REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE

Hami Haere Iti, Native of Kawhia, Waihaiakeke, sworn: —On the "21st April I went to Mr. Yates' store to purchase goods; I saw guns in the store. I asked Mr. Leopold the price of a gun, he answered, formerly £15 now £14. I concluded Mr. Leopold wished to sell. I asked him the price of a rifle, he answered £18. I asked the price of all, they were of various prices, the single barrels £4. This is my writing. This contains a correct account of the price of 14 guns fixed by Leopold Yates on the 21st of April. £ £ lie Eaiwhera 18 Kotalii Tupara i) lie Tupara Paku 16 2 Hakimana !> He lupara Paku 14 4 Tupara 16 4 Tupara 40 I said I wished to buy the guns of you. I also asked the price of each gun 14 in number contained in the paper. Mr. Leopold replied that he would not sell in consequence of the Governor's prohibition. I went to Takatahi (Yates') on the 21th April at dinner time (noon) accompanied by Putoetoe and Matena, we entered the store. I said to Matena I will enquire of Leopold if he will sell any guns, if he refuses there is an end of the matter. Matena agreed to that. I spoke to Leopold requesting a gun. Leopold said, how can it be done, to which I replied, sell it clandestinely; Leopold replied I object to a clandestine sale, use force, when you have taken away the guns you can pay me. Witness said, I object to force because it would incense the Governor against Kawhia. Leopold replied it would rather please them (the Yates') as the blame would thereby be thrown upon the Natives. I replied I assent to that. This conversation occurred outside. I then went inside and told my companions what passed. That Mr, Leopold had suggested to me to u»e force and to pay afterwards, I went in the evening to Hone te One. Putoetoo went aboard his vessel. There were 20 Maories in Hone te One's house. I informed the whole assembly what conversation had taken place with Leopold Yates. Hone te One asked what the white people had said; I replied they suggested force; Hove te One replied I agree to that, there was no dissenting voice in the assembly. Werete one oi the 20 went to fetch others and returned next morning with them, making in all 40 Maories assembled at Hone te One's. I was one of them. Some went to Yaies'; I did not go to Yates' (then), I went to Yates some time after dinner; when I got there, they (Natives) had already taken the guns; the door was open and the store full of people. They seemed peaceable; they went unarmed. I saw some percussion caps; I took 12 boxes, also 10 gun nipples. Mr. Frederick Yates told Matui to take an account of these caps and nipples. I asked Mr. Frederick Yates the price of a box of caps, he replied 2s. (id.; I tendered him half-a-crown; Yates said not at present, wait till guns, caps, and nipples are paid for. I asked the price of gun nipples, Yates replied ss. each. I retained one box of caps myself, the rest were distributed. The rest of the goods in the store were untouched. In Muru Maori they go with gun, tomahawks, Taiaha and without garments, they also make wry faces and lay their hands on what they can without ceremony. We behaved in the most peaceable manner, offered no violence. No Cross-examination required by Defendant. By Resident Magistrate—l am a Christian. lam positive about dates. lie-examined on Oath. I know Hone te One and Mateua. I saw them last Sunday and Monday, they were sick, very ill; they were too ill to come, they wished to come; they were leaders in the matter of the guns. (Signed) Nα llami Haeue Iti. Court adjourned till 9 a in. To-morrow. (Countersigned) W. H. Eesident Magistrate's Court, Raglan, Friday, 6th July, 18G0. George Vause sworn as Interpreter. 2nd Witness. Putoetoe, Kawhia Native, Christian, sworn, Master of Hoteroa (Vessel) :—I went with I lame and Matena to Yates' store in April, the 24th day of April. I went into the store. Hame said to Matena shall I enquire the price of the guns ? Hame went and asked Leopold Yates the price ef the guns. I could hear what piissed, Leopold Yates said he would not sell them. Yates then said he was to plunder them. Ilame then said that would be wrong. Yates then said, what they (the Yates) would like, was to be plundered (muru), the wrong would then he put on the Natives. Hami then said, there will be a great deal of trouble caused in Kawhia. Leopold then said that was what he was agreeable to. Hame said we are agreed to that. The following morning I went with the parties that took the guns. Hone te One, Leopold Yates, and Matui went into a private room, leaving Frederick and the other Natives in the store. Mr. Brewer was also present in the private room. Frederick Yates came to ask us to go into the store. Frederick Yates wanted the Natives to be all in the store. Frederick said, the party from the private room went back to the store. I know what happened in the store. Hanaru said to Mr. Brewer, give me Yaces' guns. Brewer said he would get his hallcaste to interpret. Brewer and the halfcaste came back. Hauaru then said again give me the guns (through the Interpreter.) Brewer said, no. The Maories then took the guns We knew where the guns were—they were not hidden; if they (Yates) had hid them, they would not have been seen. They took them from the upper loft and brought them below. Eight guns were in the loft, four old ones below, two in cases, one of them in case was a rifle—fourteen in all. I took the two easy guns ;we tuok them away still remaining on the premises; after the guns were taken away

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