5

J.—s.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.

Feiday, 7th July, 1876. The Eev. Mohi Ttjbe_, being in attendance, was examined as follows : — 1. The Chairman.] It appears that the Returning Officer for the Eastern Maori District did not take a poll at one of the polling-places. The place mentioned is Kawakawa. Do you know anything of the matter? Do you know of your own kuowledge whether a poll was taken or not? —There was no poll taken at Kawakawa. 2. Are you aware, from your own knowledge, whether many electors might or would have recorded their votes at that polling-place had a poll been taken ? —Tes, there would have been a great many votes polled there. 3. What number do you estimate ?—There are 350 people resident in that place. 4. Do you think that all these 350 people, or the greater proportion of them, might have polled ? —They would have voted —all of them, I think. 5. Have you any knowledge of tho manner in which these men were likely to have voted had there been a polling-place ? For what candidate would they probably have voted ?—Hotene Porourangi. G. Is there any other information you would like to give touching this matter ? —Yes; I have something to say about the polling-place at Waiapu. If a poll had been taken there, there would have been a great number of votes polled there. 7. Was any polling-place proclaimed at that place by the Gazette? — Yes, the school-house at Waiapu was proclaimed a polling-place. 8. Was no poll taken there ?—No, there was no poll taken there. It was taken at Te Awanui. 9. To what extent do you think the change of this polling-place influenced the election, and how ? —There would have been a great number of votes polled at the proper place. There are 200 of us in the settlement who did not go to this place, Te Awanui, where the poll was taken. We should all have voted at Waiapu. 10. Do you know, or have you a decided opinion, as to the way in which the 200 persons, or the majority of them, would have voted ? For what candidate would they have voted ?—The 200 were ourselves. Other sections of the tribe would also have voted at Waiapu. 11. But for which candidate would they have voted? —The votes would have been divided ; some would have voted for Karaitiana, but the majority would have been for Hotene. At any rate, 200 of us would have voted for him. 12. Is there anything else you wish to say ?—I wish to make a suggestion if you will listen to it. I would suggest, if a fresh election takes place, that there should be three polling-places—one at Akuaku, at Waiomatatini Court House, and the other one at Kawakawa. 13. Are you a voter ? —Yes ; and would have voted. I did not vote at this election. 14. Why did you not vote ? —Because the polling was not held at the proper place, Waiapu ; because the weather was very bad; and because my wife was ill and I did not like to leave her. I should have gone to Waiapu though. 15. Mr. Macandrew.] Did any electors present themselves at these places, Waiapu and Kawakawa, to record their votes ? —The people were all ready to vote. They had assembled to go to Waiapu, but we heard there was no poll there. 16. And at the other place ? —I was not present, and therefore cannot say of my own knowledge. It was twenty miles away. 17. Have you been there since the election ? —No, I have not been there. 18. What is your impression as to the number who would have voted for Hotene ?—I dare say 300 would have voted for Hotene. A list of those who were going to vote for him was made at Kawakawa. 19. Mr. Tole.] Have you seen the list or roll of voters for this district ?—The list made out was a private list made out before the poll was taken. It was a list of our own. Mr. Campbell has that list now. 20. Were all on the list voters ? —Yes, they were all voters. 21. Who prepared the list ? —Hoani Ngatai wrote it out. 22. Was the list in his handwriting ? —No; he got the people to sign their names. He was engaged for two weeks going about with this list, getting people to sign it. 23. Was it a requisition then ? —lt was a list of names in two columns, headed " List of Persons who are going to vote for," " Hotene " being placed at the top of one column, and " Karaitiana " at the top of the other column. 24. For whom did Hoani Ngatai vote ?—I don't know how he voted. He was supporting Hotene. 25. How many were there on the list ? —Three hundred and fifty. 26. Do you think all those or a great proportion of them would have voted had the poll been held at Kawakawa ? —Yes, and others beside. 27. Mr. Williams.] Where was the Court House at Waiapu—on which side of the river?—On the north side. 28. Is that the side where the Natives all are ? —There are more on the south side ; but those on the south side are some distance from Waiapu. 29. But I mean the people in the immediate vicinity of Waiapu ?—The bulk of residents at Waiapu proper reside on the north side of the river. 30. Were these people whose names you have spoken of present on the day of the poll ?—They were all ready to vote, but not all absolutely at the polling-place. They were going, and were on their way, when they were told that Mr. Campbell had gone across the river. A good many were present at the polling-place.

Sev. Mohi Turei,

1 July, 1876.