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in Major Heaphy's office. The voucher was signed by Hiko, Hemi, Manihera, and, I think, by Komene, but am not certain. After this we went to Mr. Halse's office to meet Mr. Clarke; Te Watahoro went with us on his own account. A discussion arose as to the division of the money. Hiko said he would agree to divide the money at Wellington, but it should afterwards be taken to the Wairarapa to the people. A quarrel then took place, and nothing more was done that clay. This was, I think, on a Saturday. On Monday Hiko and Hemi, being desirous of returning home, I went with them to Mr. Halse's house, in the Tinakori Eoad, and they signed the deed there. I should have explained that I prepared a draft of the deed for Sir Donald McLean's approval, and on being agreed to it was engrossed by Mr. Grace, of the Native Department. The original intention was only to purchase the fishing-rights, so as to obtain control over the mouth of the lake, but, owing to my zeal in the matter, I inserted a clause, making it a cession of the land both under the water and on the margin of the lake as well. I reported to Mr. Clarke that Komere and Manihera would not sign the deed because of the dispute with Hiko about the division of the money, at which Mr. Clarke was very angry, and said he would not pay their return expenses from Wellington. After the deed was signed by Hiko and Hemi, we returned to the Wairarapa, and they went to Te Waitapu. A message was afterwards sent to the Government to remit the purchase-money to Greytown. Some time after this Wi Kingi wrote to the Government complaining that Hiko had not given him a share of the money, and Hiko afterwards told me to pay Wi Kingi £400. I procured the money in gold, and at Wi Kingi's invitation the Natives met at the Greytown Hotel. Manihera Eangitakaiwaho was also invited to attend. The Natives assembled in the billiard-room, and I put the money on the table, and Wi Kingi took possession of it. Manihera then became very violent, and objected to the money being paid in that way. I informed him that I was acting under Hiko's instructions. Some of the Natives received a share of the amount, and Wi Kingi kept £200 for himself. I went down the valley afterwards to Tauranganui with Hemi te Miha to see Eaniera te Iho and Maraea Toatoa. We met Piripi te Maari and Eaniera te Iho; Hemi was also present. Piripi said, "I have heard that Hiko has spld the lake, but I object, because the people were not consulted." Eaniera was asked by Hemi to sign the deed, but said he was going to Te Oreore, and would meet me at Greytown on the Wednesday following, and would sign the deed. Hemi wanted Maraea Toatoa to sign, but she evaded doing so. After obtaining a few more signatures I sent the deed to Wellington. Sir Donald McLean informed me through Mr. Clarke that the transaction was complete. Afterwards a petition was forwarded to Parliament objecting to the sale of the lake, and the Native Affairs Committee, after investigating the matter, recommended that the question be referred to the Native Land Court. The case subsequently came before Judge Brookfield. Amongst those who signed were two women, Arihia Ngawhawha and Hariata Amoake, recognised as having a large interest in the lake. I mentioned Hohaia te Eangi'sname to Hiko, and asked if he ought not sign. Hiko said, "No ;" that Hohaia had only a very small interest in the lake, and Piripi te Maari and Baniera te Iho were in the same position. Hiko was recognised as a guardian of the lakes, and was the owner from Pekehomia down to the sea. Arihia and Hariata were the principal owners of Kiriwai. From Pekehomia northwards Pliko, Komene, and Wi Kingi were the principal owners. I asked Hiko to meet the dissentients to the sale and talk the matter over. He said he would do so if they came to him. At Kohunui Piripi and others asked me to induce Hiko to attend the meeting there ; but he would not do so, as his horses were out on the run. There was no meeting between Hiko and Eakaiwakairi up to the time of his death. I was not paid a salary before 1876. My first occupation was Clerk and Interpreter in the Eesident Magistrate's Court. I was well acquainted with all the Low 7 er Valley Natives. Heard frequently from the Natives that they claimed a large tract of land in the Tauranganui Block, between the flood-line and the lake. It is about twenty-eight years since I came to the Wairarapa. Have frequently heard from both the Europeans and Natives that the latter claimed all the low-lying land. It was the Lower Valley people who made the statement—namely, Piripi, Hemi, Hiko, Apiata, and others. These people stated that the land was raised by the earthquake, and was not included in the sale of the Tauranganui Block, as this land was submerged at the time of the sale. Heard Mr. Peter Hume speak about the Native claim about twenty years ago. He ridiculed the idea of their claiming it. The pencil-line on the plan indicates about the approximate position of the flood-line at Tauanui; it reaches within about a quarter of a mile of Mr. Hume's house.. The Kahutara Block is about half covered with water. When the lake is flooded some .of the settlers get flooded out of their houses. Have not heard that the Natives preferred a similar claim to the low-lying land in the Kahutara Block, except a small strip between Waitahaiti on to Maramamau. Did not hear before that they claimed to the flood-line in the Turakirae Block. The Natives claimed an island in the Euamahanga, called Ngaawapurua. Mr. Holdsworth, the Crown Lands Commissioner, was instructed to reserve it, but I heard afterwards that it had been bought by Mr. Mathews. Another place was reserved at the mouth of the Turanganui Eiver, where the upper lake flows into the lower (marked N.E. on plan); also, another place at the mouth of the Tauherenikau, agreed to by Sir D. McLean. I went to Hiko because Manihera suggested that I should do so, as he was the recognised chief. Te Waka Tahuahi, Pahoro te Tio, Hemi te Miha also led me to suppose so. Hemi is the only one alive now. Wi Kingi was another, and also Matiaha Mokai, who said that Hiko was an owner, both at Okourewa and Wairarapa Moana. Never heard any difference of opinion about it, either from Natives or Europeans. Hiko was recognised as the chief owner of the fishing claims. Never heard that Te Kai ote Kokopu was the owner of the lower lake, or that Te Hamaiwaho, the chief of the Ngaitahu hapu, obtained the right afterwards from the former; nor that the Ngaitahu hapu had gained a right to the lake through Te Hamaiwaho. Did not hear that Baniera te Iho was a chief who had a paramount control over the lake, or that he claimed all the land adjacent to the lower lake. Heard from Sir Donald McLean that Eaniera had a small right on the upper lake, at Allsop's Bay. Eaniera te Iho was living at Turanganui when the block on the cast side of the lake was sold, and a grant was