53

I.—2a

certainly not. I never heard of the 350 acres for Paora until a long time after the execution of that conveyance. That there was some understanding that there were to be reserves, there can be no doubt ; but, as to this particular reserve, I never heard of that until a long time subsequent to the settlement with tho Natives, which occurred in 1877. There was an arrangement made with the Natives, but it was not until long afterwards I heard of this transaction at all. 1577. You did not hear of it, I think you say, until the arrangement in 1877 ?—Not until after the arrangement in 1877 —probably some six months ; and then I heard of it in no authentic way. 1578. The arrangement that took place in 1877 was one by which the property was finally made over to Air. AVatt by the Natives ?—Yes. I should say this, that if I. had information of this reserve for Paora Nonoi, I. should certainly have insisted upon the matter being cleared up ; and, for that reason, lam absolutely certain that I did not know anything of it at the time. If I had I should most certainly have had the whole thing cleared up. 1579. Did you know that there was a promise to pay Paora, £250 ?—No. 1580. Not even at the date of tho arrangement with Air. AVatt ?—No ; I only know of it through reports of this Committee. 1581. Mr. Sheehan] Between the years 1870 and 1877 you had a good deal to do with these properties —professionally ? —AVhat I had principally to do was on the occasion of the transfer of this property on the occasion of the sale with the Natives. 1582. During the whole of that time you never heard of any specific promise being made to Paora for the 350 acres ? —To the best of my belief, No. I have not the slightest recollection of it, and I confirm that by saying if I had known it I would have insisted upon its being cleared up. 1583. Mr. Ormond] Could you tell the Committee, Air. AVilson, what Air. Coleman conveyed to Mr. Watt? —It is very dangerous to talk without documents. He conveyed, I should say, the whole of his interest in the block ; but I would not say positively without having the documents before me. The price paid was a large ono for those times, and I should say that he conveyed his whole interest; but that I should say with more reserve, as the documents are not here. 1584. You could not say whether he guaranteed title, or not ? —I can tell you that he absolutely did not. I have a perfect recollection of that. That was one of the stipulations. The understanding was that Coleman sold it just as he had it. 1585. Mr. Sutton] Did you ever hear of, any specific stipulation for reserves in this block? —I do not know, Air. Chairman, whether I should he asked at all such a question, I acting as solicitor for the purchaser, and now* for Air. AVatt's executors. Ido not think I should be asked the question. There are matters not altogether settled with the Natives, and I do not think I ought to be asked the question. I submit that I should not be asked a question which involves private matters with my clients. 1586. I submit that the question is exactly the same as the one Air. AVilson has answered ? —One question related to things that are done with, and the other to things that are not settled. There is no petition relating to those reserves, and I submit that matters affecting them should not be gone on with. I may say this —if that is what Air. Sutton wants to know —that there is no real misunderstanding with the Natives in the matter of these reserves. The principal reserves have been decided upon, and it is only technical difficulties that are in the way. 1587. lam not speaking of general reserves —I am speaking of individual reserves for individual Natives ?—I submit that that is a question I should not be asked. lam not disposed to answer questions relating to the private business of my clients. That is not before the Committee. What I understand is, that this petition relates to a special reserve of a block of land. I consider that I am authorized in giving information upon that, as it practically does not involve the interests of my clients, but that does not apply to the other reserves. Mr. Sutton : The defence to this petition is that the reserve now claimed was settled for at the subsequent settlement, and I think I am entitled to ask the question. Mr. Moss : Air. Sutton might ask the question, stating the particular reserve, and the particular person he refers to. Mr. Sutton : In reference to this transfer from Coleman to AVatt, I am referring to an arrangement made while the property belonged to Air. Coleman. I wish to know if Mr. Wilson knows of any other specific reserve. 1588. The Chairman] Have you any recollection, Mr. Wilson, of any arrangement of the kind ? — I have a very great objection to answer that question at all. I shall say, in the absence of documents, that I have no recollection of anything at all of the sort. 1559. Mr. Sutton] Did you never hear auything of this question from Air. Watt, about the time the writ was issued against me ? —-No ; never. 1590. Do you remember whether you were acting solicitor for Air. Coleman at the time this transaction took place, or was Air. Cuff ?—ln 1870? 1591. Yes. —I was not acting for Air. Coleman in 1870. 1592. Then you probably would not hear of it ? —No. 1593. Then you had nothing to do with it ? —Except as far as I was concerned for the sale. 1594. Mr. Ormond] Do you mean the sale from Air. Coleman to Mr. Watt?— Yes; in fact it was Coleman aud Fountain. I do not think —of course lam speaking without my books or papers — that I acted for Air. Coleman for any great length of time before his selling the property. Aly first recollection of acting for him is when he dissolved partnership with Mr. Fountain. 1595. Have you any recollection of an agreement with Air. Coleman and a Native named Paora Torotoro ? —No ; I have no recollection of it at all. 1596. At the time of the sitting of the Native Land Commission ? —No ; I do not recollect it at all. Ido not say that there was not such a thing, only I have no recollection of it. 1597. Mr. Rees] When the negotiations were proceeding between Air. Coleman and Air. Watt, was anything said about there being a claim by this man, Paora Nonoi, to 350 acres of the Awa-o-te-Atua Block? —I have already stated to the best of my recollection there was nothing at all of the sort. 1598. Then Mr. Coleman conveyed the interest of Paora Nonoi, as it appeared in the deed, without any reservation ?—I say that I will not state what the effect of that document was without referring

Mr. Wilttn.

2nd Dec., 1879.