BEFORE THE WAIKATO COMMITTEE.

V— No. 3

commenced or instigated in some measure by the magistrate, Mr. Fenton. They then for the first time knew that they were to be divided. 83. When the Governor attended the meeting at Paetai, did he promise the natives that they should have their runanga?—l don't recollect any reference being made on that occasion to runangas, either by the Governor or the Natives. 84. Do you remember any promise made about that time to a chief of a loan of £50 for grass seed?—l don't recollect a promise of that kind: but 50 bushels of grass seed were purchased and carefully selected by an Officer of the Native Department, with a view to being sent up to the Natives at Waikato. 85. Was it sent?—To the best of my recollection, it was sent to Waiuku, and Mr. Fenton was apprised of it. 86. Are you aware of any chief having come in to Auckland, in reference to such a promise, to buy grass seed?—l cannot tax my memory with any particular case. 87. Then you do not recollect any chief being refused grass seed?—No; but I recollect being at Mangarei, and hearing the chief's there distinctly protest against grass seed being sent up to Waikato, They appeared, to me to be under some apprehension that the Government had some ultimate object in relation to their land. It was during one of my visits that they made that protest to me; but I can't remember the exact date. 88. Are you intimately acquainted with the Waikato District?■—l have been there several times; not very often. 89. In the last ten years, have you been there ten times?—No ; I have been in daily communication with the Waikato people for the last six years. They are in the habit of frequently coming to Auckland. Mv connection has been of course in my official character. 90. When Mr. Turton was sent to Waikato, had tie been particularly acquainted with tie district? —He was particularly well acquainted with some of the Waikato tribes, for his first station was at Aotea; and his duties would have frequently called him to Waikato as a missionary. 91. Was not his residence at Aotea at least eighteen years ago? —I don't think it was so far back as that, , 92. Was it about 1842?— I remember seeing him at New Plymouth in 1844. 93. Had Mr. Halse had any previous acquaintance with Waikato when he was sent there?— Not much, if any. 94. Why were those gentlemen selected in preference to Mr. Fenton, who had had very recent and intimate acquaintance with Waikato? —These gentlemen were selected from their possessing a very much better knowledge of the Maori language, and being much less likely to create differences between the Waikato tribes. 95. Is Mr. Fenton's knowledge of the Maori language considerable?—As far as I know he has little or no knowledge of it: he can talk a few words of it, I believe. 96. He cannot talk it fluently?— No. 97. Do you consider a knowledge of the Maori language essential in Native Districts?—l consider it very essential. 98. Are you acquainted with Mr. Harsant, the Resident Magistrate at Raglan ?—I am. 99. Is he a good Maori scholar ?—No. 100. Can he speak Maori as well as Mr. Fenton ?—I don't know. 101. Do you believe he has more than a knowledge of a few words of Maori ?—I think he has no more knowledge of Maori than that. 102. Do you think that Mr. Fenton and Mr. Harsant are on a par in their knowledge of Maori ? —] don't know : Mr. Fenton may have the advantage of Mr. Harsant. 103. During the time that Mr. Fenton was acting as Magistrate he was a resident at Auckland, and not in the district ; why was that ?—Mr. Fenton took his instructions from the Colonial Treasurer : I cannot answer for the reason. 104. Was he not in your Department ?—He was more immediately under the Colonial Treasurer. 105. Are the Resident Magistrates in Native Districts in your Department or the Colonial Treasurer's ?—Where the District is purely Native, they are in my Department ; where mixed or European, under the Attorney-General. 106. Do you consider the Waikato a mixed or Native District ?—lt is a Native District. 107. Mr. Sewell.] You of course remember when Mr. Fenton first went to Waikato he was Resident Magistrate at, Whaingaroa ?—He was Resident Magistrate at Whaingaroa; he had previously been at Kaipara. 108. Were you aware of the intention to sendjbim into Waikato ?—I was. 109. Was it with your approval ?—I had nothing to do with his being sent there. 110. As Resident Magistrate at Whaingaroa he would have been under your Department?—l suggested he should go to Whaingaroa. 111. What induced you to sugrgest that ?—I considered he would be better suited for a mixed district of Europeans and Natives than for a purely Native District. 112. Had he an interpreter at Kaipara?—l do not know :he had assistance from settlers there who spoke the Maori language. 1 13. Were you cognisant of his proceedings at Kaipara ?—I am aware of one proceeding in particular in which he brought on a feud between Tirarau and Paikea by adjudicating in a case of cattle grazing.

V. McLean, Esq. 29 Sept. 1860.

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