AGAINST MR, C. W. RICHMOND

21

F—No. 3

Mr- C. W. Richmond applied to the Committee for time to complete his statement. The two l witnesses in attendance were Mr, McLean and Mr. T. H. Smith; if the Committee would receive their evidence and adjourn, it would enable him to complete his case. Question put and passed on motion of Mr. Carleton, That Mr. C. W. Kichmond have leave to complete his statement, after the rising of the Committee, and furnish the Clerk with the s.-me. Question put and passed on motion of 3Vlr. Carleton, That Mr. Weld have leave to retire from the Chair for a while, and that Mr. Cracroft Wilson, C.B , do take the Chair. Agreed to. Mr. Richmond continued : Having now established, as 1 tiust to the satisfaction of the Committee, that I never, either before or alter Teira's offer, put any kind of pressure upon Mr. Parris, I proceed to call the other Officers of the Native Department who were in anywise connected with the purchase. Mr. McLean called and examined. 95. Mr. C. W. What was your position in the Government Service during the years 1658, 1859, I860?—I was Chief Land Purchase Commissioner. 90. Previously to the offer by Teira's party of the Waitara block, did you receive instructions from the Governor or from any Member of the late Ministry to open negotiations for the purchase of that block or of any other land at Waitara?'—No ; I received no such instruction. 97. Before Teira's offer, was the purchase of land at Waitara ever suggested to you publicly or privately, directly or indirectly, by me or by any Member of the Stafford Ministry?—Never. 98. Do you believe that the offer of the block was the spontaneous, unsolicited act of the Natives concerned ?—I believe so. 99. I believe you were absent from Auckland during the time which elapsed between Teira's offer and the Military occupation of the block?—Yes, I was absent. 100. Are you aware, or do you believe, that any Member of the late Ministry pressed the Governor to complete the purchase ?—Not to my knowledge, but I have since heard statements, by parties opposed to the late Ministry, to the effect that such pressure was used, but I am not aware of any just foundation for such statements. Teira's offer to sell the land at Waitara was made it) March, 1859, during the Governor's visit to Taranaki ; previous to that time I was not aware that he or his party had determined upon making the offer. Witness was discharged from further attendance. Mr. T. H. Smith called and examined. 101. Mr. C. W. What was your position in the Government Service during the years 1858, 1859, 1860 ?—I was Assistant Native Secretary. 102. In that capacity had you any thing to do with the Land Purchase Department ?—I took charge of the correspondence in the absence of the Chief Commissioner. 103. Previously to the offer by Teira's party of the Waitara block, did you receive instructions from the Governor or from any Member of the late (Stafford) Ministry to open negotiations for the purchase of that block or of any other land at Wetitara ?—No. 104. Before Teira's offer, was the purchase of land at the Waitara ever suggested to you, publicly or privately, directly or indirectly, by me or by any Member of the Staffoid Ministry?—No. 105. Do you believe that iht* offer of the block was the spontaneous unsolicited act of the Natives concerned? —I have no knowledge whatever upon that subject. 106. Are you aware, or do you believe, that any Member of the late Ministry pressed the Governor to complete the purchase ?—I am not aware of any pressure having been used. 107. Will you look at this Memorandum [here the Governor's Memorandum of 27th August, 1859* (see appendix) was handed to this Witness by Mr. Richmond]. Have you any recollection of the circumstances under which that Memorandum was written, and of what was done in consequence of it ?—To the best of my recollection this Memorandum was given to me by His Excellency, accompanied by verbal directions to write to Mr. Parris to instruct hirn to proceed with the negotiations for the purchase of the Waitara block. Letters had been received addressed to the Governor bv Teira and others, claiming the fulfilment of the promise made by the Governor, that the lands should be purchased if the sellers could prove their title, and urging that the matter should be completed without delay. Alter receiving these directions from His Excellency, I went to M r. Richmond. I believe I took this Memorandum with me, and told Mr. Richmond of my directions to write to Mr. Parris as above. We had some conversation upon the subject, and to the best of my recollection Mr. Kichmond expressed his opinion that it would be better not to send official instructions to Mr. Parris lest he might feel there was no option or discretion left him as to the immediate prosecution of the negotiations ; that he (Mr. Richmond) was writing privately to ■Mγ. Partis and would mention to him the Governor's anxiety that there should be no unnecessary delay. I concurred in Mr Richmond's view, and requested him to see His Excellency and explain his views to him. Mr. Richmond promised he would do so ; I also saw the Governor afterwards and mentioned to him what had been dune, and he expressed his approval.

Mr. C. W. Richmond 9tli Aug., 1861.

Mr. McLean. 9cli Aug., 1861.

Mi. T. H. Smith. 9th Aug., 1861.