H.—B

4

the Registration Officer, had been practically dismissed the very day before the sitting of the Revision Court, and Captain Baker, who was appointed the same day to the vacant office, was a gentleman utterly incompetent to perform the duties. To use his own expression, he was " totally unacquainted with the duties/ and, in my opinion, quite incapable of learning them. These things, which have been placed prominently before the public on many occasions, did look as if the Government were designedly promoting the improper packing of the roll, and deliberately burking an inquiry which might purge it. But, beyond the facts previously well known, nothing has come out in this inquiry to lend support to the suspicion, and I think an examination of the circumstances will show its utter improbability. Whether it was right or wrong for the Registration Officer to make his objections, the fact remained that they had been made. The impropriety, so far as it existed, had been accomplished. The burden of proof being on the claimants who had been objected to, no active duty remained for the Registration Officer to perform. It cannot be thought that the Government believed that inquiry before the Revision Court would be burked, except it be first assumed that the Government had knowledge that Mr. Lawlor, the Revision Officer, and an officer of the Supreme Court, would deliver a judgment grotesque in its absurdity. lam not prepared for so violent an assumption, and therefore, while the sudden dismissal of Mr. Williams, at so short a period prior to the sitting of the Revision Court, was no doubt most inconvenient and objectionable, I think the Government must be acquitted of the depth of iniquity which has been imputed to it. In reference to the mode in which petitions to the House were got up, little need be said, after the description I have given of the way in which electoral claims were filled. If one in ten of the names on the petitions could be shown to be genuine signatures I should feel surprised. But the Maoris have a habit of allowing two or three persons to sign such documents for many others, present and absent; and this explanation may extenuate what otherwise might be regarded as wholesale forgeries. In thus going over the facts of this inquiry as they have presented themselves to my mind, I have pretty plainly indicated the view I have taken of them ; but, as I am specially enjoined to report an opinion on the various questions raised by this inquiry, I will here briefly recapitulate my opinion on the most important points. I think, then, that Mr. John Lundon has for years past deliberately endeavoured to place persons on the electoral roll for the Mongonui and Bay of Islands District with the view of rendering it more favourable to himself, and without caring whether such persons were qualified or not. It is my opinion that, of the 373 claims which he caused to be preferred in 1878, fourfifths had no legal qualification, and that, of the remaining fifth, many were vicious and invalid by reason of the mode iv which the claims were prepared. I think that the late Registration Officer, Mr. Williams, permitted, perhaps unconsciously, his political sympathies and dislikes to influence him in the discharge of his official duties as Registration Officer—that he made his objections on insufficient information, and thus became an instrument to forward the objects of a local party or faction. I think that both of Mr. Lawlor's celebrated, or notorious, decisions wore unsound in law, and that his capacity is not equal to the performance of the duties of Revising Officer in a district where difficult questions may arise. I think that Mr. Baker, the new Registration Officer at Russell, is altogether unfit for that position. I think that the conduct of the Government in removing Mr. Williams from the position of Registration Officer at so unfortunate a time was inconsiderate, injudicious, and objectionable; but I do not believe that the Government, or any member of it, had any intention by that means of preventing due inquiry into the merits or demerits of the claims objected to by Mr. Williams. It will probably be observed that scarcely aily one concerned seems to come well out of this inquiry, and this circumstance has occurred forcibly to my own mind. In further illustration of this curious feature of the case, I would direct attention to a circular which was produced in evidence by Mr. John Lundon, and will be found in his evidence. This circular unmistakably advises the packing of the electoral roll for a special purpose in as gross a manner as regards the qualifications as ever was attempted by Mr. Lundon. Yet it has come to my knowledge that it has been accepted without demur, and acted on with avidity, by gentlemen of the anti-Lundon faction, who are loud in their condemnation of the tactics pursued by their opponent. It has produced a singular effect on my mind to see that these gentlemen have a high sense of their own honor, and would feel greatly pained to find it impugned. Yet it is evident that in their minds the packing of the roll may be right or wrong accordingly as it serves or obstructs a special purpose or party prejudice. If, however, the peculiar circumstances of the district are considered—the sparse European population, the isolated communities, and the preponderance of the Native people—there is perhaps little cause for surprise; for in such a district, where Press criticism must be unfelt, and public opinion without existence, arbitrary exercise of power and immoral political manoeuvres can have no sufficient check. In some of the petitions into which I have been directed to inquire, the subject is raised of the Maori dual vote. This is a political question upon which I hold decided opinions, but I can scarcely think that it was intended that I should express them here, and accordingly I have scrupulously kept them in the background not only in this report, but throughout the inquiry. Still, I think I am justified in remarking, by way of conclusion, that the evidence which I have taken, and which I herewith submit to your Excellency, will be found to be highly instructive even on that point. I have, &c, Wanganui, 12th April, 1879. John Bryce. By Authority: Geobgb Dldsbcby, Government Printer, Wellington. —1879. Price 3d.]