33

I.—2a.

date on which a petition could be presented or a return of expenses be furnished. He contended that the declaration required by section 120 must be by public notice, and the only public notice possible under the circumstances was that appearing in the Observer of the 12th December. The delay in publication could not affect the validity of the election, and the time for making a petition under the Election Petitions Act commenced from the de facto making of a declaration. It was clear that the declaration contemplated by section 120 of the Election Petitions Act was separate and distinct from the returns required under sections 123 and 124. The Court reserved its decision.

Wellington, 9th February, 1897, Their Honors Judges Conolly and Prendergast gave their deoision this morning on the motion by Sir Robert Stout to remove the petition of one Grantham, against the return of Walter Clarke Buchanan as member for Wairarapa, from the file. Their Honors held that the indorsement of the writ by the Returning Officer, Mr. A. Armstrong, on the Bth December, was a sufficient declaration that Mr. Buchanan was elected, and that therefore the lodging of the petition was not within the limit of time prescribed by the Act. No costs were allowed.

EXHIBIT No. 14. Dear Sib, — 30th November, 1896. I beg to inform you that I have appointed scrutineers at polling-booths as under. All of them are unpaid : At Carterton, James Moncrieff ; Greytown, Richard Wylie ; Faathersfcon, Kent Johnston ; Martinborough, Thomas Parr; Pirinoa, William Hume ; Upper Pahaoa, Robert McLaren ; Waipawa, Earl Bunny ; Flat Point, William Henry Worster ; Homewood, William Bennett; Wharau, Reginald Bennett; Hinaburn, John Henry Whishaw ; Kaiwaiwai, James Williams; Morrison's Bush, William Alexander Tweeddale; Dalefield, Enoch Barnes; Waihakeke, ; Gladstone, James Fletcher ; Bennett's, Otahuao, Alexander Turner ; Taueru, George McHattie. Yours, &c, The Returning Officer, Wairarapa Electorate. W. C. Buchanan.

EXHIBIT No. 1 . Scrutineers. Assembly-rooms, Carterton: James Moncrieff, jun., and Thomas J. at Courthouse, Greytown: Richard Wylie. Courthouse, Featherston : Charles John Kent Johnston. Public hall, Gladstone : James Fletcher. Public hall, Martinborough : Thomas Edgar Parr. Premises of Messrs. Vermeil, Wharau: Reginald Vennell. Premises of Mr. Hales, Flat Point: William Henry Worster. Premises of Mr. Tatham, Homewood : William Bennett, jun. Premises of Mr. Bennett, Otahuao : Alexander Turner. Premises of Mr. Birkett, Whareama: John Morrison. Premises of Mr. McLaren, Pahaoa : Robert McLaren. Premises of Mr. Riddiford, Waipawa ; Earle Bunny. Premises of Mr. Wilkinson, Hinaburn : John William Wishaw. Schoolhouse, Taueru : George McHattie. Schoolhouse, West Taratahi: John Bairstow. Schoolhouse, Waingawa : John Lucena. Schoolhouse, Dalefleld : Enoch Barnes. Schoolhouse, Waihakeke ; Frederick William Wood. Schoolhouse, Morrison's Bush : William Alexander Tweeddale. Schoolhouse, Kaiwaivvai : James Richard Williams. Schoolhouse, Pirinoa : William Hume.

List of Persons prom whom Committee-booms have been hired by me or o m Be Milton Rhodes Varnham, of Greytown: Foresters' Hall.

To the Returning Officer, Wairarapa Electoral District, Carterton. The foregoing is a list of the scrutineers appointed by me at the present election, and all of them are unpaid. Foregoing also is a list of persons from whom committee-rooms have been hired. I have no clerks or messengers.

Dated this 2nd day of December, 1896. W. C, Buchanan.

(No. 182.) EXHIBIT No. 16. Colonial Secretary's Offioa, Wellington, 13th April, 1897. In accordance with the request contained in your letter of the 2nd instant, I enclose herewith copies of letters from Messrs. G. W. Deller (Mayor of Carterton), D. Kelly, and W. Eagle, respecting your appointment aa Returning Officer for the Wairarapa Licensing District. I have, &c, A. Armstrong, Esq., Returning Officer, Wairarapa Electoral District, Carterton. Hugh Pollen.

Dear Sir,— Carterton, 9th March, 1897. Being Mayor of the Borough of Carterton, and having received innumerable complaints and general expressions of dissatisfaction from settlers of different political opinions re the continuance of Mr. A. Armstrong in the position of Returning Officer for this electoral district, I take it as a public duty to notify you with regard to the matter. I would respectfully ask you to look up the evidence given by him in the Supreme Court, Wellington, in connection with the late election petition against Mr. Buchanan, when, I feel sure, you will at once see that Mr. A. Armstrong is totally unqualified to fill so responsible a public position with any degree of fairness. He has also been for many years a most ardent and rabid Prohibitionist, and that alone would tend to show his inability to conduct so important an election as the Wairarapa licensing election without bias. Yours, &c, The Colonial Secretary, Wellington. G. W. Deller, Mayor, Carterton.

Dear Sir, — Carterton, 15th February, 1897. I respectfully beg to enter my emphatic protest against A. Armstrong Iting again appointed as Returning Officer for the licensing election, and I feel sure, had you made the most ordinary inquiry before he was appointed for tne general election he would not have received the appointment. lam not only speaking for myself but for numberless others, who were simply aghast at his being appointed. I am, &c, The Colonial Secretary, Wellington. W. Eagle.