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, The Committee are therefore of opinion that Sir George Grey, X.C.8., was eligible as a candidate for the District of the Thames, and that his election for that district was in all respects valid and in accordance with law. A. de B. Brandon, 7th July, 1876. Chairman.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. Wednesday, sth July, 1876. The Committee met, pursuant to order, at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Teschemaker, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Brandon in the Chair. The petition was read. The Committee adjourned till 10 o'clock a.m. to-morrow.

Thursday, 6th July, 1876. The Committee met, pursuant to adjournment, at 10 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Teschemaker, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Brandon in the Chair. Sir George Grey attended. Mr. Cooper, Clerk of the Writs, handed to the Chairman, by request, the returned writs notifying the election of Sir George Grey, K.C.B. —one as member for Auckland City West, and one as member for the Thames District. The petitioner's agent, Mr. Stafford, not appearing in answer to a notice sent to him informing him that the Committee would meet this day at 10 o'clock a.m., Frederick James Dawes, being sworn, said: lam a messenger of the House of Bepresentatives. I received yesterday a letter for Mr. Stafford, solicitor. I delivered it at his office to a boy at about twenty-five minutes to 5 p.m. lam not aware of the contents of the letter. It was sealed. Mr. Stafford here attended, and argued the case for the petitioner. The Committee, after deliberating, then adjourned till to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock.

Friday, 7th July, 1876. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present: Mr. Curtis, Mr. Stout, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Teschemaker, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Brandon in the Chair. The Committee deliberated. Resolved, on motion of Mr. Stout, That His Excellency the Governor by Proclamation fixed the 2nd day of February as the day for the return of all writs, and for the meeting of Parliament, and in the writs issued the Beturning Officers were required to return the said writs to the Clerk of the Writs on or before the said 2nd day of February. Mr. Whitaker moved, — 1. That on the 6th day of December, 1875, a writ was issued for the election of two members for the Electoral District of Auckland City West, and made returnable on or before the 2nd day of February, 1876. 2. That the nomination of candidates was appointed by the Beturning Officer to take place on the 22nd day of December, 1875, and at such nomination, Sir George Grey, X.C.8., was declared to be duly elected as one of the members for the said district. 3. That the 23rd section of " The Begulation of Elections Act, 1870," provides that the names of the persons so declared to bo elected shall be indorsed on the writ by the Beturning Officers, as the persons duly elected in pursuance thereof, and he shall make a return accordingly.