H.—No. 2.

18. Did he say why ? —I asked the reason. He said, because of a vote in regard to Government House. 19. Do you recollect anything more that took place ? —I do not recollect the whole of the conversation. Mr. Martin rode up on horseback at the time, and said something about having just been walking into Andrew. That that was the only way he could get at him about that vote, and that he would make him pay five hundred notes. 20. To Mr. Reynolds.'] He appeared as if he had just come direct from the Land Office. What he said was to the effect that he had just been and pitched into Andrew. 21. To the Chairman.'] 1 really forget the date on which this conversation took place. The allusion made to a vote, referred to one given last session. 22. Mr. Bluett.] Can you tell how that vote affected Mr. Martin ? —Only from public rumour. Mr. W. H. Levis' in attendance, and examined. 23. The Chairman^] Show Mr. Levin the article.—l have seen it. We are a Committee of Privileges, appointed by the House of Representatives to inquire into the truth of certain statements made in that article. The point to which we more particularly wish to direct your attention,_ is the statement made to the effect that Mr. Martin is alleged to have asserted that he made application for certain lands to punish Mr. Andrew for a certain vote. —I have already told Mr. Andrew that my evidence is of little value in the matter. I have an indistinct recollection that, some six weeks or two months ago, Mr. Martin told me he had applied for Mr. Andrew's land, —that he would make him pay for an adverse vote in reference to the Government House. 24. In reply to further question, the witness said: I cannot remember whether the remark was made by Mr. Martin to myself. It took place in the Club. There were other people standing round. 25' To the Chairman^] I merely recollect the general tenor of what passed. I have no further evidence to give on the subject. Mr. J. G. Holdsworth in attendance, and examined. 26. In reply to the Chairman, witness said that he was Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Province of Wellington. 27. The Chairman.] The attention of the House of Representatives has been directed to an article in the Fvening Post. —l have seen the article to which you allude. 28. It is right I should inform you that Mr. Andrew admits that he wrote the article himself. Mr. Andrew asserts that Mr. Martin purchased, or rather applied for the purchase of, certain lands upon his run, and that he (Mr. Martin) has been heard to say that he did so with the view of inflicting a punishment upon Mr. Andrew for a vote given in the House of Representatives. That is the point upon which we are more particularly desirous of obtaining information. There may be some other questions arising out of it, regarding the working of the Waste Lands laws, upon which you will be desired to give information. Our principal object is to discover what truth there is in that statement. Can you give any information ? —I am not aware that Mr. Martin ever made any such statement. I have heard that he did, but he never did so directly to me. I have no personal knowledge of any such statement having been made. 29. I understand you to say that you have heard that he has made threats of the kind?—Mr. Andrew told the Waste Lands Board so at its last meeting. Since then I have heard otherwise, that he did make such a threat. 30. To Mr. Reynolds.] I have heard that he made such threats to other persons. Mr. Pharazyn just now gave mo to understand that statements of that kind had been made. Mr. Collins has also told me the same thing. It is only, however, within the last twenty-four hours that I have heard of these statements having been made. lam not aware that they have been made to any one else. 31. The Chairman.] Is the land in question situated on Mr. Andrew's run ? —The whole of the land is situated on the run. Mr. Andrew holds the run on payment of 2d. per acre. Mr. Martin desired to purchase the land at ss. per acre, but could not do so, as the land had not been declared pastoral country. 32. In reply to further interrogatories, witness said that the land could have been opened to the public for sale at 7s. 6d. per acre, or if applications were put in under the Regulations, it w rould be put up to auction at ss. Both Mr. Martin's and Mr. Andrew's application for the land in question were put in on the same day. These applications necessitated the land being put up to auction at ss. Both applications wore received simultaneously, although Mr. Martin's was first entered. Both applicants wished to know how I proposed to deal with their applications. I declined to give any answer until I saw whether any other applications would come in that day. The following morning I informed Messrs. Martin and Andrew that they had better draw lots to decide which of their applications should be registered. Registration, I may explain, was the first step to be taken. The land would then go to auction. 33. The Chairman.] Does the law, in a case of that kind, provide for lots being drawn ? —No; the law makes no provision for a case of that kind. Mr. Martin expressed his willingness to comply with the suggestion, but Mr. Andrew requested time to consider over the matter. After taking time to consider the matter, Mr. Andrew informed me that he declined the proposal to draw lots, and stated further that he would press his application. 34. Mr. Reynolds.] Did he give any reason ?—He wanted to have a rehearing. The application was reheard, and Mr. Andrew attended before the Board. The suggestion to draw lots was again made to him. 35. Did you suggest the drawing of lots as Waste Lands Commissioner or as Chairman of the Board ? —I suggested to Mr. Andrew that the only way out of the difficulty was to decide it by lot. I did so as Commissioner in the first instance, and afterwards as Chairman of the Board. The Board has since met, and Mr. Andrew was informed that, as he had declined to draw lots, the other application would be registered.

Mr. Collins.

30th August, 1872,

Mr. Levin.

30th August, 1872,

Mr. Holdsworth.

30th August, 1872.

5

REPORT OE THE PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE.