T. AWARUA.]

89

G.—2.

37. Is the 5 acres in Fraser Road entirely your own?— Yes, that is my own. 38. Outside Fraser Road, what other areas are you interested in under the 1881 Act? —That is the only one I know of. 39. In respect of the factory shares, you must hold the shares before you are allowed to supply the factory, is that not so?—No, I could supply without being a shareholder, but, of course, the money I would receive would be reduced in a greater measure. 40. You would not put your money into factory shares unless you were a supplier? —No. 41. Do I understand you to say that some Maoris milk on shares with you?— Yes. 42. Besides the Maoris who milk on shares for you, are you aware of any other Maoris who milk on shares for other people?—l could not say. There are Maoris working with Europeans on shares; they get half or two-fifths. 43. Are there many Maoris milking with Europeans on shares? —Yes. Corrigan is one; lie is the only one I know in this district. 44. Do I understand you to say that you occupy 61 acres of land that you hold in your own right, and that you also occupy another 43 acres which your mother and brothers hold? —Yes, we live together. Sometimes we live on the one section and sometimes on the other. 45. Do you pay your mother and brothers rent for the land you occupy?—No; but I take the whole responsibilitj- of the management, and if there is an}'thing required in the way of fences, or any difficulty crops up, then I effect the necessary arrangements. 46. Your mother and brothers live with you?— Yes. 47. And you provide the maintenance and upkeep, of the house, I suppose? —Yes; but if any difficulty crops up, or I want money, my relations would see that I was assisted. 48. How many of you live together?—My mother and father and my sister and brother. When my brother and sister married they shifted apart from us, but they would return after some time and live with us again. 49. Has your sister got any interest in this land?— Yes. 50. Do you pay her anything for the use of the land? —Not any specified or fixed rent. When I had money I would pay them something, but no exact amount was stipulated. 51. Mr. Bell.] Do you pay rent to the Public Trustee for both pieces of land?— No. I pay for one, and my mother and brothers pay for the other. Rangitaura Kahui sworn and examined. (No. 35.) 1. Mr. Bell.] You live at Waitara? —Yes. 2. Have you got any land? —Yes, 4f acres in the Araukuku Block. 3. Do you live on that land? —At one time my family lived there and worked on it, but before my wife died she said that we could not make a living off that piece of land, and that we should go on to her land at Waitara. 4. How many acres has your wife got at Waitara? —There are 77 acres of freehold land there, in which there are five owners. 5. What do you do on the land? —I am milking on it. 6. Do you support the five owners of the land?— Yes. 7. How many cows are you milking?—l have thirty milking-cows and thirty other cattle. 8. Have you got a list of your milk cheques? —Yes. [List produced and put in, Exhibit C] 9. Are there any noxious weeds on the land?— Yes, blackberries; but I keep it under, and do not allow it to progress. 10. What factory do you send your milk to?—Waitara Road. 11. Did you get any more money from the factory besides that contained in the list?— Yes. 12. Is this a telegram received by you from the secretary of the Waitara Dairy Factory in reply to a telegram from you asking how many shares you held [produced]?— Yes.' It says, "Five shares; received £90 bonuses four years; highest £27 ss. 6d." 13. Do you occupy any land besides the 77 acres? —Yes, I have leased a portion—2s acres. 14. What rent do you pay?—l pay 10s. an acre to the owners. It is freehold land. It is only about 5 chains from the 77 acres, and I occupy both pieces of land together. 15. Is there any other stock on the land besides the cattle you have mentioned? —Yes, I have four draught horses and four other horses. I have also twenty-five pigs, a spring cart, and a buggy. 16. How did you get the money to buy your cows? —At first I worked on the road, and I saved sufficient money to purchase seventeen cows. I then applied to the factory, and they bought eleven cows, costing £60, and I gave them the seventeen cows as security. 17. The factory lent you the £60? —They did not hand me the money, but they paid for the eleven cows. 18. This is the bill of sale or mortgage you gave [produced]?— Yes. 19. Under that mortgage you are to give to the factory half your milk cheque?— That was the written arrangement with them, but in my desire to wipe it off as soon as possible I gave them the whole of it. 20. Do you owe anything now ?—No. 21. You can produce your rate receipts?— Yes. [Produced and put in, Exhibit D.] 22. Do you know a man named Elwin?—Yes. 23. Do you remember whether there used to be any flax on his land?— Yes, it was rich with flax. 24. Mr. Elwin told the Commissioners that he burnt all the flax, is that true? No, it is not. Mr. Corbett and Joe Kelly bought the flax from Elwin.

12— a. 2.