J.—s

15

E. W. Campbell, being in attendance, was examined as follows : — 307. The Chairman.] Were you appointed Deputy Eeturning Officer at the late Eastern Maori District election ?—I was. 308. Have you a copy of your appointment ?—No, I have not a copy. 309. Tou had an appointment in writing? —I got it from my father. 310. The election was on the 15th of January ?—Tes. 311. Tou were appointed Dcputy-Eeturning Officer for the Kawakawa?—Tes. 312. Did you open the poll on that day at the Kawakawa ? —No. On starting for the Kawakawa I went out to catch a horse. It was raining at the time, about the time the flood commenced. My horse stumbled and fell, my foot being jammed under the horse, which caused me great pain. I was not able to wear boots after it. I tried to get on, but could not walk to lead my horse where necessary. Had the weather been good I should have been able to ride. 313. There was a river between Waiapu and Kawakawa?—Two rivers, the Oruatua and the Kawakawa Eiver, which were flooded at the time. 314. Were they so much flooded that you would not have been able to cross them had you not met with an accident ?—They were very high. I could not have crossed them at the time, and there was only a rough Maori track over the hill. 315. Do you know whether the Natives assembled at the KWakaiva for the purpose of voting ? — No, they did not assemble on that day, but they got notices. 316. Do you know any reason why they did not assemble ? —There was an opposition man there; Tomoana was canvassing there, and a great many were on his side. 317. How does that account for their not assembling? They could still have assembled for the purpose of voting ?—No, because Tomoana had a great deal of influence there, and kept his men away. 318. Can you tell the Committee at all what number of Natives qualified to vote there are in reach of that district, and who would have been able to attend "the poll and vote if they felt so disposed ?—Well, there were about seventy or eighty at Kawakawa who could have attended, but the majority were of the opposition. 319. How many Natives might have voted if they had chosen: that is the question ?—Not being there I could not exactly find out how many would have been likely to vote. 320. Still, you can give a guess at the number you think it likely there would have been?—l think the only ones who would have voted were Morgan's people, at Oruatua, and there are not more than thirty or forty there. The rest were for the other side. 321. We did not ask you which way they would vote. What the Committee want to know is, How many would have been able to vote for any of the candidates ? How many were qualified to record votes, and were likely to come to that particular polling-place, as being the nearest, and consequently most convenient for them? —If you are asking me how many, I can, of course, guess. I should think about fifty. 322. Now, supposing them to number about fifty, do they live in the immediate polling-place at Kawakawa ? —-Some are living at Hicks' Bay. They are living in different districts—not in the same pa as they used to. Some of them live ten miles apart. 323. Tou think, then, there were about fifty above the age of twenty-one qualified to vote?—Tes. 324. Mr. Macandrew.] When were you at Kawakawa last ? —I was there about twelve months ago. 325. Tou have not been there since the election ?—No ; I was to have gone, but coming down here put me off. 326. Mr. W. Wood expressed a desire to hear further evidence on the subject of Te Moana's visit to the district. —About the time the polling took place, Henare Te Moana came up with some people from Napier, and went around among the Natives; aud what influence ho used Ido not know, but he induced a great number to go on his side. 327. Which candidate was he in favour of?—Karaitiana. 328. Tou think he was very successful, then ?—I have no idea as to that; but he seemed to have the voice of a great many. 329. Mr. Tole.] Was there any mention made of the candidates for election in explaining the way to vote ?—lt was explained that Hotene was to be a candidate. 330. Mr. W. Wood.] Tou spoke of an opposition just now: to which of the candidates did you refer ?—I spoke of an opposition to Hotene, tho candidate I was canvassing for. 331. Mr. B. Reid.] Why do you look upon Hotene as the opposition ?—I was for Hotene at the time, and Te Moana was for Karaitiana. 332. Mr. Macandrew.] Were you canvassing individually for Hotene ? —Not individually. I did not mean to say canvassing either—that was a mistake ; but I was on Hotene's side as Eeturning Officer, and Te Moana was canvassing for Karaitiana. 333. Hon. Sir L>. McLean.] Do you not know that as Eeturning Officer you have no right to be on either one side or the other ? —I did not mean that. I made a mistake there. 334. Mr. Macandrew.] Are you aware whether any one was sent down to take the names of the Natives going to vote ?—Did my father mention any notices ? 335. lam putting a question to you. Are you aware of anything of the kind? —There was a messenger sent with notices informing the Natives they were to appear on the day of polling. 336. And to take down the names?—Tes. 337. Who was he ?—A man named Hoani Ngatai was sent round. 338. Tou do not know whether he canvassed ? —No. He was merely sent round to give the notices. 339. Mr. B. Reid.] Did he take any interest in the election himself ?—No. He took uo interest in it at all, being an independent Native. 340. Did he vote?—Tes. He voted for Hotene. 341. Mr. Tole.] How do you know he voted for Hotene?—Because he voted at Te Awanui before he started.

Mr. F. W. Campbell.

26th July, 1876.