3

I.—3a,

No. 5. The Under Secretary, Native Department, to S. Locke, Esq., Eeturning Officer, Napier. (Telegram.) Government Buildings, 29th January, 1876. Ec Eastern Maori Election. Government regret that they are unable to help you herein. They are advised the question of due return of candidate, and its attendant circumstances, is for the House of Eepresentatives, and that it would be improper, either themselves or through their officers, to advise you to take any particular course. It is suggested that you should seek the best independent legal advice available, and return the writ with or without a name indorsed, as you may decide. H. Halse, (for Under Secretary.)

No. 0. S. Locke, Esq., Eeturning Officer, to the. Under Secretary, Native Department. (Telegram.) Napier, 27th January, 1876. I have adjourned the declaration of the poll until Wednesday next, the 2nd February. The reason given for Eeturning Officer not being at Kawakawa is the floods prevented him. S. Locke.

No. 7. S. Locke, Esq., Eeturning Officer, to His Excellency the Governor. Sir,— Napier, 10th February, 1876. I have the honor to forward herewith a petition signed by 170 of the Ngatiporou tribe, praying that a re-election be granted for the Eastern Maori Election District for the reasons set forth in the petition. I have, &c, S. Locke, Chief Eeturning Officer, His Excellency the Governor, Government House, Eastern Maori Electoral District. Wellington.

Enclosure in No. 7. Translation of Petition to His Excellency the Governor. Wai-o-Matatini, Waiapu, 0 Sir, Greetings to you in the Lord,— 31st January, 1876. This is a petition from us, the whole of the people of the Ngatiporou tribe to you, praying that you will sanction the polling for the election of a member of the Eastern Maori Electoral District to be repeated. The reason of our petition is,— Firstly. No poll took place at the Kawakawa, owing to the absence of the Deputy Eeturning Officer. Secondly. That the people were debarred from recording their votes on account of the excessive rain on the day appointed for taking the poll. Thirdly. That the people of Waiapu were not acquainted with the system of voting. Concluded. We subscribe our names on the appeal of the whole tribe. Meiha Eopata Wahawaiia To the Governor the Marquis of Normanby, (and 169 others), the Governor of New Zealand.

By Authority: Geoege Didsbttey, Government Printer, Wellington. —1876. Price 3d.]