The ‘treating’ or ‘shouting’ described in this newspaper article allegedly took place in the Eastern Māori electorate in 1887, and was reported when the case went to court the following year. Low-level bribery had been a feature of New Zealand elections. In this case, it was alleged to have occurred in Te Teko, Wairoa, Taupō, Hastings and Rotorua. It came to the court’s attention when an unsuccessful candidate, Wī Pere, petitioned to have the election of winner James Carroll declared invalid. Pere had been the member for Eastern Māori before this election, which was hotly fought. The matter was taken seriously, but after being heard by the chief justice and Justice Gillies, Pere’s petition was rejected.