17

H.—B

414. You had, however, previous to this, I understand, tacitly accepted the appointment by i attending the Revision Court?—l attended the Court, as instructed by telegram to do. 415. Did you make any remonstrance against accepting au appointment about the duties of which you admitted you were totally unacquainted?—l could not see at the time that I could make any objection, not knowing who had or who had not claims at the time. 416. Did you consult with Mr. Williams, in terms of your instructions, as to what you should do at the Revision Court? —Nothing more than that I saw Mr. Williams the night previous, aud told him I had to attend the Court the next morning. 417. Did you ask him what course you should take? —I do not remember that there were any such words made use of. 418. You did attend the Court next morning ? —-Yes, 419. AVas Mr. Williams there ? —No, I do not think he was. 420. Had Mr. Williams to go away on any special business? —I could not say. 421. What took place at the Court? —There were Mr. Lawlor and Mr. Tole in Court, and there were some words passed respecting the electoral roll; but there was nothing that I know, particularly, about anything else—no more than that the Revising Officer signed the papers and passed them over. 422. Were you aware that a large number of objections had been made by your predecessor to claims to vote ?—Not at all. 423. Surely that question arose in the Revision Court on that day? —I do not remember being asked anything about it. 424. You attended, I presume, to what was going on ? —Yes ; I was where I am sitting now. 425. Did you not understand that the Revising Officer was to decide whether certain claims were to be admitted or not ?—I understood that. 420. And did you not understand that your predecessor had made objections ?—Yes. 427. Did you endeavour to sustain the objections ? —No ; the time was so short that I had to let things pass as they were. 428. Had you in your possession a list of objections ? —I do not think I had—no, Sir. 429. The question before the Court at that time, as I understand it, was whether a certain number of claimants were to be placed on the roll or not —your predecessor had made objections. Do you tell me you did not know of them, and had not the list before your —I had not the list. I knew there was a case pending about these people, but I saw nothing of it; I just heard what passed between Mr. Lawlor and Mr. Tole. 430. Did Mr. Lawlor not appeal to you as to whether you intended to sustain the objections ?— He asked me, aud I said I could not, as I was not aware whether they were right or wrong. 431. Certain objections were made against dead men appearing on the roll? —There was nothing asked me on the subject. 432. Did Mr. Tole take an objection to your endeavouring to sustain these objections of your predecessor ? —No, I cannot say that he did. 433. You prepared this roll subsequently [roll produced] ? —No, Sir ; I had to sign it. It was prepared by Mr. Greenway. 434. Not by yourself'?— No. 435. How came you to sign a document without knowing anything about it? —They informed me it was all correct. 436. Who are " they" ? —Mr. Greenway told me it was all correct. 437. I may tell you, Captain Baker, since you do not appear to know it, that at that Revision Court a largo number of names appear to have been added to the roll, and it seems to me that these names are added here (referring to roll). I want to know if you have any documentary evidence that the Revising Officer authorized the addition of these names? —No, Sir ; 1 have not. 435. I have before mo the roll of the previous year, but with the figures 1877 and 1878 altered into 1878 and 1879. This roll appears to bo complete in itself, as being the roll in force at the present moment. It is numbered from 1 to 16, signed on each page by the Revising Officer, and is evidently signed and dated on the last page by the Revising Officer?—l think it was a misprint. We did not find it out here. 439. Have you any documentary evidence that the names of the people who claimed to vote were to be added to the electoral roll ? —No. 440. Mr. Williams (through the Commissioner).] Do you remember my giving you a printed list of objections, and calling your attention to certain names of persons who were dead, householders who had left the district, and qualifications sold? —You gave me a piece of newspaper. I remember you giving me a paper with a list of those voters ; but I did not understand it at the time. 411. The Commissioner.] I understand you to say that you made no effort to sustain the objections which your predecessor had made ?—No ; none whatever. Hirini Taiwhanga sworn aud examined. 442. AVhat is the nature of the statement you wish to make, Mr. Taiwhanga?—We wish to know the reason why our names were struck off the roll. 443. AVhat do you mean by " our names" ? —There were twenty-eight of us belonging to Kaikohe ou the roll; the whole of those names were struck out of the roll. 444. Have you the list of those names ? —All our names are on that roll. 415. You saw the list of objections ? —Yes ; I then saw that our names had been struck out. 446. You must, have seen the reason, as stated by Mr. Williams, for making the objection ? —The reason I saw was, that Hirini's name had been struck off the roll as not within the meaning of the Act. It was not in accordance with law. Similar objections were made to the names of the rest of vs — namely, to myself and my father, Matenga Taiwhanga AVi Hougi. 447. Show mo your name upon tho list of the previous year ? When was your name removed from the list ?—lu 1875.

Captain Baiter.

March 7, 1879.1

Hirini Taitchanga.

March 7, 1879.