37

I.—3a.

the money in different cheques as she wanted it. After she signed the deed she turned round and handed the cheques to me. I asked her what she handed me the cheques for, and she said she wanted some notes. I got one of them cashed, and gave her the notes, and sent her back in a waterman's boat to Hardiman's. The bringing of her there and sending her back cost me £4. The first time I heard of any dissatisfaction was from Herewini te Toko, in Hardiman's house. He wanted to know why she got £108 ; and I told him he must ask Mr. Cadman and Mr. Hardiman, as I knew nothing at all about it. That was more than two months after the sale. I was going home to Auckland, and I came by Bikihana's place, and told him "good news." I met Mr. Pope, the schoolmaster, and I told him that Raiha Tamaho got £108. Bikihana asked me why she got it, and I replied I did not know, but that I was very glad she got it, because I knew she had the best claim of the whole of them, unless Herewini te Toko, who was a relative of hers. He said if I had anything to do with it he and I would be friends no longer. I told him" Mr. Cadman was then in Auckland, and to go to him. He said, "Where is the money?" I said I would pay his expenses there and back. He said he would not go. I have never told anybody, European or Native, that I was acting for the Government. I told them all I was acting for the Natives. Before I left Wellington, when the Hon. Mr. Bichardson was stopping at the hotel where I was staying, the Metropolitan, he said there was a report that I was a land-purchaser for the Government; was there any truth in it ? I told him there was no truth in it —that I undertook to get Natives' signatures to three blocks of land that I had offered to the Native Minister, who arranged to buy them, as they were required for settlement. I think Mr. Bichardson again asked, a day or two afterwards, and I told him I was not acting for the Government, and that I might do lots of wrong things, but I did not lie. The next I heard of the dissatisfaction was after coming down here, nine weeks ago. Mr. Bobert Thompson, the member for Marsden, at the Metropolitan Hotel, at the dinner-table, said that there was a very damaging petition sent down against me. I asked him who sent it. He said he only heard it talked of in the lobby, and that he was glad I was here to meet it. That was three weeks before it was presented. Kapa called at the Metropolitan to see me. He told me he was looking after me the day before, and he did not see me. I asked him what he wanted; and he told me he had a petition, and asked me if I had any objection to its being presented. I said, " None in the world ; " but I said, " Who gave it to you ? " He said, "Mr. Mitchelson." I said, " How did Mr. Mitchelson get it; he is the member for Eden, and you and Mr. Houston are the members for the district?" I said the petition in the usual form ought to go to them. He said he did not know. The petition was presented that day, and he asked to have it read. It was read. I saw him a day or two after, and I asked him who desired him to have it read. He said, " The Interpreter " (meaning Captain Mair). I had not written a telegram or letter to any one connected with the petition, nor have I asked anybody to do so. I have not spoken to anybody about it only the Native Minister. That is all I have got to say in connection with the land, but I would like to supplement my statement by a reference to other work with the Natives. This is the list of names that Mr. Edgar supplied to me. [List produced.] 2. Wi Bikihana.] I want to know who sent you up to purchase the Kaitaia Block?— The owners of it did at different times. . 3. Was it not the Government that sent you to purchase that block ?—No. The Government knew nothing of it. 4. When you arrived at my place, did you not tell me that you were going to purchase the Kaitaia Block ? —No ; I asked you to come with me and see the other owners—that I would pay you for it; I meant that I would pay you your expenses for going. 5. Do you not know that I and my wife spoke to you about the matter ?—I knew your wife very well; I do not recollect her speaking to me about it. G. Did you not ask me what price I wanted for that land?—No, I did not. You asked me what price I was going to give, and I told you that I would tell the owners all together. 7. Did I not ask you £1 an acre for my interest in that land?—l do not recollect; if you did I would pay no attention to it. 8. Did you not tell me that the Government would give 4s. an acre for it?—l told you that I would give 4s. an acre for the land. I told 3'ou this as a secret. 9. Did you not know that the Government would pay 7s. 6d. an acre for that block before you came up to me about it ?—I did. 10. Did you tell Herewini te Toko and Papahia that you would give 4s. an acre for it?—l told Herewini te Toko, but I did not tell the other. 11. Why did you conceal the balance of the money you received over the payment you made for the land?—l did not conceal it, but I did not tell you. 12. Was it I that went to Millar and told him how to make out the cheques? —No. 13. Do you know that it was you yourself that did so ? —Yes, I did so in every case. 14. Hon. Mr. Carroll.] Had they signed the deed at that time ?—No. 15. Herewini te Toko.] The first thing I wish to say to you is, that it was on or about the 17th November that you came up to talk about the purchase of the Kaitaia Block?—I do not know the date; it was about that time. 16. Do you not remember, when I first saw you, saying that you did not come to see me about the purchase of the Kaitaia Block ; that it was merely a friendly visit ?—That is so. 17. What I said to you afterwards was that I had been cheated in the sales of lands that I sold formerly—that I had been victimised in regard to lands I formerly sold to the Government ? —I do not recollect you saying so. lam sure you did not, because if you had I would have returned the answer that you had victimised your own people. 18. Did you not state that the whole of the Natives who owned this block were friends o£ yours?— Yes; and made me a present twenty-two years ago of 800 acres in Victoria Valley— the choicest portion of the Mongonui district, and I refused £2,200 for it.