21

I.—l

362. Was it a stipulation made with you ?—I do not think there was any mention made of it in my commission, but I certainly understood it and acted up to it. 3G3. Have you made any purchase at any time for Dr. Pollen, at Kaipara ?—Never ; I never had anything to do with his transactions. Mr. Aitkin was the man who purchased his land. 364. What were your relations with Colonel McDonnell in regard to the purchases to the north of Auckland ?—When I went North of course I had everything to learn about the country, as I had never been North before. I stated to Colonel McDonnell my position, that I had been sent North to negotiate for land that the Government required. I knew he was an Agent, or a Land Purchase Commissioner, as he signed himself generally. I said I thought the best way would be that we should travel together throughout the whole of that district. He was guided by me, and acted as interpreter principally. 365. Was he travelling with you under the authority of the Government ? Was he instructed to go with you ?—I cannot say. I saw no such instructions. 366. What were your relations with him ? Did he take your instructions ?—He was guided by me. Ido not think I should have given him instructions—that I should have taken upon me to give him instructions. You understand that when I received the commission, what I had received as pay previously was absorbed into the commission. 367. You state positively that you did not make any offer to Colonel McDonnell to increase his salary, or to make any payments to him yourself ? —I distinctly say I never did, but Colonel McDonnell requested me to endeavour to get him a larger salary from the Government. I attempted to do it in the month of August some two years ago when I came down here. I called on the Native Minister and made both that request and that he should get the Cross or New Zealand Medal. He had talked so much about his wrongs, and believed he was a much injured man, that he almost made me believe so too. It has never been my lot to be with a man who talked so much of his injuries, and really talked such rot, as Colonel McDonnell. He is a disappointed man, and believes himself to be a much injured man. 368. The Chairman.] When you sold to the Government this land of yours —the land of this Company in the Ngatiraukawa district —was it part of the agreement that you were to be employed by the Government ?—No, there was no agreement whatever. 369. No understanding of that kind?— Nothing of the sort; it was an after consideration. Ido not think the money was paid over till long after it was promised. 370. There was no understanding of that kind ?—None whatever. 371. Not with the Native Minister ?—No. 372. Do you know the proportion this £3,600 was shared in between the Company ?—There were certain calls made according to my requirements, and sometimes one person would pay and another would not. The money was not therefore paid equally. 373. You do not know what share each received ? —lt was divided according to the amount of calls paid. Ido not know the exact amount paid to each. 374. Son. Sir D. McLean.] Was Mr. J. S. Macfarlane interested in this Company ?—Yes; I had forgotten his name. There were six ; I only mentioned five before. 375. Were you aware that, as a member of that Company, he had urged upon me the necessity of giving you a portion of the land being negotiated for as a reward for your services ?—I am not aware of that. 376. Or that he had made any representations to the Government on your behalf as a member of the Company ?—I am not aware of that. 377. Mr. Rolleston.] How did you draw moneys to make payments to the Natives ? —I made applications to the Government, requisitions for certain moneys, and they were passed to my credit through Dr. Pollen, or latterly, Major Green, who now holds the position of General Government Agent in Auckland. I have never had money direct from them. 378. In paying the Natives, did you pay them in cash or cheques ? —Sometimes in one way, and sometimes in the other. 379. Mr. Richmond.'] How did the Natives get the cheques cashed ?—The storekeepers would send them to town, if large, and if small they would cash them. 380. Did they charge discount ? —I think they gave the full amount. In several cases I have referred the Natives to the Resident Magistrate, and have promised that I would send the cash to take them up (the cheques). I have done so in two or three cases at Hokianga, with Mr. Yon Stunner. I have not known any case in which the Natives were charged. 381. There was no difficulty in getting the cheques cashed ? —I have known no complaints on the subject. 382. The Chairman.] You know of no case whore the Natives have had to pay discount for getting a cheque cashed ?—No. 383. Mr. Richmond.] Or any difficulty in getting a cheque cashed ? —No, I have not. I have frequently been asked by Natives to give cheques instead of money. [I omitted to mention a cheque of Colonel McDonnell I allowed to be dishonored for reasons which I can explain if necessary.] Witness obtained leave to make a statement, which he did as follows : —lt is evident from the questions which have been asked to-day that certain statements have been made against me by Colonel McDonnell. There is no doubt that a strong feeling of jealousy exists on his part towards me. Since I have been in the North, I consider I have done my work well and faithfully for the Government. It has not been my rule through life, because something has been said against me by another, to turn round upon him, but I feel it my duty to make a few statements, and to put a couple of papers before you which show that the holes Colonel McDonnell lias dug for me, unfortunately he has fallen into himself. I think it is due to myself that I should do this. [Witness put in a document in Maori.] That will show you that he was not quite immaculate in land-purchase transactions. [Witness put in document in English, and also telegram from Sir Donald McLean, enabling him to appear before the Committee of the Provincial Council on Land Purchases.] The piece of land mentioned in the English document came to my knowledge from my being asked to pay for the survey.

Mr. E. T. Bris-

senden.

31st Aug., 1875.