I.—3a,

1876. NEW ZEALAND.

EASTERN MAORI ELECTORAL DISTRICT. (PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE ELECTION OF A MEMBER TO SERVE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THEREFOR.)

(Laid upon the Table by the Hon. Sir J. Vogel.)

No. 1. Eeceived, 7th February, 1876. Eeturned to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, 7th February, 1876. I. C. Maleng, Private Secretary. Sir, — Napier, 2nd February, 1876. I have the honor, in accordance with clause 9 of the regulations making provision for the matters named in the 9th section of " The Maori Eepresentation Act, 1867," to forward herewith the writ for the Eastern Maori Electoral District, with a special return thereon setting forth the reasons, after reference to the best legal advice obtainable, for not declaring any candidate elected. I also enclose an extract from a letter received from J. H. Campbell, Esq., E.M., Waiapu, stating the reason of no poll having been taken at Kawakawa. I have, &c, S. Locke, To His Excellency the Governor, Wellington. Chief Eeturning Officer.

Enclosure 1 in No. 1. Writ for the Election of a Member for the Eastern Maori Electoral District. Victoria, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the Islands of New Zealand, Queen, To Samuel Locke, Esquire, Eeturning Officer for the Eastern Maori Electoral District, Greeting : Whereas it is necessary that an election of a Member of the House of Eepresentatives of New Zealand shall take place: Now, therefore, We do hereby require and command you to cause to be elected by the voters duly qualified for that purpose, freely and indifferently, and in manner and form by law and regulations in this behalf described, a legally qualified person to serve as Member of the said House of Eepresentatives for the Eastern Maori Electoral District: And we do hereby further require and command that you cause the nomination of the said Member to be at Napier, on the fourth day of January next, and the polling, in case it shall be required, to be at the several polling places, on the fifteenth day of January next; and that this Our Writ, with the name of the person so elected indorsed thereon by you, shall be. returned to Us here on or before the second day of February, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. In witness whereof, His Excellency George Augustus Constantine, Marquis of Normanby, the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand, has caused the Public Seal of the Colony of New Zealand to be hereunto affixed, at Wellington, the 14th day of December, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five. (1.5.) Normanby, Governor. Ecceived the sixteenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, at Napier. (Indorsement.) Special Eeturn. I, Samuel Locke, Eeturning Officer for the Eastern Maori Electoral District, hereby certify as follows: — 1. That in pursuance of the within writ, a nomination of candidates for the Eastern Maori Electoral District was held on the fourth day of January, 1876, at the Provincial Council Chambers, Napier, and at such nomination Karaitiana Takamoana, Mita Hikairo, Kepa Eangipuawhe, and Hotene Porourangi were duly nominated as candidates for the said district.