I.—2a,

35

1016. Why did not Eora sign her name to tbe document, and acknowledge that she had given no authority to Mr. Eees to proceed with the action ? —She wanted to be paid for signing it. Mr. Cornford said that he would not allow a single sixpence to be paid. ' 1017. Was that the sole reason Eora gave for not signing ?—Tes ; she aaid that the law was, that she should be paid for signing her name, and she wanted to be paid. She admitted that everything in the paper was true. 1018. Consequently she did not sign ?—She would not sign because she did not get paid to sign. 1019. After she refused to sign without getting paid, she was told to go outside ? —I told her that she would not get a single sixpence for signing. She said, " Oh, well! that will do," and walked out at her leisure. 1020. While she was sitting in the office, was the door open or closed?—Tho door was just shut. It was not locked. 1021. Was it because some one else opened the door that Eora managed to get out ?—I never left my seat at the centre of the table. She was sitting at the end towards the door. She got up, and, in the usual way, turning round, she said, " __? noho," and walked out. 1022. Mr. Mohi Tawhai.] Who wished her to sign her name to the paper? Did she herself wish to do so, or some one else wish her to do it?—lt was Mr. Sutton, I presume. 1023. And Eora stated that, if Mr. Sutton would pay her for her signature, she would sign the document ?—-Yes. 1024. Eora would have signed that document if she had been given any money?—-I expect so. 1025. Mr. Lundon.] Tou have some experience in Natives transferring their land in the Native Land Court?—l have. 102 G. In case of a Native dying, would the property go to the brother, or to whom?—lt would go to the next of kin. In case of parents dying, the whole of the surviving family would succeed. 1027. Just the same as if it were a European title? —It is douo according to Maori custom. In case of a father or mother dying, the family are appointed successors to the property. 1028. The property would not go to the brother or sister, as the case might be ? —No ; it would not. 1029. Colonel Trimble.] Suppose it were said that five pounds were set down on the table for the signature to that document, would that be true ? If some one asserted that you, or Mr. Sutton, or Mr. Cornford had done so, would it be true?—lt would be a deliberate falsehood. 1030. If it were said that ten pounds, or twenty, or thirty ? —Utterly false. 1031. Or a hundred pounds? —It would bo'utterly false. Not a single farthing-piece was offered. 1032. Was there a knock at the door about the end of the interview ? —I do not remember. 1033. Did you notice whether the woman's husband was outside ? —I do not think he was. I did not notice him outside. 1031. But no one attempted to get into the office ? —No. 103"). Would there have beeu any dilficuliy in her husband getting in ?—I should have gone to the door if I heard a knock. 1030. Did you hear no knock —To the best of my belief I did not. The door was simply closed. 1037. During the time the woman was in the office, did she rise up to attempt to go to the door at any time before leaving? —No. I sat about the centre of the table, and she was at the other end, near the door. When she found that she could get no money she got up, said " E noho," and went away. 1038. Did you, or Mr. Cornford, or Mr. Sutton use any violence toward her? —-None whatever. 1039. Did you, or Mr. Cornford, or Mr. Sutton try and persuade her to remain in the room ? —No. Eora sat in the room until I had finished writing out the document. I then read it over to her, when she said, '; He tika katoa nga kupu o tena pukapuka" ("The statement in the document is all quite true "). I then said, " Well, if it is quite true, sign it." She turned round and said, ': I must be paid before I sign it." Mr. Cornford said, "I will not allow a single sixpence to be paid." No oue interfered with her. She got up and went out of the room. Any one who says that there was any restraint used towards her tells a most deliberate falsehood. 1010. Mr. Ormond,] Did you say that there was any other European present at the interview besides Mr. Sutton, Mr. Cornford, and yourself ?—No. There was Eora and a little boy or girl, two or three years of age—one of her own children, I believe. 1011. Did Eora name any sum that she wanted for signing her name? —No. She said it was the law that she should be paid for signing her name. 1012. What did she mean by saying that Mr. Sheehan and Mr. Eussell had enlightened them with regard to that ? —The Natives have been iv the habit of getting bonuses, and it has got among all the Natives now that they must be paid money whenever they sign their name, whether for sales, leases, or anything else. It has always been thrown up to me that I concealed that from them. 1013. Do you know any case whore money was given in that way for signing their names ?—Tes. In the case of a block called Kairakau, on the Coast, that Mr. Beetham has got. In another block called Awatotara, I saw a bonus of £80 paid to the Natives. 1011. That was money the Natives got outside tho purchase-money?—Tes. It was for a lease — money they got outside of the rent. They were entitled to get £105 a year for rent; and to get eight Natives who did not sign the deed of lease to consent, the European was compelled to pay £80, besides the rent-money. 1015. And the' Natives have been in the habit of making these demands contingent upon signing?— Always. 1046. Mr. Moss.] Who was the European in the case you speak of ? —Mr. Beetham, in the Kairakau Block, aud Brandon and Bruce, in the Awatotara Block. 1017. The reason I asked you was, that it would appear in evidence as if it were owing to the advice of Messrs. Eussell and Sheehan that the Natives made tho demand ? —The block that Brandon and Bruce have is in the Mohaka-Waikaro District.

Mr. Hamlin.

24th >"ov., 1879,