17

I.—l

D. McLean, reporting Mr. Brissenden's statements to self. N.B.—But not a correct copy." The ■document was as follows : —" Auckland, January 25th, 1875.—Sir,—Referring to what I was saying today about Tutamoe and Kairara blocks, which included Totarapoka, and in reference to Mr. Brissenden, I have simply the honor to state that, if what he has told me on more than one occasion is correct, lam not astonished at his anxiety to conclude the negotiations I commenced. Mr. Brissenden has informed me that he wished to reserve some of the kauri I had reported on for Mr. Thomas Russell and Mr. Vogel, as the former gentleman had entered into a contract with the Admiralty for spars, and that he had permission also from yourself and the Hon. Julius Vogel to use his own judgment in negotiations of this kind affecting land at the time he received the appointment he now holds. With the above I have nothing whatever to do, but I venture to say this, should the negotiations for the above-mentioned piece of country be handed over to Mr. Brissenden to conclude, it will very much tend to complicate what I have taken much pains to bring to a satisfactory conclusion, as the Natives are anxious that I and not others negotiate these blocks ; and there are many details connected with them I have been at much time and trouble to find out. —I have, &c. (Also) : Mr. Vogel, according to Mr. Brissenden, desires him to procure him a forest of kauri timber. (Also) : The Government had given Mr. Brissenden leave to purchase land for himself, and to allow other Europeans to do so, if it was thought prudent, that is, if the said Europeans made themselves troublesome. —T. M." (Note at foot of second page) : " Had been requested by Dr. Pollen to procure some land for him at Kaipara near to private property."] 282. Mr. Richmond.'] Were all these in the fair copy ? —Tes, they were, with the exception of the note about Dr. Pollen. Everything else was written except the marks in pencil. 283. Mr. Rolleston.] Tou communicated the substance of that to Dr. Pollen after communicating -with Sir Donald McLean ? —I went straight to Dr. Pollen's office, and told him everything in that letter, and also related the story of Mr. Florence and the New York Hotel. 284-. Mr. Sheehan.] Was any third person present at any of these conversations with Mr. Brissenden ?—-Yes ; when we camped on the banks of the river to get dinner, when going to Kaihu, Mr. Dalton was with us. Whether he was paying attention or not I could not say. 285. That is the only occasion when there might have been a third person present ?—Yes, with the exception of a statement in Hokianga. He made a statement that the Government had given him permission to purchase land for private parties. 286. Sir D. McLean.] Would you name any who heard him make that statement? —Stannus Jones for one, and, I believe, Major Green also, but I won't be positive. Stannus Jones I know he has told, and also Mr. Webster at Hokianga, and Mr. Dalton. He told Mr. Webster, in Hokianga, that he had power from the Government to reserve any blocks of land, as long as he did not take too much. That he has been dealing for timber land could be found from Wi Tana Papahia as a fact. 287. Mr. O'JSTeill. —Was Mr. Dalton in Mr. Brissenden's employ ? —Brissenden said that he paid £300 for an interpreter, and that he gave it to Dalton. I have reason to believe the statement is incorrect. He had got Dalton under his thumb, and was screwing him. 288. What was Mr. Dalton ?—He is a Native Land Surveyor. Mr. G. H. Datis examined on oath. 289. Sir D. McLean.] You were a clerk in the Native Office ?—Yes. 290. You travelled with me when I was in Auckland ?—Yes ; from the time we left, on the 24th October, 1874, with the exception of a fortnight at Christmas. 291. A statement has been made to this Committee by Colonel McDonnell that he placed a letter on my table in the Native Office, in Auckland, on the 25th of January. Have you any recollection of any such letter ? —No ; I was in the habit of coming into your room and sorting any papers, making a precis of them, and recording them in a book. If there had been any paper such as mentioned, it would be among my records. I recorded everything, and kept them locked up. 291. Can you produce the record book ? —Yes. [Record book produced.] Witness: On the 25th of January there were four letters received and recorded, two from Captain Porter, and two from Mr. Locke. On the 26th January we went to Waikato I did not take the book with me. 292. Mr. Rolleston. Would you take letters lying on Sir Donald McLean's table not given for record ? —I used to take all letters and lock them up. 293. Sir D. McLean.] Did you ever see a letter from Colonel McDonnell, stating that Mr. Brissenden had informed him that he was authorized to purchase lands for private individuals, and mentioning Mr. Vogel, Dr. Pollen, and Mr. T. Russell? —I never saw a letter of that kind. We only received two or three letters from Colonel McDonnell, and these are entered. 294. You have no recollection of any letter of that kind ? —No. 295. If such a letter had been placed on my table, in the ordinary course it would have come into your hands ?—lt would; I would have taken it up after you left the office, and have registered it in the book. 296. Mr. Rolleston.] Would you have done so whether the letter was open or not?—l opened Maori letters, but not English letters. 297. Suppose a letter not opened to have been left on the table, should you have opened such a letter from Colonel McDonnell ? —I did not open any English letters. 298. Sir D. McLean.] You were in the habit of bringing any letters to me ? —Any letters or papers which came were taken directly to Sir Donald McLean, and he opened them. If I went in in the course of the day, he might give me what he had looked through and ask me to record them. 299. With reference to this letter, you never saw it ?—No, I never saw it. The only letter from Colonel McDonnell was one about land purchase at Whangaroa. 300. Mr. Richmond.] Do you remember seeing Colonel McDonnell in the office?—l cannot say. I was down town part of the day. I was getting ready to go to Waikato, and sorting papers. 301. Sir D. McLean.] If such a letter had been placed on my table by Colonel McDonnell, would Jfou not have seen it ? —I would have seen it when I cleared up the table. 3.—1. 1.

Col. McDonnell.

27th Aug., 1875.

Mr. G. H. Davis.

27th Aug., 1875.