J.—s

18

424. Was that taken before the election ? —He started on the 4th, and got nearly as far as Kawakawa when he was turned back by the floods. I was anxious for him to get as far as Te Kaha, in the Bay of Plenty. I directed him to do so. 425. There was no distinction made between the candidates I suppose, such, for instance, as they do at Home, in speaking of Whigs and Tories ?—No, there was nothing of that kind. The greater argument was that it would be well to return a Ngatiporou candidate, because they had never returned a Ngatiporou man to the Assembly. 426. Are you sure the words " Opposition and Government" were not used in respect to th candidates ? —By a few immediate friends of Henare Tomoana only ; but they were taught by him. He instructed these few when he came from Napier. Fbiday, 28th July, 1876. Henare Potae, being in attendance, was examined as follows:— 427. The Chairman.] Tou sent a petition to the House of Representatives against the return of Karaiiiana ? —Tes. 428. Will you tell the Committee on what grounds you object to his being declared elected ?— Because the law was not carried out. The regulations were that there should be a poll taken at Kawakawa, and another at Waiapu. 429. And there was no poll taken at Kawakawa ? —There was no poll taken at the Kawakawa. 430. Nor at Waiapu?—Nor at Waiapu. 431. Can you tell the Committee whether there are a large number of persons voters at Kawakawa ?—There would have been a great many ; a very large number would have voted there. 432. Will you say as nearly as you can how many would have polled there ? —There would have been 250 at the Kawakawa, I think. 433. Can you tell for which candidate they would have voted —the greater part or all of them? — They would all have voted for Hotene. 434. There was no poll taken at Waiapu, but there was at Te Awanui ?—That was the fault. It was taken at Te Awanui, the place not gazetted. That was the fault of the Deputy Returning Officer. 435. Where were you on the day of polling ?—I was at Tokomaru. It is twenty-five miles from Te Awanui. 436. Tou were not at either polling-place, the Waiapu or Kawakawa, on the day of polling ? —I was not at either of those places on that day. 437. Do you think a greater number of voters would have voted at Waiapu if the poll had been taken there instead of at Te Awanui ?—There would have been about 900 votes at Waiapu. 438. Can you tell for which candidate they would have voted? —They would have voted for Hotene;. but if I had been the candidate, over a thousand would have voted for me. 439. Do you know anything about a book that was sent round for signatures ? —Tes, I know about it; but Ropata is the man who can give evidence on that point. 440. Was it before or after the day of nomination that the book was sent round for signature ? — It was before the day of polling that Mr. Campbell sent these books about for people at distant places to send their names in. It was through Henare Tomoana that the error was found out. If it had not been for Tomoana, it would have passed without anybody being the wiser. 441. Hon. Sir D. McLean.] What would have passed?— The books. 442. Do you mean that the Natives who sent in their names in those books were giving their votes ?—Tes. 443. Who gave them to understand that tbat was voting ? —Mr. Campbell. 444. Had there been a Returning Officer at the polling place on the proper day, would they (those who had sent in their names, I mean) have come to the poll?— They would have said, I will not come, because I have sent in my name already. 445. They considered they had voted ? —Tes. 446. Do you know how many signed that paper?—l do not know. The books were carried about by Major Ropata, Mohi Turei, Raniera Kawhia, aud Hutana Taru. 447. Did all these vote for Hotene ?—They voted for Hotene. 448. Do you know of a list being taken round for Karaitiana? —Tes. 449. Were they done in the same way ? —I do not know what description of list that was ; whether it was one of those books, or just an ordinary list. , 450. Of these 900 people, would those who had not put down their names have voted on the day of polling ? —Tes. 451. Mr. Macandrew.] Why did not you go to the poll on that day yourself? —Because Mr. Campbell did not tell me to go. 452. Did you not know the date of the polling day ?—Tes ; I knew that the poll was to be taken on the 15th of January, at the school-house. 453. And you did not go ?—I waa at Turanga. 454. On what ground did you petition against this election, when you yourself did not take the trouble to go to the poll ? —Because I knew that the election was wrong according to law. 455. But there could be no hardship to you, so far as you were concerned? —I saw a document wherein it was stated that the election would be wrong if the whole tribe had not an opportunity of voting. 456. Who asked you to get up this petition? —I did it myself, of my own knowledge. 457. Did any one tell you the election was illegal —contrary to law? —No one told me. I found it out for myself. I had seen it before. 458. What was the document to which you refer, and from which you thought the election w ras wrong ? —lt was a Parliamentary paper. It was written in English. I have not got it with me. I

Mr. J. H. Camp bell.

36th July, 1876.

Henare Fetae.

28th July, 1876.