1.—6.

Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

ELECTION TELEGRAMS INQUIRY COMMITTEE (REPORT OF, TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS AND EVIDENCE, AND APPENDIX).

Brought up ith December, and ordered to lie printed sth December, 1879.

ORDERS OE REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thursday, the 13th Day or Novbmbbb, 1879. Ordered, " That the papers presented to tlie House tins day, alleged to be copies of curtain telegrams concerning the late elections, bo referred to a Select Committee, to report to the House whether or not tho production of such papers is contrary to law ; and to ascertain the total number of telegrams on electioneering matters sent or received by members of the late Government at the public cost. The Committee to have power to call for persons and papers ; three to bo a quorum, and to report within ten days. The Committee to consist of Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Turnbull, Mr. Wakefield. Hon. Mr. Gisborne, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Bowen, and the Mover." — (Mr. Macandrew.)

I'kiday, i in; 21st Day of November, 1879. Ordered, " That an extension of time for ten days be granted to the Election Telegrams Inquiry Committee to bring u]j its report."— (Mr. Macandrew.)

REPORT. The Select Committee to whom was referred the question whether the production of papers presented to the House on 13th November, alleged to be copies of certain telegrams concerning the late election, was contrary to law, and to ascertain the total number of telegrams on electioneering matters sent or received by members of the late Government at the public cost, have the honor to report as follows:— That the copies of telegrams referred to in the order of reference were produced iv accordance with the law, with the exception of two. which were included by the mistake of a Telegraph clerk, and which have been separated from the others without having been examined by the Committee. That five others have been ascertained by the Committee to have been sent originally as private telegrams, though forwarded on to Ministers from place to place, without the knowledge of the sender, as Government telegrams, and the Committee have had these also separated from the rest, without examining them. That the number of electioneering telegrams sent at the public expense by Ministers was fiftyfive, and to Ministers twenty-one, or seventy-six in all. J. Macandrew. 4th December, 1879. Chairman.

Memorandum to accompany Ihe Report of the Election Telegrams Inquiry Committee. It is the unanimous opinion of the Committee that the seven telegrams sealed up should not again be laid upon the table of the House. J. Macandrew, 4th December, 1879. Chairman, I—l. 6.