern Maori Electoral District: And we do hereby further require and command that you cause the nomination of the said Member to be at Napier, on the fourth day of January next, and the polling, in case it shall be required, to be at the several polling places, on the fifteenth day of January next; and that this Our Writ, with the name of the person so elected indorsed thereon by you, shall be. returned to Us here on or before the second day of February, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. In witness whereof, His Excellency George Augustus Constantine, Marquis of Normanby, the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand, has caused the Public Seal of the Colony of New Zealand to be hereunto affixed, at Wellington, the 14th day of December, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five. (1.5.) Normanby, Governor. Ecceived the sixteenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, at Napier. (Indorsement.) Special Eeturn. I, Samuel Locke, Eeturning Officer for the Eastern Maori Electoral District, hereby certify as follows: — 1. That in pursuance of the within writ, a nomination of candidates for the Eastern Maori Electoral District was held on the fourth day of January, 1876, at the Provincial Council Chambers, Napier, and at such nomination Karaitiana Takamoana, Mita Hikairo, Kepa Eangipuawhe, and Hotene Porourangi were duly nominated as candidates for the said district.

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2. That at such nomination the show of hands was in favour of Karaitiana Takamoana, and that a poll was demanded on behalf of the other candidates. 3. That a poll was accordingly held on the 15th day of January, 1876, at all the polling places mentioned in the General Government Gazette of 14th December, 1875, except Kawakawa. 4. That no returns have been received from Kawakawa, and I am informed and believe that no poll was held there, in consequence of the Deputy Eeturning Officer being prevented by the flooded state of the neighbourhood from arriving there; and lam informed and believe that a large number of electors were thus prevented from recording their votes. 5. That the aggregate number of votes recorded for the various candidates at the polling places, other than Kawakawa, were as follows : — Karaitiana Takamoana ... 401 Mita Hikairo ... ... 376 Kepa Eangipuawhe ... 373 Hotene Porourangi ... ... 145 (Signed) S. Locke.

Enclosure 2 in No. 1. Extract from Letter of J. H. Campbell, Esq., Deputy Eeturning Officer, Waiapu, to S. Locke, Esq., Napier. "It will be some time before I can get news from Kawakawa; but my son, who was going round to take the votes, after being nearly washed into the sea crossing a swollen stream, had to turn back. I forward the polling papers (Waiapu). "J. H. Campbell. " Waiapu, 20th January, 1876."

No. 2. S. Locke, Esq., Eeturning Officer, to the Under Secretary, Native Department. (Telegram.) Napier, 25th January, 1876. Through heavy floods on East Coast, election returns from North of Gisborne not arrived. Present state of poll: Karaitiana, 392 ; Hikairo, 376 ; Kepa, 375 ; Hotene, 98. Will inform you at once, on arrival of poll returns. S. Locke.

No. 3. STATEMENT OF VOTES POLLED. EASTERN MAORI ELECTORAL DISTRICT.

No. 4. S. Locke, Esq., Eeturning Officer, to the Under Secretary, Native Department. (Telegram.) Napier, 2Gth January, 1876. No poll was taken for Maori election at Kawakawa, East Coast. Would you kindly obtain opinion of Attorney-General, without delay, whether in this case the election is valid, and that I can declare state of the poll to-morrow ? S. Locke.

Polling Places. Cm ididates. Karaitiana Takamoana (Ngatikahunga) 38 27 77 127 11 17 32 17 Mita Hikairo ( Arawa). Kepa Eangipuawhe (Arawa). Hotene Porourangi (Ngatiporou). 1 1 Grey town ... Porangahau... Waipawa Napier Taupo Wairoa Mahia Gisborne Tolago Bay ... Tokomaru ... Waiapu Kawakawa ... TeKaha ... Opotiki Whakatane ... Matata-Taheke Maketu Ohinemutu-Tarawera... 1 22 1 37 27 12 48 16 G 25 No poll. 44 64 77 95 52 43 4 5 i i 105 14 34 59 124 30 Total 401 376 373 145

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No. 5. The Under Secretary, Native Department, to S. Locke, Esq., Eeturning Officer, Napier. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, 29th January, 1876. Ec Eastern Maori Election. Government regret that they are unable to help you herein. They are advised the question of due return of candidate, and its attendant circumstances, is for the House of Eepresentatives, and that it would be improper, either themselves or through their officers, to advise you to take any particular course. It is suggested that you should seek the best independent legal advice available, and return the writ with or without a name indorsed, as you may decide. H. Halse, (for Under Secretary.)

No. 0. S. Locke, Esq., Eeturning Officer, to the. Under Secretary, Native Department. (Telegram.) Napier, 27th January, 1876. I have adjourned the declaration of the poll until Wednesday next, the 2nd February. The reason given for Eeturning Officer not being at Kawakawa is the floods prevented him. S. Locke.

No. 7. S. Locke, Esq., Eeturning Officer, to His Excellency the Governor. Sir,— Napier, 10th February, 1876. I have the honor to forward herewith a petition signed by 170 of the Ngatiporou tribe, praying that a re-election be granted for the Eastern Maori Election District for the reasons set forth in the petition. I have, &c, S. Locke, Chief Eeturning Officer, His Excellency the Governor, Government House, Eastern Maori Electoral District. Wellington.

Enclosure in No. 7. Translation of Petition to His Excellency the Governor. Wai-o-Matatini, Waiapu, 0 Sir, Greetings to you in the Lord,— 31st January, 1876. This is a petition from us, the whole of the people of the Ngatiporou tribe to you, praying that you will sanction the polling for the election of a member of the Eastern Maori Electoral District to be repeated. The reason of our petition is,— Firstly. No poll took place at the Kawakawa, owing to the absence of the Deputy Eeturning Officer. Secondly. That the people were debarred from recording their votes on account of the excessive rain on the day appointed for taking the poll. Thirdly. That the people of Waiapu were not acquainted with the system of voting. Concluded. We subscribe our names on the appeal of the whole tribe. Meiha Eopata Wahawaiia To the Governor the Marquis of Normanby, (and 169 others), the Governor of New Zealand.

By Authority: Geoege Didsbttey, Government Printer, Wellington. —1876. Price 3d.]