J.—s.

22

which led to the failure to take a poll at Kawakawa. The evidence I would have given I believe has already been given, namely, as to the number of people who would have voted at Kawakawa had the poll been taken there. I was given to understand by representations made that some 300 or 400 people might have polled there. I took a good deal of trouble in hunting up information from the census of Native tribes taken in 1874, and I think the evidence I would have given as to the number is before the Committee, having been given by one of the other witnesses. The total number of the Ngatiporou tribe is 841 from fifteen years of age and upwards. 571. Hon. Sir D. McLean.] That is the male population, I suppose ? —Tes, the male population over fifteen years of age. 572. The Chairman^] That was in the year 1874 ?—ln the year 1874. I may be allowed to say that this was the third general election under the Maori Eepresentation Act. In the two previous elections the poll had been taken in a different way —that is, in Maori fashion. The restrictions and limitations of this last polling were not imposed on previous occasions. The poll was taken by the names of the different hapus being taken down on paper and brought to the Eeturning Officer as the vote for each hapu. On this occasion the Government very properly altered that practice; but insufficient notice was given to the Natives, and it was thereby that 303 votes were lost to Karaitiana in the Wairarapa district. They brought their names in on pieces of paper according to the practice on previous occasions, and the votes were, very properly, rejected by the Eeturning Officer. 573. Tou can tell us nothing further ?—No ; that is the evidence I would have given in reference to the numbers of the people. 574. Mr. W. Wood.] Is this statement given on hearsay ?—There are witnesses here who can prove it, who brought in the papers to the Eeturning Officer. 575. Hon. Sir D. McLean,] There were some votes for Karaitiana ? —Some voted, yes ; but there ought to have been 350. 576. Do you consider there are 350 Natives altogether in the Wairarapa ?—I think there are more than that, Sir. 577. Mr. Macandretc] Can you say how many signed the papers and were rejected ?—-Three hundred and three. 578. And they were for Karaitiana ? —Tes ; and they were rejected on the ground that the law requires persons to go to the polling-places and record their votes. 579. But I suppose the same thing applied with regard to the other candidates, the votes being given in the old way ?—That is the only instance I know of. 580. Mr. Tole.] How many votes are there at Kawakawa, do you think ? —I have gone over the list very carefully, and do not see how there could be more than ninety or one hundred people there who could have voted, and that would be decidedly allowing very liberally for the proportion of people over twenty-one years of age. 581. Tou think they would not be likely to go from any other settlements ?—No. 582. Hon. Sir D. McLean.] Not from Hicks' Bay ?—I think they would, sir ; but as a matter of fact, I think there were only thirty-nine people present on the day of the poll. They were under forty at any rate. By Authority: Oboboe Didsbitj-Y, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB76. Price 9d.]

Mr. Sheehan.

Ith July, 1876,