13

I.—2a,

327. Who did you think would fix the price per acre ?—According to my own idea, I thought that I and Hori te More should have been the persons. 328. Are you speaking of what took place in the hotel when you are speaking of the price per acre?—-Yes ; 1 said that at the time. 329. What was the price agreed to be given for your interest in the land at that meeting ?—All I know is that the boy got £450 and Hori te More got £450. 330. Was that the total amount ? —Yes. 331. There was no balance left ? —They said to us at the time that there was a balance of £800 left. 332. Still to be paid ?—Yes. 333. What amount did you pay on account of the survey?—£loo. 334. That was before you came to this meeting ? —That was at the time of the survey that I paid the money. 835. I thought you told us a little while ago that you did not hear of the survey until it was finished ?—Yes. The survey had been completed, and the surveyor came to me to pay on behalf of the boy; and I said, " No; let the boy pay for his own share;" but the surveyor said, " No;" and I paid it. 336. Then out of the £450 you received back that £100 on account of the survey ? —No. 337. Just think again.—No: only £50 out of that came to me, and that £25 Mr. Nelson had given me before this ; and I said, "This may be in payment of the survey." 338. That would be £75 ? —Yes, £75 ; and Te Hemara received £25; and I thought that must be the balance of my £100. 339. That would be £100 settled there that night ?—Yes. 340. Will you explain how, having accounted for £100 out of the £450, you could have £400 to take to the bank in the morning ? —The £25 was paid at the time the bulk of the money was handed over. The £25 was paid to me at Mount Albert, at Mr. Nelson's house, and Te Hemara got £25, and, with the other £50, I make up the £100. 341. There were £450 to be paid. Of that, £50 was repaid for the survey, £25 at Mr. Nelson's house, and £25 to To Hemara, in your presence. That makes £100. Now, how could you have £400 to take to the bank for Wi Apo ? —I know that the £400 was there. 342. How do you know ? —I know, because the money that was paid at Mount Albert was separate money, and out of the £450 only £50 was taken. 343. Then, what became of the £25 that was paid to Te Hemara ?—That money was given to him. 344. Out of what money ? —lt was taken out of the £400. It was given to him. I thought it was the balance of my £100. 345. Did not each of the three grantees present agree to give Te Hemara £25 each ?—I do not know. ■ 346. You do not remember ? —No. 347. What amount was stopped from you on account of Jones's matter, the person to whom they leased the timber ?—I do not know. 348. Just recollect. You mentioned the thing yesterday in your evidence in chief ?—-No. 349. Do you say that no money was taken out of your share for Jones ?—There was no money taken. 350. Just remember, if you can, your reference to this matter yesterday, when you mentioned that amongst other things brought against you was this charge of Jones's ?—I did not say that. Why should I keep money belonging to that European ! 351. You spoke in somewhat of a tone of complaint about being called upon to pay money on account of Jones, as you did not receive money on his account ?—You mean the European who leased the timber on Pakiri ? 352. Yes ?—I know nothing about that. 353. Do you not remember perfectly well that at the time the agreement was drawn up and signed, and the moneys were paid, all these accounts were drawn up and settled ? —All we knew at the time was to sign. What was being said about one'lhing or another we did not understand. 354. Will you swear that you did not there and then agree to pay to Mr. Nelson the £25 paid to you on the night of your arrival in town ?—No ; I did not agree. 355. Will you also swear that you did not agree vrith the other grantees to pay Te Hemara £25 on the ground of relationship and interest in the land ?—=No, I did not. 356. Do you remember what the total amount was to be paid for the interests of Wi Apo and Panapa at that meeting ? —Yes, I know. 357. Tell us then ?—]?or Wi Apo £450, and for Panapa the same amount. 358. Was not the total amount mentioned for the sale of their interests in the block £1,600 ?—I do not know about that; all I knew at the time was £900. 359. Do you not remember that the total amount was £1,600, and that half of that amount was to be paid there and then, and the other half to be kept in reserve until the completion of the title ? —■ I understand about the £800, and I understand that the money that was paid was £900. 360. You recollect now there was a balance of £800 ? —Yes; I know that £800 was the balance. 361. Then, if you got your share of that £800, along with what you got that night, that would be the total amount of your interest in the block ?■ —-That money has never been paid ; it is still unpaid. 362. Would that be the balance of the purchase-money ?—Yes. 363. Then I am right in saying that at that time Panapa, the original grantee, had been drowned ? —Yes. 364. And that Hori te More, although he appeared to take part in this transaction, had not then been actually appointed by the Court?— Yes,

Arama Karaka. Aug. 3, 1880.