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I.—2a

581. When were you first made acquainted with the fact that Paora's name was said to he attached to this deed?—l heard of it at the time of the first sale, uot the last sale, of the block. 582. Are we to understand that you heard of it shortly after the night Mr. Sutton and Worgan ] went up to the bridge pa? —It was after Mr. Sutton and AVorgan went out that night. 583. Who told you ? How did you become aware of the fact ?—I heard that Mr. Davie had seen the document. 581. Did you take any steps then to prevent Mr. Sutton taking possession of the laud? —We doubted the fact at the time, that Paoro had signed his name, because wo did not see him do so. 585. Have you seen the deed since ? —Tes. 586. Is Paora's name attached to it? —Paora's name is attached to it; but he did not write it. 587. Do you know who wrote it?—l do not. I did not see the person who wrote it. 588. You are sure it was not done on the uight in question ? —I am sure that it was not done on that night. 589. Mr. Mohi Tawhai.] Did you see Mr. Sutton and Worgan arrive at your house that night ?—Tes. 590. How far did Mr. Sutton and Worgan travel that night from their own place to yours ?—lf you knew the country I could describe tho different places along the road. _\s you do not know the distances, 1 may inform you that Sutton and Worgan came from Napier, and the place where we were at was the bridge at Horongata. 591. Could you not tell the Committee whether it was a long distance or a short one ? —lt was a long distance. 592. Had they a bottle of spirits with them when they came at night ?—Tes. 593. Did you go out of the house, or remain inside the whole time they were there? —No; I stayed there the whole time. That was the only house where we lived. I did not go out at all. I stayed there until tho Europeans went away. It was Eora who conducted them to the gate, and who let them go. 591. Did you not see that night Paora or any one else sign ? —-No ; I did not. 595. Did you hear that Paora had signed his name to some document while you were there?— Paora did not go away anywhere else. He remained there all the time. He did not sign his name. That was the year when he was first attacked by his complaint, and it stuck to him until he died. 590. Captain Russell,] I would like to ask you if any Natives were lying down during tho time negotiations were going on? —All the people in the house had risen up at that time, because the bottlo of spirits was placed down in front of them, and some of them commenced drinking. 597. Was Wiripina up all the time ? —Tes ; she was up. 598. AYe heard just now that her child was only three days old. Did she not go away to attend to that child ? —The child was with her. 599. Then she was up all the time ? —Tes. GOO. Mr. Sutton.] AVhen did you first hear that Paora had signed the conveyance ? —lt was afterwards 001. Shortly afterwards ? —I could not say that it was shortly afterwards. It was after that night. 002. Have you been living in that locality ever since ? —Tes. My place is there, and I have been living there ever since. 003. Have you seen me very often since that time ? —AVhen I have been in Napier I have seen you a great many times. 001. Did you sign your name as witness to Eora's and Paora's signature that night ? —No ; I did not. If Paora had been agreeable he would have signed. 005. Did you ever mention to me that your name had been improperly affixed to the deed, or did you ever say so in my hearing before now?— No. GOO. AVhy did you not ? —We have never spoken together on the subject. 007. Have you ever spoken to me yourself about the 350 acres ?—AVe have never spoken. Eora was tho only one who ever spoke to you on the subject, or any of these matters. AVhat lam speaking of is the night you arrived at the bridge. GOB. I want to know what has taken place since that time. Have you never since that time spoken to me about the 350 acres ? —No. After that time you went to the bridge at midnight I never went to you at all. 009." AVhen did you first hear of this transaction —of the sale by Paora?—After the AVaipawa Court. 010. AVas that within a week of the thing taking place? —AVhen I returned I heard that Davie had been to the place, and that the document had been discovered by Paora's wife and given to Mr. Davie. OIL Did you hear that Paora had sold his land on your return from the Native Land Court at AVaipawa ?—AVhen I returned from the Waipawa Court I heard that Mr. Davie had been to the place, and that Paora's wife had given him a document, which he looked at, and discovered from it that Paora had contracted a sale. 612. Did you hear at that time that your name was to the deed as a witness ?—No ; I did not. 013. When did you first hear that your name was there as a wjtness ?—lt was lately, when Mr. Davie thoroughly explained the transaction to us, and that Paora's name was to the deed, and also Eora's and mine. Oil. AVhat do you mean by " lately " ? —lt was afterwards that I heard that my name was on the document. 015. Do you think you heard within three months after I was at the pa that your name was attached to the document? —I could not say how long. GIG. How long after do you think it was that Mr. Davie told you ? —I have already stated that when I returned from the Court at Waipawa I heard that Mr. Davie had been at the pa and had seen the paper.

Nikera ie Kou.

19th Nov., 1879.