45

G.—s.

Cross-examined.] It was during the office hours, I think about mid-day on the 13th, that my clerk told me what McKay had said. He told me he had replied that he did not know. lam quite clear about the dates. William Henry Tucker, sworn: lam a Licensed Interpreter, residing at Gisborne. I know Judge Rogan, also Mr Read. I know something of the proceedings of the Native Land Court during the last twelve months. Mr. Read has had interests in cases which have been pending before the Court during that time in this district. In some of these cases there were other interests conflicting with his. I have frequently spoken to Judge Rogan regarding those conflicting interests. Once when I was speaking to Judge Rogan about certain advantages Read had obtained, the Judge appeared to agree with me, and said that where there had been a doubt Read had the benefit of it. I think that was about April. The Judge appeared to be going to say something else, but checked himself. This took place in the street. Cross-examined by Mr. W. W. Wilson.] I was once in Mr. Read's employ, and for some time have been on bad terms with him. I have known Judge Rogan since 1869. I think him liable to be biassed and prejudiced. I know of one case in which I thought him so. I mean Curtis's lease. I have no ill-feeling against Judge Rogan. I have never heard that he meant to bring an action against me. [Asked if he had ever written in the New Zealand Herald about Judge Rogan, and if he had been correspondent of that paper. Witness declined to answer both questions, and they were not pressed.] I suggested to the Natives to write to Government and ask that the proceedings in Makauri Block might be stayed pending inquiry. The Commission adjourned at fifteen minutes before 6 p.m.

Friday, 7th November, 1876. Richard John Gill, sworn; I am Accountant to the Native Department, of which the Land Purchase service forms a part. Mr. Wilson's accounts come before me. Those accounts have never beeu objected to in "Wellington. A ledger account is kept against each block of land. The Native Minister has not, so far as I know, objected to the prices paid. There have been purchase deeds forwarded duly of sales, leases, &c, effected by Mr. Wilson. Judge Rogan recalled: In the case of the memorandum indorsed on the orders of memorial, I do not know that I would have indorsed a similar memorandum subsequently had any other purchaser brought me a similar deed duly attested and acknowledged. Perhaps I might have done so had the idea occurred to me that it would be desirable to call the attention of the Chief Judge to such a complication. With respect to Mr. Tucker's evidence, I spoke to him in an ironical manner when I said I had given Read the benefit of the doubt. I was referring to my having made an amended order by which Mr. Read lost 48 acres, which the Natives gained. [There being no further evidence forthcoming, the inquiry was adjourned until 2 o'clock p.m.] Duncan Mackay, sworn: lam a labourer, residing at Te Arai. I know Mr. Robert Cooper, also Christopher Moore Wilson. I remember last Good Friday. I think 1 was at Gisborne. I remember about that time, but on what day I cannot say, I asked Mr. C. M. Wilson if Mr. Wilson, the Commissioner, was not going to Wellington. He said not that he knew of. I had heard Mr. Cooper say that Mr. Wilson was going to Wellington, the night before. Cooper did not say how he knew ;he only said Mr. Wilson had applied to go down. C. M. Wilson was surprised that I knew of it. At the same time Cooper told me that Mr. Wilson had applied to go, he told me he was sure he would not get leave. That was the evening before I spoke to C. M. Wilson. The conversation had been on the Thursday. Cross-examined by Mr. W. W. Wilson.'] Cooper did not tell me how Wilson had applied. Part of that evening Cooper and C. M. Wilson and I were together at Wilson's-Argyle Hotel. Mr. C. M. Wilson afterwards drank too much. He gets stupid under drink and does not seem to say much. I would not say that I saw C. M. Wilson intoxicated that evening ; he had some liquor in him. It was the next morning about half-past 8 that I told C. M. Wilson what Cooper had told me. It was about 9 or 10 o'clock the night before that Cooper told me of it. Robert Cooper.] I do not remember the date, but in the evening at 8 or 9 o'clock, C. M. Wilson told me he expected Mr. Wilson would have to go to Wellington. I asked if the Government had sent for him ; he said No, he had telegraphed to tell them he was coming, or something to that effect. This conversation was at the Argyle Hotel. We were at several houses that night. Some few nights after (I cannot say whether it was one or two or three nights after), I saw him in the Argyle Hotel. He said, " The ' bos' has got a telegram from Wellington; he is not to go down." I said, I knew that, three hours before he got the telegram. He asked who told me, and I would not tell him. I knew nothing about the telegram. What he told me was news to me. He used to try to pump me, and I was trying to put him on a wrong scent. I could have said previously to this that he would not get leave. I have received no information except from C. M. Wilson. Ido not think it likely I should have said anything about his not getting leave unless I had been told of it. Ido not think I spoke to any one about it until Mr. Wilson got the reply. I think McKay was with us when C. M. Wilson told us of the reply.

Appendix, Nos. 64, 65, 66, and 67.