72

lE. H. HABDY.

T.—3a

42 I want to know whether Mr. Dalziell'a statemeni that he would withdraw the offer unless finality wan reached at that meeting influenced the Natives?—l could not tell what was in their 11 43. Did you notice any ohange in the behaviour of the Natives after that?—No specific act on their part. 44 Vndrew Eketone objected to Mr. Dalziell s action? —Yes. . r , Then the position was that because the Natives could not raise the £800 they were practically forced into the sale? They had to make the best of a bad job?— That was their matter. 1 did not influence them at all. I avoided all through the tight anything that would appear to be undue influence. . , . 46 Coming to that meeting you had with Mr. White, did he say the company had been formed or was about l<. be formed'?—No, he was getting a list of •Iμ- names of the eubscribers. I suppose it was a 5.,,-1 of provisional prospectus. I did not think it was my duty to enter too deeply into a thing when I was not intending to take any part in it. I could not help knowing what"l did know, and I felt justified when the crisis arose to make use of it. 47. What crisis?— Well, when they found that they could not possibly go on. I Iμ- only time I mentioned it to them was on the 11th March. 48. Then you took advantage of thr knowledge you got through Mr White!— Yes. 49. And do you know whether the company was formed on the 11th March?— The subsequent proceedings of the company interested me no more. 50 You did not know?—l only know what 1 saw in the newspapers. 51. With regard to the £2,500 worth of shares, are they fully-paid-up shares? —Yes. M*. mat vahi diTyou p°ut on those shares at the time?—l certainly put the value at £1 a ■hare—that is £2,500. 54 They were £10 shares?— Yes, that means 2:>o shares at £10 a share. 55. You think they were value for £2 ) 500?-Yes. I thought if tlm,gs w,-,v *«J» their course they mighi perhaps be worth up to £2 a share or may be worth £5. It depends on h ° W 5 V S D a o dV T e ou iS s e tm think they are worth the value put on them?-I do not wish to express any opinion with regard to that. Very much depends on what the Government are going to do with regard tofce scenic ~ of Mangepapa ,_ YeB , certainly. 1 thl S V: idea of giving shares to the Natives: was the idea to sell them or fo hoTd tZ 1 as an investment?-Hold them as an ~ thai if the company of it! and they Wd *»y any investment on the part of the company or any dealings " Wl e e iTir«Sls i Si « «» • ■•»-« concern ?-Yes. of course. Tf the company fails it M B rtff:Lt ga ad n £ them to sell, was it notf-That was for their now cultivating their lands with the rc«n the d T did not inierfe" SSTiS act as a gentlem i. the best. I knew land 677 Y Do s?£faJ'Wß'JE- l» worth of shares has any weight in the control ° f & cent" would have a controlling effect ?-Ye, on their share capital. Si --ibution to the capital is £2,500-that is, 10 speaking after the company haa been formed : the Natives hold 2,500 share.-tha* is £2 500?—£2,500 in the concern. ' 73. Out of £100.000?— Yes.