I.—2a

24

GG3. Did you have to pass Davie's house to go there? —Not necessarily. G64. Do you recollect going to Waipawa with Mr. Button to the Native Land Court? —I cannot call the circumstance to mind. Very likely I did. 665. "Who was the Mr. McLean you referred to ? —The late Sir Donald McLean. He was then Mr. McLean. GG6. Were any spirits given or offered to Paora when he was asked to sign ?—Oh, no ; certainly not. It is just possible that I might have had a flask of spirits with me and offered him some ; but that was all I ever had. 667. You recollect getting the deed signed by Paora ? —Yes. 6GB. "Who did you deliver it to ?—I believe I took it into Napier, and after I got it declared, and so on, gave it to Mr. Sutton, or his solicitor. 669. What payment was made to Paora when he signed the deed ?—No payment at all, that I remember. 670. Mr. Sheehan.] I think you said, in your evidence-in-chief, that you had an indistinct recollection of the power of attorney ? —Yes. 671. What is the nature of that indistinct recollection that you have? —I remember that Davie always assumed to have some power with respect to Paora's interests, but what that was I do not know. I have no recollection of having ever seen that power of attorney. I remember that in some other transaction there was some understanding in writing between Paora and Davie, but I could not charge my memory as to what that understanding was. 672. You knew that was in existence when you wished to get Paora's signature ?—I could not say whether it was in existence then, or whether it was anterior or subsequent to that that I heard of it. 673. I would simply say that, in your evidence-in-chief, you stated that only on one occasion do you remember going to Patangata from Napier with Mr. Sutton ? —I have no recollection of travelling that way more than once. 674. You first went to Patangata, and then to the Willow Pa?—l did not say that. 675. You went to Patangata, and round to Willow Pa after dark ? —Yes ; very late at night. 676. And you do not remember going there on any other occasions ? —No. 677. When you got to the Willow Pa after dark, who did you see there ? —A number of Natives. G7B. Did you see Rora Nonoi, or the others ?• —No. 670. Do you remember the business upon which you went there ? —it was to get a deed executed. It was to get the signature of a Native who lived on Colonel Russell's run. GBO. Do you not remember the name?—l do not remember the name of the Native. 681. Was it a signature for some title ? —I do not remember for what title. I know he signed some deed there. I had a number of deeds to get signed, but as to the order in which they got signed I do not remember. 682. You do not remember the title for which you wanted the signature, or the persons ? —No. I put it down, and I daresay my diary would show. 683. You cannot remember any of the other Natives present ?—He and his wife were present. 684. Who were with you?—As far as I can remember, Mr. Sutton was with me, and Mr. Douglas. 685. Was it Mr. Douglas of the Kaokaoroa ? —Yes. 686. You cannot remember going on any specific occasion to get a deed signed by Paora Nonoi ? — 1 do not remember. In speaking about this pa, I wish to say that it was not the Willow Pa ;it was some place outside of Coleman's. 687. Was it Korongata ? —No. The people at the place I am referring to were ploughing at the time over Coleman's land. They had a number of houses built about a mile from Mr. Coleman's house. 688. At any rate, it was a pa at which you had to see Paora Nonoi ? —Yes. 689. Can you remember the circumstances under which you obtained Paora Nonoi's signature to the deed ?—I remember it was at his own pa. 690. Which pa is that ?—The bridge pa. 691. Do you remember who went with you ? —No ; Ido not. Ido not remember who was with me at the time. 692. Do you remember who was there besides Paora when you got there ? —I think there was an old woman and Paora, and Reihana te Ikatahi. 693. Reihana te Ikatahi, and no Europeans ? —I believe that there was no one else, but lam not certain about it. 694. Will you undertake to show that Mr. Sutton was not with you ?—No. 695. Will you undertake to show that when you left Napier he was not with you when you left to go there ? —I could not say from memory. 696. Will you say you did not get to Paora's place after dark ?—I think it was some time about four o'clock in the afternoon. 697. Will you tell the Committee how it is that you know that the time you arrived was about four o'clock, and that you cannot tell the time you left Napier?—l cannot tell you, beyond the fact that I can see tho transaction as plainly as if it happened yesterday, so far as the position of the pa and the place where my horse was hung up on the fence. 698. How is it that, if the thing is so clear in your mind's eye, you cannot remember whether Mr. Sutton was with you ? —I cannot say. G99. Do you remember if the conveyance which was taken of Paora Nonoi's share contained any provision about giving him back a quantity of land? —No; not to my recollection. 700. Do you swear positively that nothing of that nature took place between the Natives and Mr. Sutton in your presence? —Nothing of that nature took place in my presence. 701. Not in your hearing ? —No. 702. Not iv your knowledge ? —No.

Mr. Worgan.

20th Nov., 1579,