I.—2a

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to it. I should say roughly, as far as my memory goes, that Mr. Coleman, who had a transfer from his former partner, sold everything he held to Mr. Watt. 1599. And if Mr. Sutton had bought from the Natives, and there was no notice of this reserve, and without any reservation for it, subsequently sold to Messrs. Coleman and Pountain, and Coleman afterwards conveyed to Watt, the property, so far as Paora Nonoi's reserve was concerned, would have absolutely passed ?—I do not think that is a question to ask me. It is a sort of proposition to prove itself. The Committee will see whether that is so. I say generally, to the best of my memory, that: Coleman sold his entire interest as he held it, it being, as I have said, one of the stipulations that he was not to guarantee title. 1600. Have you ever known any transaction, Mr. Wilson, or any practice, where, in buying properties from Natives, reserves were promised them, but no notice taken of the reserves or agreements or contemporaneous deeds filed ?—Well, that is a question that I can scarcely answer. It could not be said to be a practice. The whole nature of transactions in Native land is so different. I dare say, in the very few transactions that I have had, owing to the danger of giving these Natives reserves until the whole thing is done, the reserves might not be made at the instant. I should always protect the Native, although the thing might not be done at the exact moment. 1601. Ought the land to be sold without the reserve being made ? —No ; certainly not. The land ought not to be sold until the reserve promised was defined. 1602. Sir G. Grey.] You said, Mr. Wilson, that the price paid by Mr. Watt to Mr. Coleman was a large one ? —-Yes. 1003. Do you remember what it was ? —lncluding stock, 1 think it was £30,000. 1604. Do you know what the stock was worth ?—They were good sheep probably. I should say something like a fourth of that sum. lam speaking approximately. 1605. Was that for any other block besides Te Awa-o-te-Atua ? —Yes; that included the Longlands property, including about 10,000 acres. 1600. Captain Russell] Have you any idea of the relative value the improvements would have had to the property ? —Considerable. 1607. Ten thousand pounds?—l would not say that; but no doubt there had been considerable improvements made. W. L. Bees, Esq., Solicitor, on former oath, examined. Mr. Rees : I wish to make a statement more fully than I made in my examination in chief, with regard to the suit that was brought against Mr. Sutton. In the declaration it is alleged 1607 a. Colonel Trimble.] May I ask, before Mr. Rees begins, whether he is going to speak from his own knowledge or from hearsay? —Prom my own knowledge. I wish to amplify certain portions of my former statement. In the declaration it is alleged that after considerable hesitation Paora Nonoi signed the deed—that is, the deed of conveyance. I drew that declaration for Mr. Sheehan. I had not seen the Natives at all at that time, nor had I seen Davie. I took the paper —the paper writing— as evidence that Paora had signed the deed, and at the time I drew the declaration I believed that Paora had signed the deed. I may state that I was specially retained by Mr. Sheehan to draw declarations from papers given me. I drew the declaration believing, by this paper left by Mr. Sutton, that Paora Nonoi had signed this deed on the promise being made to him of 350 acres. I did not put the paper in the declaration, because to my mind it was not a legal document, being, in the language of lawyers, for a " past consideration," but it might be evidence of the promise which had been made. After I myself went to Napier, which was in the beginning of last year, to take up these cases, shortly after Mr. Sheehan had joined the Ministry, I then learned from the statements of the Natives that Paora had not signed. Therefore I never proceeded with the action. Mr. Sutton demurred to the declaration. The demurrer in point of law was held good. It was alleged first of all that Bora should have taken out letters of administration under the English law to her father's estate, and also that there should be a writing sufficient to satisfy the Statute of Prauds, or else there was no cause of action. I was proceeding to take out letters of administration for the action —in fact, to reframe the declaration, determined to try again, and to put in the paper writing, after obtaining letters of administration —-and again try the facts, when I heard this statement from the Native women to the effect that Paora had not signed the deed. I saw it was then impossible to prove that Paora had ever signed, and it was useless therefore to go on with the case. Ido not know whether Mr. Sheehan was aware at the time J drew the declaration that the Natives had not signed. I had no conversation with him about it. I may state that I commenced a great number of declarations at the same time. Not speaking Maori myself, I had from very meagre information afforded by papers to prepare the declarations. I make this explanation, Mr. Chairman, because, from the nature of the declaration of the Natives, Mr. Sheehan might be accused of having departed from one statement to another. I have the original draft of the declaration, which I can produce if necessary. I had instructions from Mr. Sheehan that there had been a grievance. 1 never heard, however, of the promise of £250 until it had been stated by Mr. Sutton in evidence here. I should have proceeded with the action, and taken out letters of administration for Bora, but I had at that time learned that the statement of the Natives was that Paora had never signed at all. 1608. Mr. Chairman.] Have you anything further to state ? —No. 1609. Colonel Trimble.] Are we to clearly understand that on the Ist April this action was entered by Mr. Sheehan ? Are we also to understand that at that time you had the document in your possession promising Paora 350 acres ?—I am not sure about that. I may state that about that time I was working in Mr. Sheehan's office on a special retainer. I may have seen the document. 1610. If you had not seen it, or if you had it in your possession, what do you mean by saying— as I understand you do say —that you did not put it in the declaration ?—I did not say that I did not see the paper. I believe that I may have seen it; besides, your question was whether I had it in my possession. 1611. You tell us that Mr. Sheehan had given you instructions in the matter, and that you vrere acting for him ?—Yes.

Mr. Wilson.

2nd Dec, 1879,

Mr. Bets.

ted Dec, 1879.