8

I.—3a,

122. Hon. Mr. Nahe.] Did Mr. Wilson tell the Maoris that the Government did not wish to proceed further with the purchase of the land ?—I think not. I never heard it. On the contrary, Mr. Wilson was determined, as far as his evidence goes at Gisborne, to carry it on. As a fact, one of the Natives, who signed to Cooper afterwards, received money from Wilson. 123. Did the Government refuse to provide him with the necessary funds to purchase these blocks ?—No. 124. Didn't that induce Mr. Wilson to say that the Government did not intend to proceed further ? —I am not aware he ever did so ; on the contrary. 125. Mr. Rolleston.] What formal steps did the department take to bring under the notice of the Judge the proclamation of the Government declaring that these lands were under negotiation? Did the department take steps?— They did not. 126. Was there any official notification to the Judge in Court that the lands were under negotiation?—No, sir. 127. As a matter of practice, ought there not to have been ?—There was not, in the first instance. 128. How can you understand Judge Rogan not being aware of it, and making the orders he did ?—I cannot account for it. All Gazettes are furnished to the Judges, and all public notices are intended to be seen by all concerned. 129. As a matter of practice, when there is a proclamation of this kind, ought not the department to serve notice of its existence on the Judge ?—The department did not in this instance. 130. Mr. Ormond?] Is it not the duty of the District Land Purchaser to watch the proceedings in Court in the interests of the Government ?—Yes, but unfortunately he was not present on this case. Captain Porter was deputed as Mr. Locke's deputy. 131. The Cliairman.] The formal notice was given in the Gazette, but special means were not taken to acquaint the Judge at the time ?—That is the fact. Henare Potae examined. 132. The Cliairman.] Have you seen the petition of Mr. Cooper to the House?—No; I have not seen it. [Petition interpreted to witness.] 133. Do you remember the sitting of the Native Land Court where this matter was adjudicated upon ?—Yes ; I know the circumstances of the petition, and 1 remember the sitting of the Native Land Court. 134. Were you present ?—I was. Who would be absent when his land claims were to be investigated ? 135. Were you satisfied with the decision the Court arrived at at that time?— The decision of the Court was just towards the people whose title it thought to be just. No one interfered with the decision or objected to it. 136. Were you satisfied with the decision as regards yourself? Yes; there was no trouble caused in Court about it. 137. We have it in evidence that you applied for a re-hearing. Why did you apply for a re-hearing if you were satisfied with the decision of the Court ?—I am speaking of the petition generally. My objection was to Waingaromia No. 2 alone. 138. Was your application in respect to this Waingaromia No. 2 alone?— Yes 139. Why were you dissatisfied with the decision of the Court as respects that block ?—I considered that the land belonged to me. It was because I was friendly to Mr. Wilson that the land was adjudged to my opponents—it was because I was friendly with Mr. Wilson that Judge Rogan decided against me in all my cases. 140. Then you think he decided unjustly as respects that block ?—Yes. 141. You thereupon applied for a re-heaiing, so as to get a just judgment?— Yes. 142. But it appears also from evidence that you subsequently withdrew that application for a re-hearing ? Is that so I —-I was bought by Cooper with money ; I won't conceal the fact. 143. What do you mean by that ?—He gave me £50 to withdraw the application. This is as to Waingaromia No. 2. He gave each of the signers £23 and me £50. 144. Then you withdrew the application for a re-hearing, not because you were satisfied with the decision of the Court, but because Cooper paid you money to withdraw ?—Yes; £50 was my price. 145. Did that application for a rehearing and subsequent withdrawal affect the interests of other people as well as yourself ?—Yes; it affected the interests of all our hapu. The interests of many others were prejudiced by it. 146. Then you not only sold your own interest, but the interests of other people, for this £50?— 1 did not bother myself about the hapu. I only troubled myself about myself. 147. Were your interests in this block of land, No. 2, greater than £50, or did the £50 fairly represent that interest ?—I did not go into that question. He simply offered me the money and I took it. 148. Hon. Mr. Sheehan.] Was the decision given adverse not only to yourself but to your people ?— The decision was adverse to myself and to my hapu also. 149. Was this Waingaromia No. 2 not part of the larger block called Tauwhareparae ?—There is 5000 acres of Tauwhareparae in Waingaromia No. 2. 150. It was the Tauwhareparae Block that you and your people were negotiating to the Government ?—Yes ; also, Waingaromia No. 2 and Tuakau. 151. Didn't the Court give you to understand that the block and the smaller blocks would not be taken until Tauwhareparae was ready for investigation?— The Judge of the Court said in his seat on the bench to me —" I will give no decision in the case of Waingaromia No. 2 and Tuakau until the Tauwhareparae case is investigated." 152. Do you know why the Court didn't abide by that determination ? —lt is because Mr. Wilson and Mr. Rogan got into hot water with each other, and some of your European tilcanga led to this. 153. What notice had you of this change of front on the part of the Judge?—Mr. Rogan and Mr. Wilson were at enmity. There was mutual recrimination. Mr. Rogan at this time was at Nukutauru,