THE HINE CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 187, 17 November 1910, Page 2

THE HINE CHARGES.

THE CASE AGAINST MR. KAIHAU. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Wellington, Wednesday. The Hine Committee resumed this morning. To Sh\ Joseph Ward, Mr. Carroll said that a petition was presented to, Parliament in 1905 asking for investigation into the title of the Te Akau block. Mr. Kaihau moved a clause to that effect, which was carried, but not proceeded with that year. Witness opposed the clause the first time, as it had not been before the Native Affairs Committee. Reinvestigation of the title of the Te Akau block could not have been undertaken unless the clause were enacted. Witness sent it immediately to Mr. Kensington to put him on his guard. Later he told Mr. Kensington personally to caution officers, against paying anything to Kaihau or recognising the agreement Parliament might vote a special sum, but otherwise the Department could not make any such payment to Kaihau. He thought the agreement too ridiculous to mention the matter to the head of the Administration. If called upon to answer the question whether he had been personally interested in any dealings with the Crown witness' answer would be an emphatic denial. In December, 1905, the Land Court, sitting at Raglan, directed a surveyor to survey the Te Akau block with a view to its partition, but witness Understood that the survevor was an interested party, so in accordance with authority he wired Judge Edgar ad- , journing the sitting of the Court. The natives to whom advances . were made were included in the title whichever way the Appellate Court decision went. To Mr. Allen: Sheridan never reported to witness the result of the negotiations with the Tainuis. To Mr. Myers, witness said he did not question the relations between Kaihau and the natives, but simply desired to see each native vendor was paid the full amount. He understood that Kaihau was appearing for the Ngatitahin 2 as in the Court proceedings. Para offered in Kaihau s presence, to sell to the Crown their interest in the Te Akau block. Witness did not discuss the price with them but later suggested £2 an acre to Mr. Kensington and directed him to enquire of the natives at what figure they were prepared to sell. He would certainly not have been a party to such a suggestion as Remana alleged Sheridan advanced. Counsel asked witness if he thought the clause in the Act of 1960 would have been passed if Sheridan had as empowered already, purchased the block from the Tainuis, the then owners and had paid them half value of the land, but witness preferred not to venture an opinion. When witness applied for leave of absence for Kaihau on the ground of ill-health, witness believed the excuse to be correct.

To Mr. Skerrett: As far as witness was concerned Kaihau did not in the lease influence the purchase of the knd or the price paid. Mr Herries, called by Mr. Massey, said he was a member of the Xative Aflairs Cominittee. He was interviewed by natives concerned in Te Akau. one of whom took him aside and pushed a roll of notes into witness' pocket. Witness immediately returned the notes. A wordy argument ensued here between Messrs Skerrett and Reid on one side and Mr. Massey on the other as to the relevance of this evidence, but Mr Hanan decided that the remark did not reflect on Kaihau.

Replying to Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Hemes said he voted with Mr. Carroll on the committee on the clause hut ajrainst him in the House, as he had discovered fresh facts in the meantime. The committee adjourned.