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225. You think there was nothing improper in him giving Mr. Otterson the impression you thought him the most competent person to do the work ?—Nothing whatever. The only reason I could not make that representation myself was that it would have the appearance of interfering in a matter which did not concern me. 226. It would be thought you were interfering with another man's work.—Yes. 227. You do not think Mr. Otterson did the wrong thing in employing Mr. Leslie to do the work, and there was nothing out of the way in Mr. Leslie being employed to do the work : Do you confirm all that ? —lf the duty devolved upon myself I would have selected Mr. Leslie in preference to any other person, Mr. Pirani: It has been said Mr. Leslie told a lie in saying you considered him the best man to do the work. 228. Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.] You gave no authority to Mr. Leslie to make alterations, Mr. Sheridan?— No. I have never seen the alterations nor the original report and evidence, and do not now know what the alterations were. 229. You would not be competent to speak as to the alterations ?—No. 230. Mr. Pirani.] You think that if you and he had revised the evidence together you would have done what has been done ?—Of course, if anything material had had to be put in I would have consulted Mr. Martin. 231. Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones.] If Mr. Martin told you to put in " Extract read," what would you have done ?—I would have put in " Extract read." 232. The Chairman.] If it had been left in your hands you would have employed Mr. Leslie? —Yes. 233. Mr. Leslie.] Did I see you between the time the papers were laid on the table and the time I saw Mr. Otterson ? —That would be the time you came to me, and I told you I could not interfere, as the thing was entirely out of my hands. 234. I do not remember having done so. My impression is, the very afternoon the Horowhenua papers were laid on the table I took five minutes from my work and went down to see Mr. Otterson, and told him of our previous conversation. It was not till some days afterwards I saw you ? —You certainly came to me and asked if you might tell Mr. Friend that I said you were to supervise. I said, "Certainly not." Then you said, "May I tell him you sent me?" I said, " No." Then you said, " May I tell him of the arrangement you intended to make with me had the matter rested with you ? " I said, " Yes."

APPENDIX. Lettees Bead by Mb. Maetin. Sib, — Horowhenua Commission, 4th June, 1896. I have the honour to forward under separate cover the transcript of the shorthand-writer's notes of the evidence given before the Horowhenua Commission, and also exhibits. The exhibits are originals, and I have to ask that they may, when finished with, be returned to Mr. Hackworth, who will deliver them to the persons who produced them. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier. J. C. Maetin, Chairman. Sib, — Horowhenua Commission, 25th May, 1896. We have the honour to forward, for transmission to His Excellency, our report in connection with Horowhenua. Extracts and names in the evidence have to be checked, and. when this has been done the evidence will be forwarded to you. We have, &c, J. C. Maetin, B. S. Bush, • Commissioners. The Hon. the Premier. J. C. McKeeeow,,

Extbacts bepeeeed to in Evidence, Slip 41, No. 12 : " Mr. Carroll asked, ' Was not the Horowhenua Block 14 set apart by the tribe, and put in the name of Major Kemp for the Whatanui family ? ' —No ; it was first of all cut off by Major Kemp and offered to the descendants, of Te Whatanui, but they refused to accept it. Major Kemp gave them another selection, and it was agreed that he should keep this as his own allotment." Bage 167, question 165 a: "Mr. Fraser : Here is a telegram from Mr. W. Buller to the Hon. W. Pox :— ' Wanganui Station, 30th June, 1871. ' Just received telegram from Ihakara of Manawatu, of which the following is a translation : " Your men, Kemp and Kawana Hunia, have arrived at Horowhenua; they have burnt down the houses of ; Ngatiraukawa and the Ngatiapa have gone back to fetch guns. Send word to the Magistrates of Manawatu to stop the guns, lest there be trouble.—From Ihakara, Tukumara." ' W. Bullee, B.M. " You remember the circumstance, I suppose ?—I do not remember the circumstance at all. I have no distinct recollection of the trouble." Page 168, question 181: "We hereby appoiut Sir Walter Buller our solicitor in regard to the Horowhenua matter, and we hereby authorise him to take such steps as he may think fit for the assertion of our rights to the 15,000 acre block or any other part of the Horowhenua Estate." Approximate Cost of Pope*-.—Preparation, not given; printing (1,375 copies), £7 lis. 6<3.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB96. Prict 6d.\