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33. Mr. Wason.] Did you repay the Committee everything it had expended on the election ?—1? paid some, and some the committee paid themselves. 34. Did the committee render you an account of the expenses of the election ?—No; they have never rendered me any account yet. I have paid some sums. At the time I was asked to stand, I did not know there would be any expenses, or you may depend I would not have gone into it. 35. Tou have not paid all the demands of your committee ? —I should think not. Why, they had committees all over the country. The publicans got up committees, and lam charged here and charged there with all sorts of charges. I was surprised to find I was cheered everywhere, but it was all explained afterwards. But I did not pay them. 36. Henshaw sent in a bill for £50 more; but you did not pay that ? —I asked for an account of what he had spent. 37. He did not furnish it?— No. 38. And you would not pay either him or the committee ? —No. 39. The committee have charged sums you did not pay and do not intend to pay ? —-Tes. 40. Mr. Whitaker.] How many committees were there? —There were committees all over the country, but I did not appoint them. They said they were going to put me in without any expense. I did afterwards appoint Henshaw to get votes. .41. Mr. Curtis.] What amount did you actually pay to Henshaw ? —I did not exactly pay him. I paid his passage, and then we bought a horse and a saddle and bridle. He drew a lot of money on my account, altogether about £85. Then he came back and wanted more, but I would not give it to him. He then sent me blackguard letters, and threatened to do all sorts of things—almost to hang me. 42. How did he get money on your account ? —He got it from my agent at Napier. 43. Who was that agent ? —Mr. George Eichardson, a man whom I have known for thirty years. 44. Mr. Whitaker.] He was a kind of general agent for you. He had nothing to do with the election ?—No. 45. He is not in the district even ? —No. 46. Mr. Curtis.] What sums have you paid to the committee ? —I do not know exactly; I have paid a good deal, I can tell you, and very much against my will. 47. Tou cannot say how much ? —No, I have no books here. But these people are still coming for more, and threatening to sue me. 48. Did you pay any portion before the election was over ?—Not a sixpence. I had no idea until the election was over that there was going to be any expense. 49. Mr. Barton.] Do I understand you to say that the committee was a sort of volunteer committee, who came and asked you to stand ? —Tes. 50. And yog expected you would not have anything to do with expenses ?—No. 51. Did you interfere with what the committee were.doing?—No; but after I began the contest, I tried to get votes. 52. Henshaw was the only agent you had ? —He was going to assist Bradley. 53. Bradley was your agent? —-Tes. Henshaw said he knew a lot of people, and I said I would give him something to assist Bradley. 54. Tou thought you were going to be put in without any expense, and then found (the usual thing in these cases, I believe) that you were expected to pay for everything?—Tes; I never had any idea that I was going to be charged with the expense. It seems, when they said they meant to put me in, they intended to put me in the hole. 55. Were you desirous of becoming a candidate? —No. They had been at me previously to go in for the Provincial Council, but I would have nothing to do with them. 56. And when you at last acceded to their requests, you find yourself charged with bribery?— Tes. 57. Did you have anything to do with the appointment of these committees all over the country ? —No ; I never knew anything whatever about their existence till the bills came in. 58. I suppose the publicans got up the committees in the usual way, and then sent in the bills?— Tes; I had not the least idea of bills being run up by these committees. 59. Mr. Shaw.] But you put yourself in the hands of your committee when you consented to stand—that is, the committee which you say waited upon you and asked you to stand ?—Well, they said they would put me in. 60. Then you understood they were acting for you with that object in view?—Tes ; but that was the only committee I knew of. But it seems the whole of Gisborne was acting as a committee. Fairfax Johnson examined on oath. 61. Mr. Shaw.] Tour name is Fairfax Johnson ?—Tes. 62. Where do you live ?■—Tauranga. 63. Do you remember the election for the East Coast, in January last, for the House of Representatives ? —I do. 64. A little before the election, do you remember having seen Major Pitt ?—I do. 65. The election took place on the 6th, did it not ?—Tes. 66. When did you see Major Pitt ? —I saw him on the 3rd or 4th January. 67. Where did you see him ? —On the strand at Opotiki. 68. What did ho say to you ?—Do you wish to know what he said about personal affairs, or merely what ho said about this election ? 69. I speak with reference to the election only. What did he say ?—After greetings, he asked me whom I was going to vote for. I said, " I have not made up my mind yet, but lam on Captain Morris's committee." He said, " Well, I have known you for a long time: stick to me, and let us get ' the old man ' in." I knew that he meant Captain Read when he said " the old man." 70. Did he say whom he was acting for ? —He said he was acting as agent for Captain Read. He superseded another man.