H.—No. 14,

EEPOET OE THE MOTUEKA ELECTION COMMITTEE.

20

Mr. Sell.

?th Sept., 1871,

By the Chairman: Was it for the convenience of voters generally ? —I did not understand it so. By the Chairman : Did he say for voters generally, or for those on the one side ?—(No answer). By Mr. Bunny: Were the traps to be used for both candidates, or for the parties who supported Sir David Monro? —The way the Committee understood it was that the traps were for the friends of Sir David Monro. It was well known that Mr. Parker's friends rode in the traps that were paid for by Sir David Monro's Committee. , By Mr. Allan : How often did the Committee sit during the election ? —Twice before the election. Were you canvassing and getting votes for him ? —Yes, I was doing my best for Sir David Monro. You provided traps, I suppose ? —I did. Do you remember whose traps you hired ?—My own trap, and the man who was driving was my own son. Had you more than one trap ? —Yes; Mr. Arnold's trap was there, and his son was driving. Yes; any other traps ? —Yes, Mr. Redwood's waggon was there. Did you see Sir David Monro before the election?—lt was after the election I saw him in Nelson. Did you vote for him ?—I did. Well, now, after the election did you see Sir David Monro ? —Yes, I saw him in Nelson. When you went to see Sir David, what was that for ? Did you take him anything ?—Well, I did. What was that, Mr. Bell ? —lt was an account. What was that for ? —-It was for the expenses of the traps and other thinga. Was there a charge made for your own expenses ?—Yes, there was. What did you charge for yourself? —I charged £1 a day. By the Chairman : And that included the trap ?—That included the trap. By Mr. Allan : Well, now, were there accounts of somebody else ?—Yes. Who ?—There was a charge made for Mr. Arnold. Any other one ? —Yes, Thomas Eden. How much for him ?—There was £2 for Thomas Eden ; he had been two days. Well, any one else?— Lawrence Dron. These are the charges forming that account ?—Yes. Well, now, when yon saw Sir David did you say anything to him about this account ?—No, I do not think I did. What did you say to him then ?—He bade me good-morning at the door, and he told me if I went into the room that Elliott would settle with me. Did you say you came for a settlement ?—I cannot recollect that I did ;it is possible I did, but I cannot recollect. How did he come to say Elliott would settle with you ? Did you say anything about it before ?— No, I had not seen him before. Did you state that you had come about the settlement of the election account ?—I cannot recollect that I did. What did he say about Mr. Elliott?—He said, " I am engaged just now, but if you go into the room here now, Mr. Elliott will settle with you." What did Sir David do then ; did he show you into Mr. Elliott's room ?—Yes, he did ; he opened the room door and showed me into the room where Mr. Elliott was. This was in Sir David Monro's own house in Nelson. He opened the door and showed me where Elliott was. Did you see Mr. Elliott ?—Yes. •■ Was that Charles Elliott, the auctioneer ?—Yes ; I did not know whether he was an auctioneer at that time ; he was the same Mr. Elliott I spoke of in a former part of my evidence. Did he pay you that day, or agree to pay you ? —He paid mc that day. By the Chairman .- Mr. Elliott did ?—Yes, Mr. Elliott did. By Mr. Allan : Did you merely say that you brought the account, and that you wanted to be paid ?—Well, there was some little conversation. He got your account ?—He got my account, but said he had not time to look over it, and that he would see me before I left in the afternoon. Do you remember the election day, the 10th of February, the day of the polling ? —Yes. Now, do you know a person of the name of Henry Bosselmann ?—I do not know whether I did know a Henry Bosselmann. Do you remember meeting a person there that day ?—Yes. Named Bosselmann ? —Yes, his name was Bosselmann. Do you know a person named Dreyer, a German ? —Yes. Is Alexander his name ?• —I do not know ; I only know him as Dreyer. Was Dreyer taking any part in the election ? —I do not know that he was taking any part. Do you remember him coming to you that day, and saying something about the Germans ?— Yes, I do. Well, what did Dreyer say to you ?—He said, " Here are twelve Germans come down from Kerr's Hill; they have come to vote for Monro." What was said to him ?—Dreyer said, " You will have to see the foreman of the gang, for I can do nothing with them." I said, "I know nothing about the men; I do not know any of them; where is the foreman ? " He said, " I'll send him to you." Well, did he send him to you ?—He did. Now, when did he come to you ; what time of the day ?—I think it was about a quarter past 10,. it might be half-past 10. When this man came to you, did he tell you what his name was ?—Yes ; I [asked him his name, and he said his name was Bosselmann.