i.'■'-Tβ ngongohau.;

G.—2.

24. Are there any Natives in your locality who are anxious to work but have no land?— Yes, plenty. 25. There are some working land besides yourself in the Parihaka Block, are there not? --Yes. " ' 26. Why are there not more Natives in the Parihaka Block working the land? —Some of them do not know where their locations are. Some of the locations have been surveyed, and I have instructed the young people to go on and work them. 27. Are there many Natives near Parihaka who have sufficient money to take up land?—No, they have no money. 28. How did you manage to ..start farming your land?— Well, I had some very good European friends. 29. What did they do?—A European supplied me with some cows. 30. Did you pay for those cows in any way?— Yes, I milked the cows and let him have half of the milk. 31. Have you finished paying for the cows?— Yes, long ago. 32. Do you owe any money now? —No. 33. Cross-examined by Mr. Welsh.] The European provided you with the cows? —Yes. 34. And you milked them?— Yes, and I gave him half the money. The cows are mine now. .35. And you sent the milk to the factory?— Yes. 36. Can you tell me what the factory cheque was for last season?—My books are at home, but for December it was £39, and for other months it fell to £30 and £29. It fluctuated, of course, as the season went on ; it dwindled down to £5 in June. 37. Can you say what it was worth during the whole season? —I could not figure it out now. 38. When you began working you had no money at all? —T had a few shillings—los. or .£l. 39. That was your start?— Yes. 40. Till the European came to your assistance? —Yes. 41. Who was that?— Mr. Harrison. 42. How many of you are there milking on the farm? —Three of us. 43. Do they share with you or do you pay them wages?— They are young people of my own family, and I provide them with food and boots and clothes. 44. Is there not a good deal of land round Parihaka left still? —Yes. 45. You had no money when you started? —No.' 46. And there is nothing to prevent the other people starting?— They have not been able to discover a good European like I did. 47. Do you know the stock auctioneers would lend them money or advance them herds?—l do not know that. 48. Mr. Kerr.] Did you start dairying after Te Whiti's death? —Yes. immediately after his death I started. Neha Kipa sworn and examined. (No. 32.) 1. Mr. Bell.] You own some land in the Kaitere Block, do you not , !— That is where I a.» living. 2. You lease some land from the Public Trustee? —Yes, 70 acres. 3. What rent do you pay?—l pay 9s. per acre per annum. 4. I think your mother is the owner of some ot that 70 acres? —Yes. 5. And she made an arrangement with the Public Trustee that yon need not pay rent for the 34 acres- —your mother's share? —Yes. 6. When did you take the place up?—l was born there. 7. When did you start to work the place?—As soon as I was able to do any work. 8. And have you been farming it ever since? —Yes, cultivating it in potatoes, wheat, and corn. 9. How long have you been milking on the place?— After the death of Te Whiti. 10. Were you leasing it Before the death of Te Whiti? —No. .11. How many cows have you got on the place now?—l have twenty-four in full milk. 12. How did you manage to buy fhose cows? —By producing wheat, potatoes, and corn, and selliner it and buying two cows at a time. 13. Did you do any work at Parihaka?—Yes. 14. Who cleared the gorse from the land and fenced it? —I did. 15. Was that before you leased it or afterwards? —When I first started farming. 16. Is there a cow-shied on the place? —Yes. 17. Where did you get the money for that? —I have only had it up about two years, and it was from the milk I sold that I got the money to nay for it. 18. Where does the nrlk go to? —To the Bell Block Creamery. 19. Do you do anything besides dairying on this land? —Yes, I get wheat, oats, and food crops. 20. How many acres did you put down at the last sowing?—lo acres of wheat and 7 acres of oats. 21. How many bags of wheat did you get from your 10 acres? —Eighty. 22. And how many tons of oats and chaff?— Thirteen. 23. How big is your milk cheque usually from the factory? —£16-odd when in full milk. 24. Do you owe any money on the place?— No. 25. Who does the work on the place?— Myself and my children. , Mr. Welsh: No questions. •- . .: . - Tfee CbfmmiaKwm adjourned till next day. ■

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