I.—2a.

44

1294. Tou did not ask me such a question as that ? —I asked if you were prepared to swear that was the wording of the original document. 1295. You did not ask if I asserted that you had signed such a document ?—No ; certainly not. The document, or the tenor of it, I never disputed. 1296. What did you mean by asking me whether the document was in the terms which I read out of the petition ?—I was not certain as to the terms of the document. I thought it was worded a little more definitely. That was the only sheet of paper we could get in the pa. I forgot to take a copy of it. 1297. "Was that the reason you asked me that question? —Yes ; I believe that the document I left at the pa was more definitely worded. 1293. Did you state to the Committee that you had never used such words as are contained in that document ? —No ; certainly not. 1 might have thrown some doubts about the document being in the same state when I left it at the pa as it is now, and I still have my doubts about it. 1299. What did you say ?—I said I believed that the document is in an altered state. 1300. That is what you said ? —I think I said it was in an altered state, I believed, or words to that effect. I turned up the document to see if there was any writing on the other side. 1301. You looked at it the same day ? —Yes. 1302. Are you certain of that 'i —Yes ; I looked at it the same day. 1303. Do you know that you did not see that document until nearly a week after these questions were put to me? —When I saw the document, 1 mean. I never questioned the existence of such a document. 1304. You have sworn just now, Mr. Sutton, that it was on the same day ? —I am not exactly certain that it was on the same day that you gave evidence. If I said so I will retract. You thought you were going to catch me, and you would not produce it. 1305. Now, I ask you again, did you make any remark when I answered the two questions you put to me on the day I gave evidence ? —What two questions? 1306. The two questions I have already asked you, which you put to me on the day I gave evidence, when you asked me, " Do you mean to say that what you have just read from the petition is a copy of the document ? " —I may have made such a remark. I have said before that I thought the document was a little more definite. 1307. Do you mean to say that you looked at the document at the time to see ?—At that time ? 130 S. Yes ?—I do not think I said I did. 1309. Then you still assert that you did not ask me words to this effect, " Do you mean to say that I signed a document of such a nature ? " —I will not say so. 1310. What did you mean by asking me if I was not aware that Eora had sworn that she had no cause of action against you ?—There was no harm in asking you. 1311. I want an answer? —I wanted you to answer the question. I did not say that Eora had sworn anything. 1312. The Chairman.] Do you decline to answer the question?—l have answered. I wanted to test Mr. Eees's kuowledge of the matter. 1313. Mr. Rees.] Is that the answer?— Yes. I knew that Eora had not signed any affidavit. I knew that she had signed an affidavit in another case, and filed it in the Supreme Court. 1314. I think you stated yesterday that Mr. James Watt told you that he had said to Mr. Sheehan that if he (Mr. Sheehan) allowed the written document about the reserve for Paora to be sued upon, he (Mr. Watt) would prosecute Mr. Sheehan criminally ?—Yes; he told me so, and that he would at once institute proceedings to remove him from the roll. 1315. When and where ?—ln Napier. 1316. When ? —Before the writ was served upon me. 1317. Was anybody present but yourselves?—l cannot say. Ido not think that there was anyone else present. We used often to converse upon those matters. 1318. You say that Mr. Watt told you that this 350-acre settlement, or the settlement for it, was made at the time of the settlement with Watt ?—I did not say anything of the sort. 1319. Did you not say that Mr. Watt told you that the settlement made with him included the 350 acres ?—That settlement included everything. Mr. Watt did not say that a 350-acre reserve had been made. That deed, he said, settled all questions. The deed recites positively in the preamble that it settles everything. It says so in specific terms. 1320. Mr. Hamlin has been doing your work for some time ?—Yes. 1321. How is it that you never told him of this matter ? —The thing did not crop up. It never would have cropped up unless you got the £17,500 from Watt, and then thought you saw a chance of getting £7,000 out of me. 1322. How is it that when you took Eora into the solicitor's office you did not tell Mr. Hamlin ? —I did tell Mr. Hamlin, but lie had no business to do for me in reference to the 350 acres. 1323. What did you tell Mr. Hamlin about it ?—I told him nothing specific. I believe that he always knew that there was something of the kind —at least, I fancy so. He never had any business to do for me in reference to that reserve. 1324. Did you leave Paora's pa that night with Worgan ? —I did. 1325. Where did you go?—We went to Coleman's, and had tea there. 1326. Who was there?— There was Mr. Fountain, Worgan, myself, and Mr. Morrison. 1327. Mr. Morrison is in Syduey, and Mr. Fountain is in England ?— Yes. 1325. Did you have any conversation with Mr. Coleman about the 350 acres ?—Yes. 1329. Did you tell Mr. Coleman before he sold to Watt that you had an agreement with Paora Nonoi that he should receive a 350-acre reserve?—l told him of the agreement on a number of occasions. In fact, it was a matter of frequent conversation between myself and Mr. Coleman. 1330. Mr. Coleman was perfectly aware of the agreement made r—Yes. I perfectly remember Mr. Coleman's return from Wairarapa a few days after.

Mr. Sutton.

25th Nov., 1879,