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parish, and have the greatest interest at stake. Hence it is that
they have sought lately to come and represent the constituency.
17,561. I will not ask you about the publicans; I have nothingspecial
to say about them; but with regard to the 13 gentlemen
that I have mentioned, do you remember, generally speaking,
in which way they voted?—If I remember rightly, on that
occasion when the clause was rejected, the voting was 17 to 9 or
10. I was looking at it one day, and I think I could make out
about six or seven property holders out of the 17, and three or
four out of the 10.
17,562. Did any of the 13 gentlemen that I have named vote
amongst the 10?—Yes.
17,563. Who?—Mr. Squire. If I had the names before me I
could tell you.
17,564. I had rather forgotten Mr. Ball, as to whom we have
had a great deal of evidence. Do you remember which way Mr.
Ball voted?—I believe he voted in the majority, if I remember
rightly.
17,565. We have had a great deal of evidence about Mr. Ball
from Lord William Compton, from Mr. Boodle, from school
board visitors, and from some of the clergy. At question 623
Lord William Compton was asked this: ''One of the largest
"holders under Lord Northampton is Mr. Decimus Alfred Ball,
"is he not?" and his answer was, "I believe he is. (Q.)
"He is the vice-chairman of the assessment and appeal com"mittee
of the parish, is he not?—(A.) I have been told so."
He is a very leading man on your Vestry, is he not?—We have
not a quieter or more retiring man on the Vestry.
17,566. But he taken a leading position, does he not?—I cannot
say that he does.
17,567. He has been vice-chairman of one of your most important
committees?—During all the 10 or 11 years that he has
been on the Vestry he has only been vice-chairman of one committee.
17,568. And that is a very important committee, is it not?—
Yes, the assessment comuittee is a very important committee.
Mr. Ball, if I may venture to say so, is a very highly esteemed
man in his ward, and highly esteemed in the Vestry, and they
do not think it anything wrong to make him, or any other
respectable man, chairman or vice-chairman of a 'committee.
They do not inquire what property gentlemen hold who happen
to be appointed chairmen or vice-chairmen of committees. The
Vestry look at the fitness of the men and their Probable knowledge
of the work that they would be called upon to see to.
17,569. You have said that Mr. Ball is very highly esteemed