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I.—2a

had not been authorized to bring this action, is not included in that paper ?—I do not know why it was not. I was not asked to write it out. Ido not know why it was not included in that paper. 1085. Sir G. Grey.] I would just ask Mr. Hamlin if Eora wished to make this statement ?—Which statement? 1086. That which you took down ?—That is, on this paper ? 1087. Yes ?—She made the statement in the office. 1 suppose there must have been some questions put to her, or she would not have made the statement. I cannot really remember the questions put. 108 S. But she came into your office evidently with the wish to have something written down? —I cannot say. She came in with Mr. Sutton. Mr. Sutton said to me, "Eora tells me that she never authorized that writ to be issued against me." That is how the conversation took place, and merged into this about the document. 1089. AVas the impression on your mind that, this was a voluntary act on her part?— She came into the office of her own free will. 1090. Was the impression on your mind that she wished to put those things on record—to make this admission ?—She seemed quite agreeable to make the admission —quite willing, I should say, to make it. After I read it over, she said that every word of it was true. 1091. Would it not have been odd, if she really wished to make this statement, that she would not sign it without getting paid for it?— Well, it is a way they have really got into now. They will do nothing —will really sign nothing without getting paid for their signature, as well as getting paid for their piece of laud. This practice goes from Napier to the Wairoa, and to (iisborne. They always want to get paid for their signature whenever they sign—whether for lease, sale, or whatever else it may be. 1092. Then, if she was anxious to have got this record made, she would not sign it without payment? —I believe she would have wanted payment. It is a way the Natives have now —they will not sign without being paid. They say that ail the Napier Natives get paid, and so on. 1093. Would it have been a wrong thing to have paid her? —I think so. 1091. I mean, it would not have been a moral act under the circumstances ? —I think it would have been very wrong, unless the parties concerned were consenting, according to whatever their own arrangements might have been. As far as I was concerned, I was only to interpret. If the parties were agreeable to pay, it had nothing to do with me. 1095. I understand, you were simply a machine ?—Tes. 1096. You had nothing to do with it ? —Yes, I was simply a machine. 1097. That I perfectly understand. Still, the point that appears odd to me is, that if she was desirous to make this statement, that she would not sign it when she got her wish gratified without being paid for it ?—Yes ; that is what she said—that every word of it was true, and that she wanted to get paid for signing it. 1098. Might not that have been an excuse on her part to escape signing it ?—I cannot say. 1099. Is it not usual for them to submit such an excuse under the circumstances? —Yes, they very often make excuses; they are very tricky—some of them. 1100. Who were you employed by on that occasion? Who paid you as interpreter?—l have been doing Mr. Sutton's work for some time. I have looked on him as my client. 1101. When Eora Nonoi was in the room, the persons present were Mr. Sutton, Mr. Sutton's solicitor, and Mr. Sutton's interpreter? —Yes. 1102. And Eora Nonoi had no one to act upon her behalf?— No. 1103. No adviser? —-No. We were the only people in the office. 1104. No interpreter ? —No. 1105. No interpreter to act on her behalf?—No; I was the only interpreter. I think Eora would trust inc. I have known her a long time. 1106. Did you ever hear from Paora Nonoi that he had ever signed a deed of sale to Mr. Sutton ? —I never heard from him. I think the only transaction I ever had with him was in relation to one of the late Sir D. McLean's purchases. 1107. The question put to you was this: Did you ever hear from Paora Nonoi that he had signed the Awa-o-te-Atua deed ?—I do not remember Paora ever mentioning the thing to mo. 1108. You understand the object with which I put the question. Did you ever hear from Eora Nonoi that Paora had signed the deed ? —No ; I never heard anything from them with regard to this block. 1109. I only put this question to elicit evidence in answer to a previous question. Were the questions put to Eora dictated to you, or were they your owu questions arising from your own thoughts?—l was told to ask the questions which 1 asked. 1110. Then you did not know the full beariug of the questions you put, or what they might incidentally bring out. You did not know all the objects ?—Of course I could not say what was in the mind of another person. The answers were to the questions put, aud from the answers the document here was written. 1111. It is the nature of a question to incidentally bear upon some point not disclosed. —Of course I do not know what was in the mind of the other person. 1112. Mr. Sutton.] I should like to ask Mr. Hamlin ono or two questions. Do you think, from your knowledge of the Natives, that if there had been a charge of forgery you would not have heard of it ? —I think I would have heard of it. They do not keep these things quiet long. They generally talk about them pretty freely; they are not backward at all iv doing so. 1113. Mr. Rees.] Does Mr. Hamlin think, from his knowledge of the Natives, that if there had been a written promise to give 350 acres to Paora Nonoi, he would have heard of it ? —I think so. 1111. Sir G. Grey.] Did you ever hear of it? —No. 1115. The Chairman.] Did you ever transact any business at all with Paora Nonoi ?—I think with reference to one of the Ngatarawa blocks. I think 1 had something to do with Paora Nonoi in regard to Sir Donald McLean's purchases. 1116. In transacting that business can you challenge your memory as to whether Paora signed

Mr. Hamlin.

24th Nov., 1879.