REPORT OP THE MOTUEKA ELECTION COMMITTEE.

55

H.—No. 14.

Mr. Campbell,

18th Sept., 1871,

is difficult to remember conversations, brought up on the spur of the moment, as now, without any warning. I cannot remember. Do you know a person of the name of Dreyer ? —Yes. Do you remember, before the election, his calling upon you, and telling you that he had called about Sir David Monro ? —He either called on me, or I met him on the street. Did he tell you what he had come for?—He told me for a copy of the electoral roll, as far as I can remember. Did you and he go over the electoral roll together ? —We might have done so; I think he got the roll from me, at all events. You must remember this: you have been called here to prove certain things. I want to know whether he did not go over the electoral roll with you ? —I went over the electoral roll with some one, but whether with him, Ido not remember. I could remember in a short time (a pause). I might have done so, but I am not sure. Did you not go over the names, and at several names say to Dreyer, " He's right, he's right, I have spoken to him " ? —I might have said such and such people are right ; that must have been at Nelson. You admit that you might have said so-and-so is right ? —Yes, knowing of elections that certain persons were one way. Did not you make a calculation to show that there was seventeen of a majority for Monro ?—No. Dreyer told me he had made a calculation himself previously. Where he told me Ido not remember. He took a paper out of his pocket, and wished to show me; I did not wish to see it. He said he made a calculation, and would get so-and-so. Had you voted for Sir David Monro on previous elections ?—No. Had you a conversation with Monro and Elliott about the elections ? —Oh, yes, I had many conversations about the elections. And as to Sir David Monro's chances ? —Yes, I think I have. What did you say to them about that? —I cannot remember. Did you tell them they were sure of winning?—l could not do that, as I did not know how the people would vote. Had you any conversation about the chances of winning? —Yes, about the election. And as to persons who were likely to vote for him or not? —No, I don't think so. I never was over the electoral roll with them. I saw the electoral roll with Dreyer ; but whether at Nelson, or at my office at Motueka, Ido not remember. I did not wish him to do so ; but he persisted in showing it to me. You were the Returning Officer at the time? —Yes. I never told him whether he was right or wrong. He would say, " He's all right," or something of that sort. Try and tell us what passed between Monro and Elliott, and you, when you talked about these matters ? —lt is difficult to remember casual conversations. Did you at any time speak about the chances, or whether you canvassed any one ?—Very likely. Or whether you knew how people would vote ? —I do not think I mentioned any particular name. When this conversation took place between you and Monro about the election, did you mention any particular persons who were likely to vote for him ? —I might have done so. Did you canvass, or ask any persons to vote for Monro in any way at that election ?—I never asked; I was cautious in not asking any person to vote for any party. Did you ever ask, were they going to vote for Monro? —I might have done so. The Chairman : Some of the Committee are desirous of knowing what you propose to lead up to by this examination, as it has nothing to do with the examination in chief. Mr. Allan : I have a right to ask him these questions. Mr. Gillies : What has that to do with the case ? The Chairman : To what point do you wish to lead up ? Do you wish to call witnesses to show that he was not giving true testimony ? Mr. Allan: He is called here as the Registration Officer to give evidence, and I want to ascertain whether he knew his duty. The Chairman : The Committee have got that already, that he was not acquainted with his duty as Registration Officer. Examination continued. By Mr. Allan .- What is your practice as Registration Officer: do you send in the claims ?—I send in every claim except those already on the roll. I received instructions from Mr. Connell that it was not necessary to send any such claims, previous custom having shown that it caused confusion on the electoral roll. Have you read the Registration of Electors Act ?—Yes. Do you not know that it is your duty to make up every claim, whether right or wrong, and send it before the Revising Officer ? The Chairman : He says he did not do that. By Mr. Allan : Do you send in the list of original claims as made by the persons themselves ? —I do not send those I put into the waste basket; the others I send in to the Revising Officer, with the electoral roll for the year. You send in the original claims to the Revising Officer ?—Yes ; everything I have got down on my list I send in. Every claim that is made by an elector, you send in to the Revising Officer ? —All except those I believe perfectly useless. You interpret the Act in that way ? —I do ; there is a certain clause on that point: " But tho Registration Officer shall not insert in such list the name of any person whose claim shall not purport to have been duly declared." [See Clause 8, Registration of Electors Act, 1866.]