G.—2.

has stated that Titokowaru would not take any part in the removal of the surveyors. I understand that he was merely passive in the matter, and only happened to be returning from Parihaka when the surveyors were being removed. 1256. The Commissioners.] Is there anything else, Mr. Finnerty, which has crossed your memory that you would like to say ?—I have no desire whatever to east the slightest doubt upon the truthfulness of Captain Wilson on the matters which have been referred to ; but I must say, most emphatically, that I now for the first time learn that Titokowaru had ever been consulted with regard to a judicious place for the crossing of that stream, although I at once acknowledge that Captain Wilson had asked me to find one a little lower down ; as he says, some sor 6 chains. A place was pointed out to me by Captain Wilson as one that was likely to give a good crossing-place, but neither of us dismounted to examine it. It did look to be a likely place, and I said I would, examine it, which I afterwards did. 1257. Major Brown: I wish to say that I never heard before that Titokowaru expressed an opinion beyond this, that he would like to see the road go seaward of his paddock.

At Carlyle, 27th Maech, 1880. Mr. Heney Westcott Climie, Assistant-Surveyor, examined. 1258. The Commissioners.] You were one of the surveyors engaged in the survey of the Waimate Plains ?—Yes. 1259. You took up your work at the end of the road from Normanby, travelling westward, at the point where the road is intersected by the block-line B on the tracing now before us ? —Yes. 1260. How many road-lines are there between lines A and B ? —Three running to the north. 1261. Did either of these lines cross the road from Normanby? —No. 1262. Then you yourself carried no line into the bush ?—No; with the exception of where the road from Normanby crosses a tongue of bush, as shown on the tracing. 1263. During the time you were at work, did you meet with any obstruction from the Natives ? — I met with no serious obstruction until being turned off on the 25th March. 1264. During the time of your survey did you go inside the bush at all ?—No, I was never inside the bush. 1265. Had you any reports from your men of there being any clearings there ?—Yes ; I heard there were clearings in behind the tongue of bush to which I have just referred. 1266. Were you told of their extent ? —No. 1267. Do you know whether the block-line B was produced into the bush ?—No, not by me. 1268. And after that, the country between block-line B and Otakeho stream was surveyed by Mr. Skeet, was it not ? —Yes. 1269. And then, running westward, by Mr. Anderson ?—Yes. 1270. Have you travelled generally along the line which would be a continuation of the Normanby road between your survey and Mr. Anderson's ?—Yes ; I have travelled all over that country. The Normanby road was intended, I think, to run out at Kaupukunui, and join the main road there. 1271. What is the character of the country ? —lt is good dry country where the road would run, along the edge of the bush ; it is rather high there. 1272. There would be no difficulty in carrying the road through? —No. 1273. Are there any broken gullies there ? —No ; with the exception of Waiokura. 1274. Then, if the Native difficulty were settled, a line of road could be got, without difficult}^ from Normanby to Mr. Anderson's survey? —I think so. Mr. Thomas Andekson, Assistant-Surveyor, examined. 1275. The Commissioners.] You were one of the surveyors employed to survey the Waimate Plains ? —Yes. 1276. Where did your work begin ? —I was surveying at first at the block where Manaia's township is. After that I was detached to No. 5 Block, and my eastern boundary was the Otakeho Stream, and my western boundary the Wahamoko, which was the western end of the survey. 1277. Did you cut the block-line to the Otakeho Stream ? —No ; it was cut by Mr. Skeet. 1278. The first line cut by you was the one called the Auroa road-line ? —YTes. 1279. How far did you cut the Auroa road-line from the main block-line up into the forest, running north ?—250 chains, up to about point C on the tracing. 1280. When you were surveying that line, did you cross any clearings in the bush ?—I crossed a small clearing about 15 chains from the entrance to the bush. 1281. After that you did not cross any clearings ?—No: there was a Native track the whole way. 1282. The next line you cut north of the block-line was one passing by Taikatu village ?—Yes. 1283. How far did you take that line ?—To within about half a mile of the village. 1284. Was not your third line at Omuturangi ?—Yes. 1285. How far did you take that line into the bush? —I did not go into the bush. I stopped near the village, before I got to the cultivations. 1286. And your last line was the block-line running north from the east and west block-line at Wahamoko ?—Yes. 1287. How far did you take that line up into the forest ? —I took that about 220 chains straight north through the bush to the point marked Don the tracing. At the same time I was traversing the Wahamoko stream. I crossed the Wahamoko stream about a mile and a half from the entrance to the bush. 1288. Did you go through any clearings as you cut that line ? —No, no regular clearings. There were old marks of clearings, but no open land. 1289. Where did you have your first difficulty with the Natives ? —At Taikatu.

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