V 302 M I N U T E S O F E V I D E N C E T A K E N B E F O R E T H E john F Fosbcry the right of seeing whether the qualification had ceased or not since the previous Esq. ' registry, in consequence of a life falling in, or a lease out, or anything of that kind. . , • • • , 8 June 1838. 13165. You conceive it would he very desirable that an objection might be taken and might be sustained before the revising barrister once every year with regard to every vote ?— I should think so. ^ 3166. And you further say, it would be desirable, for the purpose of giving the county more quiet, that the registry should only take place once a year instead of four times a year ?— I should think once a year would be quite sufficient. 13167. Now if all these persons, for instance, with the exception of those who have died, who were registered before you in 1832, were to come forward again to register, would there not be a great length of time necessarily consumed in investi- gating their claims?— Yes, a considerable time; at the same time, many persons may have registered since ; there is nothing to prevent a person re- registering within the eight years, so as to keep his title up for a further period of eight years. 13168. But the tendency of the present law is that there shall be at the end of every eight years and a half a great influx of claims ?— I should think so. 13169. That being the case, the registry must proceed for a great length of time ?— Yes. 13170. Can you, from your experience of what took place in 1832, say whether or no the eagerness of parties to depose to value, not being very scrupulous as to their depositions, increased towards the end of the registry?— No; I think they were equally desirous to come forward at all times of the registry ; but you must bear this in view, that this registry that I was engaged in gave them the franchise, and gave it immediately, and on that account they were all anxious to press forward and obtain as much political influence as possible. 13171. Then you think what took place on the first registry is not a fair example of what took place at subsequent registries?— I do not think it is, 011 that account. 13172. You have stated the Conservative claimants were, generally speaking, sounder in their claims than those on the other side ?— I did so; there were a greater number of estates, I believe, in the Conservative interest, which had solvent and good tenants. 13173. You stated, on the one hand, the greater portion of the Conservative interest arose out of large estates; and you said, 011 the other side, Colonel White's tenants were, with only two exceptions, good claimants?— Yes. 13174. On which side do you think there were a greater number of just objec- tions taken?— Upon my word, I think objections were taken equally on both sides; every objection that could be taken on either side was taken. 13175. But looking at the result, on which side do you think the most objec- tions were taken, that were not founded in fact?— I do not think I could take upon me to state that; that must appear from the number of persons who were admitted or rejected on each side. 13176. You cannot give any general answer to that question?— No. 13177. Will you have the goodness to explain to the Committee the reason of Mr. Doherty's appointment? — I can only state this: that I was written to some days, I believe as long as a week before, to know whether I could conclude the registry within a given period, in order that the Government might have the returns, and I wrote, saying I thought I could conclude it within the given period. Just before Mr. Doherty arrived I wrote, stating I could not; that I found the trials were so protracted that I could not conclude it, and leaving it to the Government, of course, to appoint any person they thought proper, and the day after I wrote that letter, Mr. Doherty came down. 13178. Had you any communication from the Government, giving you informa- tion of Mr. Doherty's arrival, or of his being about to arrive?— None. 13179. What passed officially as to his arrival between the Government and vou, or between him and you ?— The Government did not apprise me of his arrival. I wrote my letter to the Government, stating I could not conclude at the time I anticipated. ^ I think I wrote that the day previous to Mr. Doherty's arrival. 13180. What I want to know is, in what way was his being appointed to assist you notified to you ?— I had no notification from the Government of it. 13181. Mr. Doherty arrived and told you something ?— Mr. Doherty arrived and told me he came down to assist me. 13182. And he did not show you any orders he received, nor in anv way com- municate to you how his appointment was made?— He had his warrant from the Government. 13183. Did