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I did not send up for. Mr. Cooper, because I heard he was on the way, and also Crapp. I told my clerk to make every exertion to find Pitt, as his evidence was required before the Committee. I have since received affidavits : one from my clerk and one from the bailiff of the Besident Magistrate's Court, setting forth that every effort to find Pitt has been made, but unsuccessfully. 478. Can you say whether Pitt has been threatened with further legal proceedings ? —He has had to pay a fine of £100, and I believe he has been threatened with further proceedings. I happen to know, however, that Major Pitt was in Gisborne when a summons was sent up some time ago. I saw him myself. 479. When was that ? —Perhaps five weeks ago. Mr. Taylor, the solicitor, to whom the papers were sent, asked me several times, if I had seen Pitt, and one occasion I told him I had seen him that morning at the Club. I had heard that Mr. Taylor had instructed the bailiff to serve Pitt, and I gave him information that I believed Major Pitt had gone to Mr. Woodbine Johnstone's. 480. When the efforts of the other party were being made, Major Pitt was actually in the town of Gisborne ? —Yes. (Affidavits put in.) 481. Do you know a Mr. Doubleam in the district ? —Yes. 482. What is he ?—He has been a baker. I believe he is about going into the butchering business. 483. Is he an elector? —I believe so ;he has been a ratepayer for some time. 484. Was any summons served on him at Gisborne ? —No ; I was not aware he could give evidence. 485. Do you know Mr. Fitzgerald Crawford ?—Yes ;heis a brewer at Gisborne. -ISO. Can you tell the Committee why he could not come to give evidence ?—I know he could not come down except at great inconvenience and loss to himself, and I suppose at loss to the publicans, because he is not only the proprietor of the brewery, but he also works it by his own labour. I subpoenaed him because he is one of those who signed the instructions to Major Pitt. 487. Do you know Dufaur ? —Yes; he is editor of the Poverty Bay Herald, and, I believe, proprietor. From my own knowledge, I can say his absence from Gisborne would be likely to injure him greatly in business, because his paper could not be published in his absence, or, if it were published, would not he of much good. 488. Was the committee, as far as you know, acting under the instructions of Captain Bead ? — No; he had nothing to do with directing the committee. 489. Mr. Shaw.] About these accounts. You said you did not recollect being absent from the committee meetings ?—No; Ido not think I was absent from any. Certainly, I did not take much notice, because I had no idea anything would come of tho matter, so did not take much notice. 490. In reference to Pitt going away. Do you know what money he got when he went away ? — Ido not know. The manner in which he came to be appointed was this : There happened to bo a committee meeting, and it was suggested that Major Pitt should be sent to Tauranga, as Henshaw bore a very bad name, and many votes would be lost if he were depended upon. I suppose Pitt was then seen, and having agreed to go, the charterer of the vessel and the captain were sent for, Kelly being the person who first proposed Pitt should go. Adair (the agent of the steamer's company) and Kelly wanted £50, but ultimately they agreed to take £25, which was given. Mr. Cooper makes a mistake when he says £30. The next day I heard Major Pitt was gone. 491. Did you hear anything about money being given to Pitt ?—I believe Mr. Cooper did give him money. 492. Mr. Whitaker.] How was the money got —collected ?—Borrowed, I believe. 493. Do you know whether the committee sent him money or not? —I do not know. If any member of the committee sent money to Pitt, it would be mentioned at the committee meeting, and to the best of my belief nothing was mentioned. There were no telegrams received from Pitt asking for money; in fact, he hardly had time to get down to Tauranga before the election took place. 494. For all you know, Captain Bead may have been in communication with Major Pitt ? —The committee would have known of it if he had. Ido not think it is at all likely. 495. That is your inference ?—Exactly. 496. How much was paid by the committee in respect of accounts ? —I cannot say. 497. Approximated. Has there been £100 paid? —More than that. 498. £150?— Yes." 499. £200 ? —There may have been £200. Some are not paid. Still there may have been £200. But I really do not know. I may be quite wrong. 500. Besides the money paid, there has been a good deal more wanted to be paid, and which is not paid yet ? —Yes; accounts have been sent in to the committee, a very large number, but they have not been recognized. Then others have been sent in for refreshments. 501. About how much ? —I should think about £18. 502. Then, do you say that £218 is the total amount of accounts sent in?—l cannot say quite. There were printing accounts and advertising accounts, and of course it is quite impossible to bear in one's mind all these details. 503. Did you pay all the money that has been paid ? —I do not know. 504. How much did Captain Bead pay ? —I do not know. I believe Captain Bead has paid some. I may say the committee has paid none. AVhat we did was merely to mark tho accounts correct or reduce them in amount, as the case might be, handing them back to the persons in order that they might take them certified to Captain Bead. 505. Captain Bead has not paid all these accounts ?—No. 506. Where was the money- obtained that was paid to Pitt?—That was paid by Mr. Cooper, and was, I believe, included iv the £200. I was chairman when some of the accounts were passed; and Mr. Webb was chairman when others were passed, so I cannot speak as to all. 507. Was Mr. AVebb a member of that committee ?—I think he was. 508. Was Mr. Hay a member of that committee ?—I do not remember. I have, I think, seen him on the committee.