59

I.—2a

1736. Did you translate the agreement from Mr. Sutton promising a reserve of 350 acres to Paora Nonoi ?—I do not remember doing so. 1737. On how many different occasions did Mr. Sutton go to Paora Nonoi's pa, relative to buying that land?—l cannot say. 1738. Can you not remember the time you went with Mr. Sutton? —I cannot. [Nikera te Kotr recalled.] 1739. The Chairman.] Do you recognize that Native as the attesting witness to the signature of Paora Nonoi to this Awa-o-te-Atua deed? —Tes ; I think that is the man. 1740. What is his Christian name?—l only now remember his name —Nikera. I probably knew his other name, but I do not recollect it now. 1741. Tou are sure that he witnessed the signature of Paora to the deed? —Tes. 1742. Sir Q. Grey!] Do you recollect whether he wrote his name or made his mark ?—I do uot recollect. What does the deed say ? He probably wrote it. 1743. Do you know the reason why the name of Paora Nonoi and his daughter are mixed up in the declaration on the deed where it says " Signed by the said Paora Nonoi and Bora Nonoi, the deed having been first translated," &c. ? —I fancy her name did not appear in the Crown grant of the block. 1 do not remember any particular reason for her name appearing in the deed. Monday, Bth Decembee, 1879. George Buckland Worgan examined on former oath. 1744. The Chairman.] Have you discovered the diary you expected to find ?—The diary has not come ; and, in fact, none of the diaries are in the box. I had no idea what the contents of the box were until it was broken open. I have come across some of the books and old memoranda, and I have my memory very considerably strengthened in consequence thereof. 1745. Are the Committee to understand that you wish to make a further statement in reference to the petition under consideration ?—I think I can tell the Committee a little more about it, through my memory being revived. I have here the actual Gazette of the Native Land Court which sat at Napier and Waipawa ; and the notes I made in it have brought to my memory many things connected with that Court. lam now of opinion that Mr. Sutton drove me out of Napier to attend the Land Court at Waipawa. 1716. Did you go direct, then, from Napier to Waipawa? —No; I lent my horse and saddle to Davie, and drove from Napier to Coleman's place, where I stayed. Bode to Paora's pa to get his signature, and next day drove on to Waipawa. I picked up Davie there, and did some business with him. 1747. Have you anything further to state?—Tes, a little more, that might be some service to you. I find that I had business with Paora Nonoi and this man Nikera, in the shape of some surveys to make for them, in which Davie was more or less mixed up, and which brought me iv constant contact with these people. I find that 1 surveyed Te Kuwha Whakakoro and Whakatangiaue for Paora and Nikera Matahiko. I suppose that is the Nikera who was here the other day. He was my assistant in the survey of these blocks. Other matters are called to my recollection —namely, that Karaitiana was with me on several occasions at Paora Nonoi's place in reference to the reserves in various blocks which were to be made. Karaitiana was no doubt fully informed by me of whatever was the nature of the transaction I had been engaged in iv regard to lauds in which Paora was interested —although I have not at present come across the requisite memorandum, which I have no doubt I have, of what the various reserves were, and in what blocks they were situated. I left the matter pretty fully in Karaitiana's hands to communicate with me at subsequent dates, when he was ready to go into the matter thoroughly. I may say that Karaitiana several times wrote to me while I was in Wanganui, asking me if I would go to Hawke's Bay and assist hi in in these matters. Some two and a half years ago he asked me to go to Napier for that purpose. Is there any doubt about Bora's signature, because I have a couple of letters of hers here which might be of some assistance towards identifying her handwriting ? [Letters produced.] 1748. Mr. Sheehan.] We have not got tho original deed. It would not follow, as a matter of fact, that these letters were written by her ? Very often such letters might be written by one of the tribe ? —Tes ; that is so. 1749. The Chairman.] Have you anything further to state ?—I wanted to say a few words about the question raised by Mr. Sheehan last Friday, in reference to a petition before the House. If I am at liberty to say a few words about it, I would be glad. The Chairman : Proceed. Witness: Mr. Sheehan referred to a petition or report from a Boyal Commission, and said, in effect, that some money which I had received had not been paid to the Natives. Mr. Sheehan said so, if I remember rightly. I want to state this most distinctly —that every farthing I ever received from the Government to pay to Natives, the Natives have received. In this case I have abundant evidence to prove that the money was paid, and to them ; but it was not paid to the right people. I did my best to make the thing thoroughly understood by all parties as to how the case occurred. That is all I wish to say. 1750. Mr. Sheehan.] Tou spoke just now, Mr. Worgan, with regard to the result of this Commission against you on the West Coast ? —Tes. 1751. Tou are aware, of course, that that was a Boyal Commission ? —Tes ; so I have been given to understand. 1752. Tou were summoned to attend as a witness ? —Tes, as a witness. 1753. Tou had notice of what the matter for inquiry before the Commission was ?—Tes. 1754. And an opportunity of calling any evidence which you might have desired with respect to yourself? —That I deny most distinctly. 1755. How did you come not to have that opportunity ? —The evidence that I would have called, had I known the thing was coming about, would take a considerable time to get together. There were also documents that I would have required to produce.

Mr. Worgan.

sth Dec, 1879.

Mr. Worgan.

Bth Dec, 1879.