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Friday, 18th August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present : Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Wason in the Chair. Tho minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Committee having agreed to examine the evidence individually, adjourned till to-morrow (Saturday) morning, at 10 o'clock.

Saturday, 19th August, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 10 o'clock a.m. Present : Mr. Curtis, Mr. Wason, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Stout, Mr. Moorhouse in the Chair, The minutes of the preceding day were read and confirmed. The examination of the evidence by the Committee not being completed, the Committee adjourned till Monday next, 21st August, at 10 o'clock a.m.

Monday, 21st 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. On tho question being put, the Committee decided it was not necessary that the evidence should be read over. The following questions, arising out of the evidence, were severally put by the Chairman:— 1. Was bribery committed ? 2. Was bribery committed by Major Pitt ? 3. Was bribery committed by Fairfax Johnson ? The Committee decided in the affirmative to each. Mr. Curtis moved, That the committee sitting in Gisborne, by whom Major Pitt was employed, was an ordinary election committee, acting on behalf of George Edward Read, with his full knowledge and consent. And the question being put, was agreed to unanimously. The following resolutions, moved by Mr. Whitaker, were unanimously agreed to : — (1.) That George Edward Bead ia 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 and consent of the said George Edward Read. The Committee then proceeded to consider the question of the duo election of George Bentham Morris, and, having deliberated, Mr. Curtis moved, That George Bentham Morris is duly elected a member to serve in the present Parliament for the East Coast Electoral District. To which the following amendment was moved by Mr. Whitaker : — That inasmuch as it was admitted by the petitioner, George Bentham Morris, in his evidence before tho Committee, that he travelled through the electoral district canvassing the electors, and on several occasions during such canvass treated electors with drinks at public-houses, that he was guilty of treating within the meaning of " The Corrupt Practices Act, 1858," and that the said George Bentham Morris was not therefore duly elected. And the amendment being put the Committee divided, — Ayes, 2. Noes, 5. Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Johnston, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Stout, Mr. Wason. The amendment was therefore lost; and the original motion being put, the Committee divided, —

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