F—No. 3

AGAINSr MR, C. W. RICHMOND.

5

Ayes, 4. Noes, 6. Mr. Cracroft Wilson, C.B. Mr. Crosbie Ward, Hon. the Speaker, " Renall, Mr. Creyke, The Hon. Mr. Henderson, " Weld. Mr. Chairman of Committees, " Fitzherbert, " Russell. Moved by Mr. Chairman of Committees, That the Chairman be desired to seek for further instructions from the House, the present instruction to the Committee being to enquire and report upon the charge preferred against Mr. C. W. Richmond, by Dr. Featherston, while no charge has been yet submitted to their consideration. And the question being put the Committee divided, when they were :— Ayes, 3. Noes, 6. Mr. Renall, Mr. Russell, Mr. Chairman of Committees, The Hon. the Speaker, The Hon. Mr. Henderson. Mr. Creyke, " Crosbie Ward, « Cracroft Wilson, C.8., " Weld. Mr. Fitzherbert declined to vote. Moved by Mr. Crosbie Ward, That Mr. Weld do leave the Chair and be called upon to give evidence as to the charge alleged to have been brought by Dr. Featherston against Mr. C. W. Richmond. And the question being put, the Committee divided, when there were :— Ayes, 8. i Noes, 1. Mr. Crosbie Ward, Mr. Russell. " Creyke, The Hon. the Speaker, Mr. Renall, " Cracroft Wilson, C.8., The Hon. Mr. Henderson, " Fitzherbert, « Weld. ' Mr. Chairman of Committees declined to vote. On motion of Mr. Fitzherbert the Committee adjourned till Monday at 10 a.m.

Monday, 29th July, 1861. Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present: — Mr. Creyke, Mr. Fitzherbert, Mr. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., " Chairman of Committees, The Hon. Mr. Henderson, " Russell. Mr. Weld in the Chair. Minutes of last Meeting read and confirmed. In accordance with a Resolution agreed to at the last sitting of the Committee it was now moved by the Hon. Mr. Henderson, That Mr. Weld's examination be proceeded with, and that Mr. Chairman of Committees do take the Chair temporarily. Agreed to. Mr. Weld's examination. In giving evidence as to what I suppose the charge to have been, I wish the Committee to understand that it is really the House that has stated that a charge has been made; that as an individual I am prepared to state what, in my opinion, is the charge referred by the House; I have put it into form as follows: — That Mr. C. W. Richmond abused his office of Executive Councillor and his influence as one of His Excellency's Responsible Advisers for the purpose of obtaining possession of the land known as Teira's block at the Waitara for the settlers of New Plymouth.

F. A. Weld, Esq.,

29 July, 1861.