I.—lo

3

And, the question being put, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follow : — Ayes, 3.—Mr. Stewart, Mr. Tawhai, Captain Colbeck. Noes, 4.—Mr. Fulton, Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. McCaughan, Mr. Allwright. So the amendment was negatived, and tho original motion was carried as by votes supra. Mr. Moorhouse moved the following resolution: "That the Hon. Edward Richardson was duly elected, aud ouijht to have been returned, as a member in this present House of Representatives for the City of Christchurch Electoral District." • And, the question being put. the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follow : — Ayes, 4.-—Mr. Fulton, Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. McCaughan, Mr. Allwright. Noes, 3.— .Mr. Stewart, Mr. Tawhai, Captain Colbeck. So the resolution was carried. On the motion of Mr. Allwright it was resolved, That no order as to costs be made by this Committee. The Committee then adjourned till 2 p.m. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment at 2 p.m., all the members above named being present. The reports were approved, and ordered to be reported to the House on first sitting-day. The following resolution was unanimously adopted : "That this Committee is of opinion that the provisions of the present law for the trial of election petitions are unsatisfactory, and require amendment." The. Committee then adjourned.

APPENDIX. Petition. To the Honorable the Members oe the House of Representatives op the Colony op New Zealand, in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of the Honorable Edward Richardson, C.M.G., of Opawa, in the County of Selwyn, Esquire, Siioweth, — That your petitioner is a duly-qualified elector for the Electoral District of City of Christchurch, and that his name and qualification as such are duly set forth in the electoral roll now in force within the said electoral district, as follows :—■

2. That, in consequence of a writ having been issued under the hand of His Excellency the Governor, and addressed to the Returning Officer of the Electoral District of Thames, he did appoint Tuesday, September the second last, to be the day for the nomination of duly-qualified electors to be the members of'the House of Representatives for the said Electoral District of Thames. 3. That, in pursuance of such notice, and on the said second day of September, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine, Sir George Grey, X.C.8.. of Kawau, freeholder, a duly-registered elector, and John Sheehan, of Auckland, freeholder, a duly-registered elector, were, iii the absence of any other candidates or opposition of any kind, declared by the said Returning Officer to be duly elected as members of the House of Representatives for the, sard Electoral District of Thames. 4. That the Returning Officer did, in accordance with law forthwith, indorse the writ to the effectthat the said Sir George Grey, K.C.B , and John Sheehan had been duly elected to be the members of the House of Representatives for the Electoral District of Thames, and the said Returning Officer did forthwith return the writ to the Clerk cf the Writs. 5. That all things and matters necessary for the due election of the said Sir George Grey, X.C.8.,. and John Kheehan, which according to law should be done and performed, were duly done and performed by the said Returning Officer, and they were duly elected to be members of the House of Representatives for the said Electoral District of Thames. 6. That your petitioner has never heard nor has any knowledge that the said Sir George Grey, X.C.8., did, between the second day of September and the tenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine, resign his seat as a duly-elected member of the House of Representatives for the Electoral District of Thames. 7. That, in consequence of a writ under the public Seal of the Colony, bearing date the twentyseventh day of August, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine, addressed to the Returning Officer for the Electoral District of City of Christchurch, the said Returning Officer did give notice that an election would be held for the return of three qualified persons to serve as members of the House of Representatives for the said Electoral District of City of Christchurch, and that the nomination of candidates would take place at noon, at the Odd Fellows' Hall, Lichfield Street, in the City of Christchurch, and the poll, if necessary, would be taken on the tenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine, between the hours of nine a.m. and four p.m. 8. That, in pursuance of such notice, Edward Cephas John Stevens, Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Samuel Paull Andrews, James Willway Treadwell, and your petitioner, w 7ere duly nominated as

No. Christian Name and Surname of eacli Elector, at full length. Place of Abode. Nature of Qualification. Place where Property situated, and Description of same. 3162 Richardson, Edward ... Opawa . Leasehold Preehold (1) Part of Town Section 9S5, Sumner Road. (2) Part Rural Section 79, Colombo Street, S.