17

J.—s

J. H. Campbell, re-called and examined, as follows: — 386. Tiie Chairman^] Tou were speaking of a small book in which the number of names of voters were taken down in order to guide you as to the number who attended the poll. Have you got that with you ?—I am sorry to say I have not. I have only one, and that is at Waiapu. 387. Mr. Macandrew.] That was the book taken round by the Native ? —Tes. 388. Cannot that book be got by sending for it ? —lt is among important papers in a box in my house, and lam not sure whether any one would be able to get it. If I had thought of it, I should have brought it with me. The book merely contains the names of the voters for the purpose of showing them how to vote. 389. Mr. D. Reid.] Did the Native you sent round fill in the name of the candidate ? —ln some of them. I recollect seeing the name of one candidate on some of the forms. However, that was not in accordance with the directions he received from me. 390. Tou only observed the name of one candidate, you say ? —Only one. 391." AVhat was his name ?• —Hotene : I suppose that was the only name they knew of at the time, because when he went round it was previous to the return of Hotene from Napier ; so that they were not aware of any other candidate at that time. 392. Mr. Macandrew.] Are j^ou aware whether Karaitiana's brother went round on his behalf?— He only arrived at Waiapu one day and a-half before the polling-day. 393. Was that subsequent to Hotene going round? —Ten days, or a fortnight, at least. 394. When was the nomination at Napier ?—The nomination at Napier took place on the sth, I think. 395 Was it on the 4th of January this Maori went round? —Tes, that was the day. He started on the 4th. 396. Did you not know who had been proposed at Napier ?—We did not hear anything at that time. 397. Hon. Mr. Stafford.] Is there no telegraph ?—lt only goes as far as Gisborne. 398. How far is Gisborne from Waiapu ?—One hundred miles. 399. Then you trust to communication by sea? —Sometimes, but also by land. 400. Is there any postal communication?—Tes. 401. How is that post carried?—lt is carried by a horseman once a fortnight. 402 Did you know on the day of polling how man} r candidates there were ? —-Tes, because one of Mr. Locke's telegrams stated there were four candidates. The first we knew of the matter was on Hotene's return on the 10th. 403. Mr. Tole.] When did you instruct your son; on what day ?—Two or three days before the 15th. 404. Subsequent to the 10th ?—Oh, yes. 405. Mr. Macandrew.] I understood you to say that when you found, on the morning of the poll, that your son could not proceed to Kawakawa, you were rather put out ? —I was indeed, because I knew of no one else to send. 406. Could you not have found any one else ? —There is only one man at Te Awanui, Mr. Walker, and he unfortunately cannot read or write Maori. 407. Is he biassed in politics as well ? —He might be. lam not aware. 408. Is there no schoolmaster in the neighbourhood ? —There was a schoolmaster, who had then just arrived. I opened the school on the 3rd. He was a complete stranger to the place, and would not have known how to proceed. 409. Mr. Tole.] Had your son any experience in taking the poll ?—No, except what he had seen on other occasions, and from the instructions I gave him. 410. Do you think it would be of any use telegraphing for that book to get it.down in reasonable time?—l do not know anyone who could find it. 411. Mr. Lumsden,] Had the schoolmaster been in any Native district before?—No; he was from the South, and had not been ever in this island before. 412. Mr. Tole.] Was it a Native school he had to teach ?—Tes, at Waiapu. 413. Did he know anything of the language? —No. 414. Mr. Williams.] Did I understand you to say it was a book like a cheque book that the votes were taken in ? —TeB. The particular one referred to was an old book that had been lying in my house since the last election, and I used it for the purpose of showing how the voting was to be done. 415. The Chairman.] How could you get this book down ; by post ?—LBy post; that is the only means of communication between Waiapu and Gisborne. 416. Can you tell us, Mr. Campbell, how these votes were taken ? —The name of the electoral district is on the first line, name of the voter comes next, written by himself or for him, and the third line below is for the name of the candidate voted for. (Tho witness, at the request of the Chairman, drew a plan of the form in which these books are printed.) 417. Is there nothing to show the number of candidates in the field ? —No. 418. Is it not necessary that the electors should be informed of the candidates?—lt is supposed that every candidate has an agent to look after his interest. 419. Mr. Tole.] Supposing I came in to vote as an elector of that district, what should I have to do ? Is that the form that would be presented to me ?—-That is the book. 420. I should sign here (pointing to the plan) ? Tes, and put the name of the candidate for whom you vote. 421. Does each voter have one of these forms ? —Tes. 422. It was a book in this form that the Native had ? —Tes. 423. Was there the name of one of the candidates in it?—ln some of the leaves there was the name of Hotene. 3—J. 5.

Mr. J. JST. Camp bell.

26th July, 1876!.