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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,