Numb. 66.

815

SUPPLEMENT
TO THE
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
OF THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1879.
Published by Authority.

WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1879.

Report of the Royal Commissioner on the Electoral Roll of Mongonui and Bay of Islands
District.

Colonial Secretary's Office,
Wellington, 17th June, 1879.

THE following report of the Royal Commissioner appointed to inquire into certain matters
connected with the electoral roll of Mongonui and Bay of Islands District is published
for general information.

J. BALLANCE,
(in the absence of the Colonial Secretary).

To His Excellency Sir HERCULES GEORGE ROBERT ROBINSON, Governor of New Zealand.

YOUR EXCELLENCY,—

In obedience to the terms of a Commission issued to me on the 11th of February last,
I have made the inquiry therein indicated and set forth. For reasons which it is not neces-
sary to detail, I thought it best to open the investigation at Russell, in the Bay of Islands; but,
after taking some evidence there, I found that, to render the inquiry exhaustive, it would be
necessary to take additional evidence at other places, which, under the terms of your Excellency's
Commission, I was able to do. Accordingly, in addition to Russell, I held a Court at Wha-
ngaroa, at Mongonui, at Hokianga, and lastly at Auckland. I was accompanied throughout by
Mr. Grey, a shorthand reporter, to take notes of the evidence, and by Mr. Brown, interpreter
to the Supreme Court at Auckland, to translate the Maori evidence. I have every reason to be
satisfied with the assistance rendered me by these gentlemen. A verbatim report of the whole
of the evidence given by thirty-eight witnesses was accurately taken, and accompanies this
report. However unpleasant some portions of the duty may have been to myself, I think it
will be seen that the inquiry has been conducted in an impartial and unsparing manner, and that
the report of the evidence will show that it has been searching and exhaustive.

Probably the most convenient form in which I can place the matter before your Excellency
will be to give a brief narrative of the local political circumstances of the Mongonui and Bay
of Islands Electoral District for the last few years; then to direct attention to the salient
features of the evidence; and finally to express, in plain terms, as I am commanded to do, my
opinion on the various matters and questions on which I am directed to report.

Up to the year 1871 political feeling in the Bay of Islands was in a state which may be
described as calm and peaceful. The old Mission families, their connections and friends, rested
placidly, in the calm assurance that they had a prescriptive right to control the public feeling
and political action of the district in which they resided. Maoris, it is true, were on the
electoral roll, but this, up to the year 1871, was probably regarded by the dominant families
rather as a source of strength than of weakness. At the general election of 1871, however,
the serenity of the political atmosphere was rudely disturbed. For it was found that their
chosen candidate, Mr. Carleton, was to be opposed by Mr. McLeod, and, incredible as it must
have seemed to many, the latter gentleman was actually returned as the member for the district.

The serenity of the political atmosphere was rudely disturbed. For it was found that their
chosen candidate, Mr. Carleton, was to be opposed by Mr. McLeod, and, incredible as it must
have seemed to many, the latter gentleman was actually returned as the member for the district.

ERRATUM.—In the New Zealand Gazette No. 65, at page 813, in Warrant under "The Neglected and Criminal
Children Act, 1867," for "Burnham" read "Caversham," and for "Canterbury" read "Otago."