REPORT OP THE MOTUEKA ELECTION COMMITTEE.

25

H.—No. 14,

Mr. D. Bosselmann. Bth Sept., 1871.

Did you see him do anything?— Yes, he gave my brother £2. In notes or silver?—l don't know whether it was all silver ; but I believe it was all silver. When he gave your brother this money in silver or gold or whatever it might be, did you hear him say anything to your brother about it ?—He said that was all the money he had at present, but that he would send the rest up by somebody. By the Chairman : Was Bs. a day the usual wage ? —No, we did not make Bs. a day where we were working. By Mr. Travers : It was a contract ? —lt was a contract. By Mr. Allan : How much did the contract bring you in a day or week ?—lt brought us in about £1 a week. By the Chairman .- What is the usual day's wages that you consider you make ?—Well, £1 a week up there. You got provisions besides the £1 a week ?—Yes. Do you consider Bs. a fair remuneration for your losing a day's work ? —I think I got fair wages. We came down in the night-time; we got there at 9 o'clock in the morning. Do you consider that Bs. as fair remuneration for the trouble you took on that occasion ? —Yes. I think it is sufficient. Not more than sufficient ? —That was all we asked for. By Mr. Bunny : What was your contract ?—Road making. I was the cook at the time. By Mr. Allan : What were you getting ?—I was to get the same as the rest got from the contractors. By the Chairman : Do you go out to work for other people ?—I have done it sometimes, but I do not do it now. Had you within the year previous done any work for anybody else than yourself and under contract ?—I have worked under contract. Have you, besides working under contract, worked for anybody else ?—Yes, I have been out on service. What did you get then ?—Sometimes 15s. a week, and sometimes more. When you got 15s. a week did you get keep as well ?• —Yes, we got keep and lodgings too. Bu Mr. McGillivray : What are the usual wages of that district without keep per day ? —From 6s. to 7s. and Bs. By the Chairman .- That is the regular wages in the.district ?—That is what is usually received. By Mr. Allan : Was that £2 in silver divided among you that day ?—Each of us had half-a-crown of it; there was some left that could not be equally divided. Did you pay for any refreshments at Waimea West; that is, during the election ?—No, I did not pay for any. I did not pay for any refreshment at Palmer's. I was never asked to pay for it. When did you get to Kerr's Hill ? —I am not sure if I got there on Sunday or Monday evening. What was the day of the week of the polling ? —I believe it was on Friday. Was it arranged beforehand how you were to get back ?—They were going to take us back." We went home without going back in the same cart. We walked home. We took provisions instead of the horse, and walked home. What did you send in Kerr's cart ?—Provisions for the contract party. You could not have taken those provisions by yourselves unless in some vehicle ?—We would have had to get a cart to take up the provisions. Did you pay Kerr for taking up those provisions ?—No. Did you ever receive any money afterwards ? —-Yes. How long afterwards was that ? —I cannot say how long afterwards. It was some time afterwards. It was about four or five days afterwards. How much did you receive ?—l3s. Od. From whom did you receive it ?—From Henry Bosselmann. Do you know from whom your brother received it ? from David Kerr?—l was told so. I did not see it paid. My brother gave me the 13s. 6d. Mr. Travers: lam instructed to say that the balance was paid by Sir David Monro as part of the expenses. He does not dispute that. Examination continued. By the Chairman: What time did you start from Kerr's Hill ?—lt was about 11 o'clock iv the evening. Had you travelled all night ? —Yes. What is tho distance ?—lt is between 30 and 40 miles. You started on Thursday night at 11 o'clock ?—Yes. We arrived at Palmer's about 1 o'clock on Friday. • By Mr. Allan : You came down on the morning of the voting. When did you leave Palmer's ?— We left immediately after dinner. When did you get back to the place where you were working ?—I am not sure if we got back on Sunday or Monday. By the Chairman : Did you stop anywhere on the way after leaving Palmer's ?—We called in at Beusemann's, at Upper Moutere. By Mr. Travers: Who was the contract taken by ?—lt was taken by my brother, but I was joined in it: it was for cutting up a road. Was there any fixed time for finishing it ?—Yes ; and there was a penalty for not finishing it. How far is it from Palmer's to Moutere ?—I suppose it is between eight and ten miles. It is across the now road, the mail road ?—Yes ; we did not go that way; we crossed over the hill. How far was it to your place ?—I cannot say exactly. Who first spoke to you about voting ?—lt was my mates. I didn't hear what David Kerr said to my brother. 7