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1.—2

The motion being put, was agreed to unanimously. Mr. Barton applied to have the ballot papers used in the East Coast election produced before the Committee. Resolved, That the Chairman make a request to F. E. Campbell, Esq., Clerk of the House, to produce the same at the next, meeting of the Committee. Resolved, That the Chairman do make application to the House for a further adjournment for a fortnight. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock.

Tuesday, Ist August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Wason, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Major Campbell attended with the ballot papers of the East Coast election. Mr. Shaw applied to have the whole of the ballot papers used at the East Coast election examined by the Committee, in order to show the number of votes recorded for each candidate, Mr. Barton stated, as the ground of his application, that he desired the ballot papers to be examined in order to prove the credibility of the witness Fairfax Johnson, and the depositions of the Native Hori Ngatai. Resolved, That the Committee do not at present see any grounds for granting Mr. Barton's application. Mr. Shaw's application being likewise considered, Resolved, That the ballot papers be not examined for the purpose required, and that the petitioner be allowed to prove the numbers polled for each candidate, either by viva voce evidence of the Beturning Officer, or by his affidavit. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Stout, That to-morrow, at 10 o'clock a.m., the respondent deliver to the Committee and to the petitioner a list of all the cases of bribery and treating on which he means solely to rely, and that he be confined to the cases therein specified. The Committee then adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock.

Wednesday, 2nd August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Wason, Mr. Stout, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Montgomery in the Chair. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Barton, for the respondent, delivered to the Chairman, and to Mr. Shaw, counsel for the petitioner, a statement of the charges made against Mr. Morris, in accordance with the resolution of the Committee. (Vide Appendix.) The parties having withdrawn, the Committee proceeded to a consideration of the charges specified in respondent's statement. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Stout, That the second charge in the statement is too va<me, and is not in compliance with the resolution of the Committee, and therefore the Committee cannot entertain it. Resolved, on the motion of Mr. Stout, That the respondent must now specify, in the first charge, the place where the refreshment was supplied, and whether any elector partook of the refreshments offered. The parties were called in and informed of the decision of the Committee. Mr. Barton hereupon delivered to the Committee an amendment to the first charge contained in the respondent's statement. (Vide Appendix.) Mr. Shaw applied to have Captain Morris, the petitioner, examined, in reply to the charges made against him by the respondent. The parties withdrew. After deliberating, Mr. Whitaker moved, That the Committee do not see any reason for departing from the ordinary course of procedure. Mr. Stout moved, by way of amendment, That the Committee permit such examination tomorrow. On this amendment the Committee divided, — Ayes, 2. Noes, 2. Mr. Stout, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Wason. Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Montgomery, as Chairman, gave his casting vote against the amendment. The amendment was therefore lost. The original motion was then put and agreed to. Leave of the House having been obtained for a further adjournment for a fortnight. The Committee adjourned till Tuesday, 15th August instant, at 10 o'clock a.m.