I.— Si

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87. Your appeal was then for an inquiry into the ancestral rights? —Yes. 88. When your ease came before the Court at Hastings it was not entertained by the Judge?— If it had been entertained the question would have been opened. 89. What reason did the Judges of the Appellate Cotirt give for not entertaining your claim? —1 am not sure, but this is my opinion : my belief is that the Woodville Court award was simply made about the money, without any question of ancestral rights. All the other people had no ancestral rights. I was the only one left out. 90. I do not want your private opinion. What did the Judges of the Appellate Court say when giving judgment dismissing the appeal?—l cannot say. I did not hear the explanation. All I knew was that J heard the case was dismissed. When I heard my case was dismissed we came back. The Judge said, " This inquiry has only to do with money—nothing about ancestors." 91. Have you any knowledge of the alleged setting-up or authorisation of Mr. Morison by 3 our sister ?—My sister and I were then opposed to one another. 92. Did you know anything of it?— No. All that I know is that I heard that they were going wrong, but I cannot sift that out. 93. Mr. Wi Pere.] There was nothing said to you about the agreement?— No. 94. All that you know is that you heard it stated that this was simply an inquiry as to the money?— Yes. 95. Did you ask them, " How are you going to find out how you will pay the money?" ?—When I was asked, " What are your rights to this land?" 1 said, " Ancestral, through Tawhakahiku and Mangere." I waited for a further question to be asked me. Well, nothing was asked, and Mr. Morison shut out what I said just now. Mr. Morison was also representing, as I understand now, the parties. Afterwards it seemed that he had not been looking after their interests, and that these people had not agreed or signed their names to Mr. Morison's document. If they had done that they never could have drawn out afterwards. 96. Who was your conductor? —John Chase. 97. Did not John Chase ask any questions?—No, he did not. 98. Did you tell him to ask any? —I did, but he was in that condition that 1 described just now. He was continually doing this [lifting his hand to his mouth], and 1 had to do the business myself. 99. Did you propose the question of going into the rights of the owners as a means of discovering how the money should be divided, so as to see who should be shut out?— That was how I got hold of the phrase " Who was to get the money." I set up the ancestors of those who would, of course, have to show rights, and who had the best rights to the land. 100. Do you not know that this land is simply lying there and has never been investigated? When were the ancestors first ascertained ?—They were always known ever since the day of the conquest. Those were the ancestors by whom the conquest was made. 101. But do you not know that this is a piece of land surrounded by other blocks that have been investigated and awarded to those ancestors, and that this land has never passed the Court?— Yes, that is right. . 102. You say that you know this land was the property of your ancestors?— Yes; I say the land is the property of my father. 103. But it has never passed through the Court? —No, that is correct. 104. That is why you ask that it should be passed through the Court?— Yes. That is why I applied for this hearing. 105. Is Kaihinu the name of the land outside the block?— Yes. 106. And these are the ancestors owning it that you have given?— Yes. You asked me just now if it had passed through the Court, and I said "No," but I knew it was the land of my ancestors. 107. I am asking you now about the laud that has passed through the Court [locality plan referred to]. This block is the centre of the other blocks?—l have not been there to look. Let me say it is at the side. I have not been on the land to see whether it is at the middle or at the end. Let me say it is at the end [position indicated on the plan]. 108. The position is that the surrounding lands to this have passed through the Court, leaving this balance uninvestigated. Did you say that if an inquiry was held, and an amicable arrangement arrived at between the parties as to who should be the persons to receive the money, you would agree?—l would agree if the selection were made of the persons I could agree to. If I saw tEat some were wrong I should want them put out. 109. What some are afraid of is this: that if another hearing is held the whole of the money will be exhausted, and there will be no money left to divide. Would you not agree to some amicable means of settlement? —My reply to that question is this: I want Parliament to finish the matter. Ido not want the Court to do it. 110. Never mind the Parliament —there are many ways of doing it? —I say, Let the Council do it, so as to let it be finished up nicely, amicably, without any further trouble, worry, or annoyance. I have nothing more to say now. I wish to express myself kindly towards the Chairman and the Committee. P. Shbeidan, Native Land Purchase Department, examined. (No. 7.) 111. The Chairman.] Have you anything to say with regard to the statements made by the petitioners? No, except that I am satisfied that Mr. Morison was trying his best to bring about an amicable settlement of this question, and that he was properly retained by the Natives to conduct their case. With regard to the disputed area, the Crown claimed to have purchased the whole of the Kaihinu No. 2 Block in 1872, but the boundary between Kaihinu No. 2 and Mangatainoka