NATIVE LANDS PURCHASE COMMISSION.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1892, 17 March 1880, Page 3

NATIVE LANDS PURCHASE COMMISSION.

AKAROA, March 16. The Court resumed its sitting at 11 a.m. to-day. Hone Parat?ne, te Manuiranga tribe, Ngatiohs Hapu, said he reosived a letter from Mr Hamilton, saying that he wished to see him at Lyttelton. When ho went there Mr Hamilton asked him to accompany him to Akaroa, to carry the money and help in the negotiations towards the sale. He did so and met thai p*ople, but Hoani Papita said the price offered was too small. After discussion, and the gaining of tin extra reserve for Mautai iat Wirewa, Hoani Papita agreed to sell. He signed the deed, but only as a witness. His name to the foot of the deed had been put in by some one else. Witness declined to sign the deed as a principal, sb he had accompanied Mr Hamilton as a paid servant. Ho had received some money, but it .had been from tbe Maoris, and not from Mr Hamilton.

Heneri te Paro, of Ngatahn tribe and Ngatinakou Hapu, said he was present at Mr Hamilton's interview with Hoani Papita and at the other negotiations for the lands. There were several absentees. Hoani Papita asked for reserve? for the absentees, which were marked off south of Mr Hamilton's purchases. He himself got both money and land. Heneri Watena Tauha re-called, said he remembered Governor Browne coming to Akaroa, but did not know tho exact date. It was before Mr Hamilton came. He asked the Maoris to sell the land, but they were unwilling. He used threats to bring the soldiers, but nothing resulted from his interview, and he went away after threatening to bring the soldiers.

Tame Karangahape gave evidence in the same strain, and described the interview between Governor Browne and tho Natives as ending in nothing but' threats from the Governor.

George Robertson made a long statement to the effect that he thought his mother had a claim on the land. She had never given her consent to the sale, and had never derived any benefit from it. Mr W. J. W. Hamilton, sworn, stated that he knew nothing of what took place between Mr Johnson and the Natives, but he was sure that no threats had been made by himself. There had been no cause for it. The Natives had come over prepared to make a fight for an extra reserve at Waiwera, which he immediately gave them. He had a meeting opposite to Bruce'a one day, and he believed the bargain was struci, and money paid that day. There was no korero. The deed was most certainly read over to the Maoris. He could not remember whether, by himself or Mr Alrent, but ho could vouch for it that the deed was read aloud before it was signed, and the whole thingtook placeinthe open. No remark was made about absentees, nor was a larger reserve asked for or he should most likely have agreed to anothor 800 acres. Hone Patterson accompanied him and signed the deed as a principal. He was 3ure he signed as a principal, and not as a witness.