Thp ballot boxes were re k t-rrned, and had apparently not been s i:3ed. At the previous election, "speak i, itig from memory, about 13 voted at Makirikiri. The number voting at •. liangaonoho at the election was 72, and at the bye-election 41. c By Mr Esam : 'A total of 2503 voted ' ,1- Rt the bye-election. The day "of- the ,1 election was very wet. Most of the re (l l;;rns from the deputies were received B Circe or four .days after the poll, but a there were some which did not come to  hand until after the writs were re ' l:irned. His Honor Sir Robert Stout: Tiicn a how could you scrutinise the votes? v Witness admitted i that there was so t j roper scrutiny. The number roving .. r.t Tauangarere and at Karioi was ** v and 18. He could not say from memory d the day on which he returned the writ, s but he forwarded it in. time to reach ;. the Speaker on the last day allowed for a iia return by the Act. , ' „ Mr < Justice Williams: He did not re £ celve the returns from Karioi and Tau , angarere until eight or nine days after the election. - " • r Mr Justice Williams: Do you not „ know that such votes should not be .. counted? "t" t Witness: That provision applies cily [f to commercial travellers and s-jame-i. By Mr Ssam: Mr Haselden Lad a t duly appointed representative at tho ' scrutiny, and he did not point out that fj the scrutiny was not in acconfoice with the law. ' "" g By Dr Findlay: He found no oc j- cosion to make any correction in. his ii official "returns, after checking the late returns from the deputies- ■ William Sommerville Baird, store keeper, Mangaonoho, was deputy re i nrning officer at the Mangaonoho - booth. His store was on the main road 'from Mangaonoho to Ohingaiti. Ho left the booth at lunch, time, going to the boarding-house some little distance , p.way. After lnnch lie went into the p railway station, close by, for a few juinutps. A good many of the carriers O3ual'y had Junch ' at the boardiag liouse, but he could not recollect how n many there were on tho day of the »- election. 