A.—No. 3

16

Camp Matangaeaea, Sattjeday, 21st Maech, 1868. William Newland having been duly sworn was examined. 144. The Chairman. What is your name and profession ?—My name is William Newland, and I am at present a Sub-Inspector in the Armed Constabulary, of tho 3rd Division, and stationed at Sentry Hill, in the Province of Taranaki. 145. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Were you present at the attack on Pokaikai, in August, 1866 ; and if so, relate the circumstances ?—Yes, I was present. On the evening of the Ist August, 1866, we marched from Manawapou, under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, then a Major. The force consisted of No. 8 and No. 10 Companies of the Military Settlers, the Patea Bangers, the Wanganui Bangers, some of the Wanganui Yeomanry Cavalry, and the Native Contingent. It was about one o'clock of the morning of tho 2nd August, when the attack was ordered. No. 8 Company, under Captain Wilson, led the attack. The Patea Bangers, in which I was Captain, supported Company No. 8. The Wanganui Bangers, under Captain Boss, followed the Patea Bangers. Company No. 10, under Lieutenant Fookes, followed the Wanganui Bangers, and the Native Contingent brought up the rear. One or two men of the Native Contingent were acting as guides with Company No. 8. Captain Wilson rushed into the village with his Company, and I heard a single shot fired. My impression is that the shot must have been fired by one of the villagers, because we were all ordered not to fire, but to go quietly and take the villagers prisoners, and that shot was instantly replied to by sharp firing on the part of our men. I followed with my Company, almost immediately. Tho villagers at this time had for the most part escaped down a descent. I went with some of my men to a whare situated on the left of the opening in the palisade, by which the forces entered the village. One of the men opened tho door of this whare, and struck a light by means of a lucifer match, and we then saw some Natives inside the whare. I called to them three or four times, in the Maori language, to come out and surrender. They would not do so. Tho whare was then fired into, and on our entering into the whare we found an old man and an elderly woman lying mortally wounded, and a girl of ten years of age unhurt, crouching upon a kind of loft. I took the girl down in my arms, and carried her outside to a place of safety. Ido not remember whether there were any more Natives in this whare, but I can positively state that except the old man and woman who were lying mortally wounded, no other Native was wounded in this whare. 146. Do you remember any circumstances connected with the taking of some women prisoners ? t—Yes. There was a Native woman of the name of Martha, and a wounded woman, now present, and who was examined by the Commission this day, but Ido not know her name. Among the prisoners my attention was called to the woman Martha by hearing her screaming. I immediately went up to her. She was standing near a whare, and a man of the name of Bezer was struggling with her. He was trying to get an car-ornament out of her ear. I immediately seized him, and I called him a coward for meddling with a woman, and I caused his accoutrements to be taken off, and himself made a, prisoner, and put under charge of a guard. Bezer was a private servant of Dr. Walker, who was himself present at the attack, being Acting Assistant Surgeon to tho force, and who was on duty on. the occasion. Bezer had been allowed to arm himself with Government arms, and to accompany the force, but he went as a volunteer for the occasion, and was not in the receipt of pay or rations. 147. Did Bezer get the ornament out of Martha's ear ? —lt was night, and there was darkness at the time, but I saw Bezer's hand on her ear, and her hand raised protecting her ear. I was in a great rage with the fellow, and I did not observe whether Martha's ear was torn or not, but I am quite certain that he did not succeed in getting the ornament. I threatened to knock his brains out if he did not let go of her ear instantly, and he at once obeyed me, saying that he thought it was all fair to loot after taking a Native village. 148. Was Bezer trying to cut the ornament out of her ear with a sharp instrument?— Certainly not. 149. Do you know Spencer, and was he the worse for liquor that night ?—I know one man of the name of Spencer. Ho was present that night. He had been from the first attached to the Native Contingent, and he was drawing pay and rations as one of the Native Contingent. I had known him for about twelve months. I can't say that he was the worse for liquor, for I did not take particular notice of him, but he was rushing about in an excited state. 150. Did you observe any of the attacking party drunk on that occasion ? —No. Before the men started, a little after sunset, a gill of rum was served out to each. It was intensely cold, and there was no possibility of their getting any liquor either on the march or at Manawapou. 151. Do you recollect my ordering the force to halt a good distance from Pokaikai, and calling the officers commanding the different companies, and my giving them instructions as to the impending attack ? —Yes ; I do. The instructions given were that the village was to be entered in silence, and without firing a shot if possible, and the villagers were to be taken prisoners. 152. Were there any children taken prisoners as well as the women, and were both of them treated kindly ? —Yes ; there were children as well as women taken prisoners. They were all treated most kindly, and the men gave them something to eat, both at the village and on the march back to Mawanapou, from their own rations. 153. Mr Commissioner Cargill.] What effect had the attack upon the minds of the Natives ?— They all came in and surrendered within a very few days after tho attack, and I attribute their coming in to that attack. I feel certain that the attack had a very beneficial effect upon the minds of the Natives in general, and it conduced to their making peace. 154. Mr Commissioner Graham.] Were not the Natives making overtures for peace before the attack upon Pokaikai ? —I think not. 155. Are you aware that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell sent to the natives a white handkerchief with the word " peace" written on it ? —I am not aware of this fact personally. 156. Are you sure that the villagers fired the first shot which was fired on the occasion?—l am not sure. I was commanding the Company in rear of Captain Wilson's Company No. 8, which Company led the attack.

Mr. W. Hacland. 2-Isl March, 1868.