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587. Are you aware of £100 being given to Witaua Papahia for land at Omahuta or Whangape for private individuals ? —I am aware of £100 being given, but whether on account of private individuals or on account of the Government, I cannot say. 588. When and where was it given ?—lt was given in Auckland, I believe, but what the date was I cannot say. 589. Was that £100 spent by Mr. Brissenden on Government account? —I do not know. I was not present at the payment. 590. You do not know whether it was Government or private money ? —I believe it was Government money. 591. Do you know whether Paoratuhaere received the money in this way from Mr. Brissenden in Auckland or elsewhere ?—I do not. 592. Did Mr. Brissenden ever tell you to try and purchase back a cheque drawn by himself on the Bank of New Zealand for £20 for less than that amount P—Mr. Brissenden told me it would be a good ■way of making money. 593. Do you recollect a specific cheque for £20 ?—I recollect a cheque, but I think the amount was £15. I will not be certain. 594. Was the cheque an advance for the Government for the purchase of land ?—lt was. 595. Had you any money of your own to do this with ? —I had no money of my own at that time. 596. Whose money was it to be done with ?—lt was money I got from Mr. Brissenden. I asked Mr. Brissenden for the money and he gave it me. 597. Eelate all that took place upon that occasion.—lf I recollect aright, Mr. Brissenden said to me I might as well make a shilling or two that way as in any other. 598. In what way d i you mean ? —Cashing cheques. During the evening that Mr. Brissenden gave the cheque, I asked him for some money, and he gave me £14. The Natives went with the cheque to Mr. Gough, who had no money in the house. The Natives came back to me, and I said I would give them £14 for it. 599. Mr. Rolleston.] Mr. Brissenden gave you the cash ? —Yes. 600. Mr. Richmond.] As payment for the survey, or work done, I suppose ?—I asked Mr. Brissenden for the money. 601. For the money you had earned? —Yes. 602. Mr. Rolleston.~\ Was it money on account ? —lt was. 603. Do I understand that Mr. Brissenden suggested to you that it would be a good way of making money for you to cash cheques at a discount ? —He told me a good deal of money could be made by cashing cheques. 604. He was to give the cheques, and you to cash them ?—He did not say he would give the cheques; he said money could be made in that way. 605. The Chairman.'] Do you know the name of the block of land on account of which this cheque was given ? —I cannot say that I do. 606. Was the block called Awarua ?—I think that was the name of the block, but I have forgotten it. 607. Who ultimately cashed the cheque ?—I do not know. 608. Where did this affair of the cheque take place ? —At Ohaeawai. 609. Did Mr. Brissenden tell you a good thing could be made by transactions of this nature with " the Brown Brothers " ? —I heard him say a good thing could be made. 610. With " the Brown Brothers " ? —I cannot remember him using those words. I heard him say money could be made in that way. 611. Eeverting to the question of the land in the neighbourhood of Patetere, you have said that you were sent there to prevent the Government acquiring land ? —The first time ; yes. 612. Son. Sir D. McLean.] At what time were you sent there ? —I cannot give the exact date. 613. By whom were you employed? —By Mr. Brissenden. 614. The Chairman.'] Was it one of your instructions to double any offer made by the Government ? —I think it was. 615. Did you ever tell your father that such was one of your instructions ?—I think I have. 616. Son. Sir D. McLean.] Was any other surveyor beside you employed by the Company ?—I was not employed as a surveyor by the Company. 617. Whom were you acting for ?—I was acting for myself as a surveyor. 618. The Chairman.] What I should like to know is the date of the occasion when you were sent by Brissenden to Rotorua, intending to come overland and join him in Wellington ? —I cannot give the date when I started. 619. Where did you start from ? —I started from Ahipara. 620. Then Mr. Brissenden was at that time in the employ of the Government ?—Yes. 621. And he sent you to prevent the Government purchasing land ? —To pick up all the information I could in the district. 622. And to embarrass the Government purchasers ? You must give a distinct answer to the question ?—That was, I believe, my instructions. 623. Was that instruction, to embarrass the Government purchases, given you by Mr. Brissenden ?—That was the purport of my instructions from him. 624. And you were to oppose the Government ?—To oppose Messrs. Mitchell and Davis. 625. Son. Sir D. McLean.] By whom were Messrs Mitchell and Davis employed at that time ?— By the Government. 626. Are you sure ? —They might have been employed by private individuals. 627. Do you mean lately, at the present time, or a year ago?—lt was about twelve months ago. It was last June I think. On the sth of August last I was on my way to town. 628. The Chairman.] One of your instructions then was to offer double the amount the Government offered ? —Not then.

Mr. J. E. Dalton,

16fch Sept., 1875,