Testimonies

Testimonies

• 585.

  With regard to this first claim of 89L. 12s. 6d, that has not been paid ? – No, and the particulars of that you have in the account that has been handed in to day.

• 586.

  It is all for refreshments ? – Yes.

• 587.

  None for the hire of rooms ? – No.

• 588.

  Were those refreshments supplied so far as you know upon the election day ? – I think they must have been the evening before the election and upon the election day to the best of my belief.

• 589.

  Do I understand you to say that you were unaware of those bills being incurred until they were sent in ? – Yes.

• 590.

  By whose authority were those refreshments supplied – Coleman’s ? – Yes, although he does not admit he gave any specific directions for them – he will tell you he did not ; but, however, if any one gave directions it must have been Coleman.

• 591.

  Then the next item is “Bell” hotel, Mrs. Hunter, and other houses ; that has been paid ? – Yes.

• 592.

  That consists of the 28L. for the seven houses, and 17L. for the “Bell” hotel ? – Yes.

• 593.

  Was the “Bell” hotel the central committee room ? – Yes, that was at the “Bell” Hotel.

• 594.

  How long was that occupied ? – 17 days. I went to the hotel and took the house for the election, telling the landlord we should have a room there at the rate of 1L per day, which would secure the house.

• 595.

  And you did not use the committee room ? – Yes, but not so much as Mrs. Hunter’s.

• 596.

  How often was the “Bell” hotel committee room used ? – It may have been used half a dozen times ; it was a room that we could have at any time, and run in and out of at any time.

• 597.

  You engaged the room for the election at IL. a day ? – Yes, and, in fact, the understanding was that he should not take the other party into his house – that we should hire the house.

• 598.

  There is the “Fleur-de-Lys” ? – It is a better hotel than the “Fleur-de-Lys.”

• 599.

  That is the rateable value of the “Bell” hotel ? – I believe he pays 40L. a year ; it is the best hotel in the place.

• 600.

  You spoke of two committee clerks, were they at Mrs. Hunter’s, or the “Bell” ? – It would be according to where we met ; one or two evenings we met at the “Bell” hotel, and, of course, Mr. Woodruff was always there, and we also kept some one at the committee room at Mrs. Hunter’s.

• 601.

  Did any one sit permanently at the “Bell” committee room, or did they only go there occasionally ? – There was a daily messenger always left there, but I do not think we had our meetings there, in fact, I am sure we did not, we met at the other committee rooms generally.

• 602.

  Did you go to the “Bell” hotel more than two or three times ? – I should think we did more than that.

• 603.

  I see the rateable value of the “Bell” is 25L., and 17L. that was paid is more than half a year’s rateable value ? – We did not consider it overpaying, considering we were to have the house devoted to our services whenever we liked to go in, and that it was not to be used by the other party.

• 604.

  The next item is seven houses at 4L. a piece, and Mrs. Hunter ; what house is that ? – Mrs. Hunter is a Widow and a draper, and has a very nice room opposite the Guildhall, and we generally have it as a committee room, in order that we may meet there instead of the hotel, where, of course, we should be asked for refreshments ; it is to prevent that.

• 605.

  Is it a large room ? – Yes, a very nice room.

• 606.

  To what extent did you occupy that room ? – If we met at the “Bell” we always met every day at Mrs. Hunter’s ; there was someone always running out and in.

• 607.

  Was it there the committee clerk was ? – Yes, he was generally there.

• 608.

  How many days do you say it was used, and how long each day ? – It was used all day ; there was always someone there running in and out.

• 609.

  How many days did you take it before Sir Julian Goldsmid came down ? – A few days before he came down. The fact is, that immediately Lord Brabourne was elevated to the peerage, we began to make arrangements for conducting the election, and we went to the “Bell” hotel to secure the house, and we also told Mrs. Hunter that we should want a committee room at her house.

• 610.

  You told her you should want it, but when did you first use it ? – It was an arrangement that she should have 10L. for her room. The object was to prevent meeting at the “Bell” hotel ; that induced us to have her room.

• 611.

  The next item is POLES and banners, 26L. 5s. 6d. ? – I cannot give any information as to the parties who gave orders for those items. They came to me afterwards without any knowledge of them whatever. They were ordered by someone, no doubt, but who I cannot say.

• 612.

  You do not know at all ? – No.

• 613.

  By whom is the claim made ? – It is made by a Mr. Rose principally, I think.

• 614.

  Where of, is it Mr. Rose of Sandwich ? – Yes, 22L. 11s. 9d. for Mr. Rose, 19s. Mr. Guest, 1L. 15s. Hunter, and Grey 1L. ; you have all the bills, I believe.