J.—s

8

Kaeaitiajja Takamoasa was called and examined. 85. The Chairman,] You were at the East Coast during the election? —I was at Napier. 86. Do you know what occurred at Kawakawa ?—I heard of something that took place. 87. Will you tell us what you heard ?—I heard there was no poll taken there. I also heard that the officer took no poll at Waiapu. 88. And that he took one at Te Awanui instead ? —Yes. 89. Do you know why no poll was taken at Kawakawa ? —I do not know the reason. 90. Supposing that a poll had been taken there, do you think that a large number of persons would have voted there ?—lt is a large place. There is a large population; but I do not know the number. 91. Are there 500 ?—I do not see how 500 could be accommodated there. 92. Do you know whether a poll was taken at Waiapu ?—I heard that Mr. Campbell left 100 voters at the school-house, Waiapu, aud went up to Te Awanui. 93. Do you know what reason he had for that ?—I do not know. Those who were there—Henare and others—would be able to state the reason. 94. Mr. W. Wood,] Were these 100 voters, left behind by Mr. Campbell, thus deprived of their right to vote ?—They were there for the purpose of voting, and did not go to Te Awanui. 95. Then, by his going away, he prevented them from voting ?—lt was through his going away that they were not able to vote. He did not intimate that he was going to Te Awanui. 96. The Chairman.] How far is the school-house at Waiapu away from where the votes were taken at Te Awanui ?—lt would be a little further than from here to the Hutt. 97. Hon. Sir D. McLean.] About twelve miles ? —Yes. 98. Mr. W. Wood.] Which way would the 100 men you speak of, or a majority of them, have voted ? —I do not know. Only the people up there could tell that. 99. Mr. Tole.] Do you know the man who sent in this petition to the House —Henare Potae?— Yes; I saw him at Napier. 100. Did he give any reason why he sent in this petition ?—No. Mr. Locke, the Eeturning Officer, sent me a copy of the petition. 101. Did Henare Potae write this petition himself, or did some one write it for him ? Do you know if any one influenced him in sending the petition?—l do not know that he was influenced in the matter. He had intended to come down to Napier himself and be nominated with Hotene, but did not get his passage down, and withdrew from being nominated. 102. Have you had any other conversation with him in reference to this election ? —There was a conversation between him and myself at Napier. 1 asked him what he had come down for. He said he had been invited to come there by Sir Donald McLean. I said, " Have you had any conversation with Sir Donald McLean as to the reason why you came here ? " He said, " Noi" I said, " Perhaps the reason you came here is that you wish Kepa's votes to be handed over to you, or yours to Kepa ?" He said, "I do not know anything about it." I asked him if Sir Donald McLean was advising that. He said, "We have had no interview with Sir Donald McLean." I said, "Do not come to any agreement of that kind, because your votes will stand no show against mine." 103. There was no conversation, then, about the petition?—He said he had not yet had an interview with Sir Donald McLean. I said, "Do not agree if he proposes to have a fresh election, or if he says it would be right to have a fresh election." 104. Did you see him after the interview with Sir Donald McLean ?—No ; he did not tell me what took place. He was two days there. I saw him on two different days at Napier, but he went away without telling me anything that might have taken place. 105. Did he say Sir Donald McLean had asked him to petition ?—No ; not at all. The Hon. Mokena Koheee, M.L.C., being in attendance, was examined, as follows:— 106. The Chairman.] Are you aware that no poll was taken at Kaw-akawa during the last election ? —There was no poll taken at Kawakawa. I was there on the day appointed for taking the poll. 107. Why was the poll not taken ?—lt was owing to the flood in the river. 108. Can you tell the Committee, or give the Committee any idea as to what number of persons would have been likely to vote, if the poll had beeu taken there?— About 250. That is the number of the persons at Kawakawa. 109. How many are there in places adjoining Kawakawa who would have been likely to come to vote at the Kawakawa polling-place ? —About 120 from the three settlements on one side of Kawakawa, and about 150 from the other side. 110. Mr. Williams.] Then how mauy do you think would have voted at Kawakawa altogether ?— About 400. I have seen 400 assemble. 111. Do you mean 400 according to the Maori way of counting or according to the European counting?—4oo as the Europeans count. 112. The Chairman.] Are you giving us the number of people entitled to vote, or the whole population ?—I only give tho number of people entitled to vote. 113. Mr. W. Wood.] On a former occasion what proportion of the men voted ?—We did not vote at the previous election when Karaitiana was elected. 114. Mr. Macandrew.] Has there never been a poll at that place previously ?—There has been no voting at Kawakawa before this. 115. The Chairman^] Do you know anything of the voting at Waiapu ?—The trouble at Waiapu was caused by Mr. Campbell going to Te Awanui. 110. Do you think the whole of the 400 at Kawakawa would have voted, if the poll had been held?—_Tes. 117. And how would they have voted ?—They would all have voted for Hotene, because he was the only Ngatiporou candidate.

Karaitiana Takamoana.

11 July, 1876.

Hon. Mokena Kohere 11 July, 1876.