I.—l

24

Col. McDonnell.

that he would give me Mangakirikiri and Waipouitaka block in lieu of the one he had formerly given to my father. 409. Mr. Thomson.] You say this paper does not refer to the 2,000 acres ?—No, that refers to a, block of land called Otaua. 410. What is the acreage of it ? —4,125 acres. 411. Mr. Molleston.] Are you negotiating this for the Government or for yourself?— For Mr. Stannus Jones ; and I was to have a share in it if the Government permitted Mr. Jones to have it; if not, it was to belong to the Government. 412. Were you negotiating this simultaneously with the purchases you were making for the Government ?—At the same time. 413. Did the Government know you were negotiating for it ?—I believe they" did. 414. Did you ever tell the Government so ?—No ; but I did in this way. A list of lands was given to Sir Donald McLean the other day, at Haruru (Bay of Islands), and when we came to that name, I said to Sir D. McLean, " That block of land ought not to be in the schedule. That is the land for Mr. Stannus Jones. 415. Hon. Sir D. McLean.] I do not recollect any reference to this block of land?—lt was in. the schedule. 416. Who brought the list ?—I think either Mr. Kemp or Mr. Brissenden. 417. Mr. Thomson.] Have you any written document showing that the Government were aware you were purchasing this land for yourself and another gentleman ? —I had not myself any written document from the Government about that land. I refused to negotiate the block of land for Jones or for myself. I refused point-blank to do anything about that land in the first instance. 418. The Ghairvmn.] Were you in Auckland on the 25th of July? —Yes. 419. Was this executed in your presence (letter from Natives) ?—Yes; the document is in my own handwriting. 420. Mr. Rolleston.] Were you still an officer of the Government at the time that was conducted, and it is for yourself and others, not for the Government ?—Yes. 421. The Chairman. What is the extent of this land ?—4,125 acres. I believe half of it has since been purchased for the Government. 422. Mr. Sheehan.] You have said you were negotiating this block of land for the Government in the first instance. Did the Government refuse to allow the negotiation ?—No. 423. The Chairman.] Have the Government got half the land now ?—More than half. Mr Brissenden has swindled Mr. Stannus Jones and myself. 424. Is Mr. Stannus Jones here ?—No ; he is in Auckland.

2nd Sept., 1875,

Tuesday, 7th Septembeb, 1875. Mr. Dignan, M.H.E., examined on oath. 425. The Chairman] Do you remember Mr. "Wilkinson, a Native interpreter, returning to Auckland from an inquiry I had sent him on, and his coming into my room where I was sitting as Superintendent ?—Tes. 426. Were you present at the time ?—I was present when he returned. 427. "Would, you state what passed with regard to some omissions I asked him to make about Mr. Mackay's name ? —When he returned he was announced. I was in the room at the time, in the office. He came in, and said that he had a report, and one he could sufficiently give an explanation of as to what he had done. Tour Honor was called out. I think we were interrupted two or three times during the period the interpreter was there. Instead of reading the entire report in your presence, he was giving you an explanation when you returned. He said, " I positively assure you, Sir George, that Mr. Mackay had nothing whatever to do with it." You returned in reply, " But I did not want you to say anything about Mr. Mackay at all. I sent you to inquire in regard to the Natives, and the position of the reserve." He said, " I have it in the report." You said that he ought not to have a reference to Mr. Mackay in the report; that you did not want to have anything to do with Mr. Mackay in the report. The interpreter seemed a little confused as to what he would do with his report, and he asked your permission to write it again. You said he might do what he liked, that you did not want to have anything to do with Mr. Mackay. He asked permission to go out, and take that portion from the report. That is what I recollect about the matter. I may add that he talked about O'Hallorau and Guilding, and about a man who kept a house of entertainment having made arrangements for the lease of a portion of the reserve. Mr. W. H. Geace examined on oath (Mr. Maekay being present). 428. The Chairman.~\ Were you ever appointed or employed by me as my agent at the Thames? —No, not for any purpose whatever. I was in conversation with Mr. Mackay at one time at the Metropolitan Hotel, and he charged me with being your agent, I said I was not your agent, that I had never had anything to do with you, and that what I might have sent was of my own free will. He said, "That makes you an agent." I said, " No." He said, " Have you not been paid by Sir George Grey ?" I said, " No, I have never received a penny." 429. Are you aware that Crippen had a share given him in the Tairua Prospectors' Claim ?—Yes. 430. Are you aware how many scrip that share was divided into ?—I believe Mr. O'Halloran had an interest in the share, and I will tell you how I know it. Mr. Tookey and myself were acting for the Natives who were protesting against the granting of the license, and on the day before the case came on, Mr. O'Halloran came to us and said, "Do not oppose the granting of the license, and we will

Mr. Dignan, M.H.R.

7th Sept., 1875,

Mr. W. H. Grace.

7th Sept. 1875,