I.—l

26

Mr. W. H. Grace.

454. Did your clients inform you that they came to me on the 26th of July ? —I know they saw you, and were written to by you. 455. Do you know that Te Moananui and Tautoru came to me ?—Yes. 456. Did they inform you what offer they made ? —They told me they would not agree to anything you had said. 457. They did not inform you that they had stated that if they got the scrip, and not Taipari, that they would withdraw from all opposition ? —No ; they did not. You told me yourself that the shares they were to have had were those shares of Nikorima's, which ought to have been divided amongst them. I never heard from you or from them about the 500 shares for Taipari. 458. They did tell you that I said they ought to have some portions of the shares Nikorima got ? —They told me you wanted them to agree to open the Pakirarahi block, but they would not agree. You told me the shares the Maoris ought to have had were those shares Nikorima had. 459. Did you ever say to me that these shares had better be given up to them: Taipari's shares ? —I do not think I said " Given up to them." I think I said, " The best thing you can do is to settle the matter, and to bring ii to a close, that these Natives should get shares." 460. Did you not, two or three days ago, say they should get compensation or that scrip ? —Not that scrip. I said to you, " Don't you think the best thing would be to settle with the Maoris and give them compensation ?" You said, "I think I will try to get 250 scrip for them." 461. You did not say anything about these scrip of Taipari's on that occasion? —Not that I know of. 462. The Chairman.] Did you suggest to Mr. Mackay to give them that scrip ? —Not that particular scrip. Ido not think I said anything about scrip. 463. Mr. Mackay.] Were you informed that I had any interest in that Tairua Claim, the Prospectors' Claim, by any one ? —I heard a rumour that you were interested in it. 464. Did any of these parties, O'Halloran, or Nikorima, or any of the Natives, tell you that I had an interest in it ? —Nikorima says in his letter that the share is yours, but it is put in Crippen's name. 465. Have you not stated that the reason why you went against me in all these matters was this,, because I had ceased to employ you to do my business as an interpreter ?—No. 466. Did you not, outside the Government gate, state that to me, about three weeks ago ? —I said to you you had not treated me fairly. The principal reason why I went against you was, that I tried to get some timber for Holdship, and you would not allow me. I got a notice from you saying that if I persisted you would report me to the Government, and get my license cancelled, or something to that effect. When I went to the Natives, they told me that you were trying to buy the timber for Gibbons. That is the reason I went against you. 467. I want you to say what you stated at the gate.—l said it was very funny you had taken a man who had written articles against you, and had thrown me overboard, who had helped you. I said that was one reason why I had gone against you.

7th Sept., 1875,

Wednesday, 16th September, 1875. Mr. J. E. Dalton examined on oath. 468. The Chairman.'] Have you been employed by Mr. Brissenden ?—Yes. 469. In what position ? —I was employed as interpreter. 470. Not as a surveyor ?—"Well, I was for a short time. 471. Have you had many conversations with him, when employed by him ? —Tes, I have had a great number, because I have been employed upwards of three years by him. 472. Has he ever told you anything regarding being authorized to purchase lands for private persons ? —He told me he was employed to excise certain blocks. 473. Whom for?—He did not mention the parties' names. 474. Did he tell you who empowered him to do that ? —He did not. In fact, I did not ask him. Of course, I took his word. 475. Have you yourself excised any blocks for him ?—No, I have not. I had his authority to do so, but I was recalled by the Government. 476. For whom was the block excised ? —Mr. Dargaville. It was on the Wairoa. 477. How large was that block ? —I cannot say, because I did not survey it. 478. Was it a timber block ? —There was timber on the block. 479. Was it timber blocks you were authorized to excise, or blocks generally?—l cannot b& perfectly certain, but I think it was timber blocks. 480. Have you assisted him to acquire lands about Kaipara Heads ? —No. 481. In the Kaipara district ?—I travelled with him all over the district, acting as his interpreter. Mr. Nelson was really the man. 482. Were any blocks excised there for individuals ? —Not that I am aware of. Colonel McDonnell was here called in. 483. Mr. Bolleston.] You understood, with regard to the excision of these blocks, that they were for private individuals, and not for the Government?— With regard to this block at Wairoa, I did. 484. Was Mr. Brissenden then acting as Agent for the Government ? —He was. 485. The Chairman.'] Were you employed by Mr. Brissenden at the head of the Waikato at onetime ? —I was employed in the Patetere country. 486. What were jrour duties there ? —My duties in the neighbourhood were generally to pick up information, and to keep the Natives quiet as regards selling land. 487. What do you mean by keeping the Natives quiet with regard to selling land ? —Well, I can hardly tell you, my instructions were so vague.

Mr. J. E. Dalton.

16th Sept., 1875