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741. You will not say that Air. Sutton was not with you ? —No. 7 VI. You cannot say now who witnessed the deed ; you could not say if it was a European or a Alaori: —1 cannot remember. Let me see ! No ; Ido not remember. 743. Can you remember the precise year this thing happened ? —Not with any degree of certainty, beyond the fact that it took place in 1869 or 1870. 744. Do you remember when Paora died ?—Yes. He died not very long afterwards. 745. Just recollect now, was he not alive in 1873 ? —[No reply.] 746. Do you not remember the Hawke's Bay Alienation Commission, when some of them went out and took his evidence, just before he died ?—Yes ; I believe that was done.

Mr. Worgan

20th Nov., 1879,

Friday, 21st November, 1879. Henry Aethuk Cornford sworn and examined. 747. 2 he Chairman.] What is your name ? —Henry Arthur Cornford 745. Have you seen the petition of George Davie, or do you know the purport of it? —I have had only a slight ske'teh of it furnished to me verbally. lam told that it brings charges of forgery against Air. Sutton and Worgan. 749. Who supplied you with information ? —I really cannot say. The matter is public talk. 750. Would you like to see the petition before giving your evidence ? —With leave of the Committee, I should like to see the petition prior to giving evidence. 751. [Petition handed to witness] Have you read the petition?—l have. 752. Can you give the Committee any information with reference to the subject-matter of the petition, from your own personal knowledge ?—Tho subject-matter of the petition —the allegations contained in it —I know nothing about, as I was not in Napier until 1873 ; but, with regard to one conversation with Eora Nonoi, that conversation did not at all bear out the allegations contained in the petition. 753. Was that conversation in 1873 ? —No; it was in 1577. I had that conversation with Eora Nonoi, through an interpreter. 754. Do you, then, not wish to make a statement with reference to the subject-matter of the petition? —I have only to say that, with regard to a promise of a reserve to the Natives, I believe that such a promise was made, but the matter remained in abeyance until Watt and Farmer's title was perfected. 755. I might say that it is customary to allow witnesses to make a statement, or, if they prefer it, to be questioned by members of the Committee? —I cannot, of course, make any statement in respect to the allegations contained in the petition concerning Paora's signature, as I was not in Napier at the time. 75G. It is my duty to inform you that it has beeu stated that yourself, Mr. Sutton, and Mr. Josiah Pratt Hamlin on one occasion induced —" entrapped " was the word used —Eora Nonoi into an office, to get her to stop any proceedings in the Courts against Mr. Sutton in reference to this matter. It is, of course, right that you should have an opportunity of refuting or denying such evidence. If you desire to make any statement to the Committee you can do so. —Do I understand that I am a party charged with having attempted to induce her to withdraw proceedings ? 757. [Mr. Eees's evidence relating to the point raised was read over.] Tou have now heard the evidence against you. Would you like to make any statement in reply ? —The charge against me is untrue. Withpermission of the Committee I will state what did happen. An action was pending against Mr. Sutton, and I was concerned for the defence. I have in my pocket the pleadings of the action. The pleadings of the plaintiff's solicitor were delivered some time in the year 1577 ; the writ bears the date of the " Ist April, 1877." This is a copy of tho pleadings when the demurrer was set down for argument. Tho declaration claimed £7,000 damages for breach of agreement to set aside a reserve. I think I had better state that; the gist of the action was this: It was alleged that Paora Nonoi had signed a conveyance under a certain promise, which promise had never been fulfilled ; and for breach of that promise damages were claimed. After the action had been pending a little time—l think after I delivered the demurrer —I was sitting in my office one morning, I think about the sth July—l made a memorandum at the time —1877. I think it was about 11 o'clock in the morning. The office door was opened, which leads into a passage. At the end of the passage, at that time, was Mr. J. P. Hamlin's office. Air. Sutton came in at the door. On entering, he said, " Here is Eora;" and 1 said, " Indeed, what does she want," or words to that effect. I have a pretty good recollection of the occurrence of that morning. Mr. Sutton said, " She has beeu speaking about this action ;" and I said, " What lias she been saying about it ? " He said, " Will you see her ? " I said, "If she cares to come in, I will." I believe that at that time she was standing at the door. He put his head out of the door and called her. They commenced to talk. I think I said, "Itis no use having her here, unless we have an interpreter." I think Mr. J. P. Hamlin was down in his office at that minute. 1 know that he came in, or we brought him in, very soon after. I put two or three questions to her about the conveyance to Watt and Parmer. She made answers. The drift of my interrogation was not intended to assist me to plead —because I had already delivered my demurrer—so much as to know whether, in her understanding, there was any right of action remaining after that settlement —whether the settlement with Watt and Parmer did not wipe out any right of action whatever against Mr. Sutton. I do not suppose that I asked her more than seven or eight questions. I was satisfied with her answers. I said, " Have you any objection to putting them in writing." She said she had not. I recapitulated what I had asked her, and her answers to my questions. Mr. Hamlin wrote them down while I was looking on. He asked her, as far as I understand Maori, if that was right. She nodded and said " Aye," but she wanted some money. I laughed. I said I was not buyiug anything from her; she could sign or not, as she pleased. She pressed hard for some money. Air. Sutton said, " Will you pay her anything." I said, " Certainly not." She asked for " c rima hereni;" and I said, "Not a sixpence." She left, and said I was no good not to give her money. She turned round and left the room. The

Mr. Cornford.

21st Nov., 1879,