I.—2a.

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or after the completion of the title I cannot remember. In any case, intimation of the document was given at once when it was found. I may add, in regard to Mr. Watt, that he had only shortly returned from Auckland to Napier when he died. I was in Auckland at the time of his last visit, while this case was going on in Napier ; and, so far from a threat being used to strike me off the rolls, I spent a great deal of my time in his company. I went to the races with him, and dined with him at the Club. 1793. Colonel Trimble.] Where did Mr. Watt die?—ln Napier. 179-4. When ? —I am not quite sure of the exact date. I know it was shortly after the Auckland races. In fact, I may say that up to the time of his death I was as intimate with him as lam with any member of the House. 1795. Mr. Sutton.] Mr. Watt only died this year ?—I think it was after the races in Auckland — the January races. But I wish to state that neither Mr. Watt nor Mr. Farmer, or any person acting for them or under them, ever at any time even complained of the fact that this promise was being brought forward, much less talk about striking me off the rolls. The Committee will understand the importance of that statement when I tell them that, up to a few days of Mr. Watt's death in Auckland at the Club, for about three weeks before he died I had frequent conversations about the outstanding matters, and the appointment by the Court of successors for the deceased grantees. If Mr. Watt ever harboured such an idea or dreamt of such a thing he had dozens of opportunities to bring the matter forward That is all I wish to say. 1796. Colonel Trimble.] I want to ask if Paora was living when you entered upon the case in 1873 ? —He died, 1 think, between the sitting of the Commission and the hearing of a charge against Mr. Henare Tomoana. There was an interval of about a month. The case of Henare Tomoana came on shortly before the time Parliament was to meet. 1797. Had you any interview with Paora ? —No. At the time the Commission was sitting ho was too ill to attend to give his evidence. The Commission sent out to his place to get his evidence. 1793. During these negotiations you say that a smaller reserve of twenty-five acres was reserved ? —That reserve is shown on the lease. 1799. Do you meau to say that the 350 acres, of which there was a written promise, was never mentioned during this transaction ? —Not in a single instance from the beginning to the end until Davie arrived. 1800. When the negotiation began in 1873 Davie was then in Napier ? —-Tes. 1801. And for some years after ? —I cannot say. 1802. He was only absent for two years ?—I was not aware of his movements. I only went to Napier ou special business in relation to the Commission. 1803. If he was there in 1873 to 1875, did he never come forward to say anything about this written document? —1 cannot say. Let me explain to you. I went to Napier in April, 1873, on special business relating to Henare Tomoana's case, and I declined to take up other business. 1804. Then you were not concerned in this ? —No ; I went away in March, 1 think, from Auckland to Napier, and returned in April to Auckland—at all events, shortly before Parliament met. I returned again to Napier about February. I was Provincial Secretary in Auckland, aud was detained there at the time in connection with my duties. So far as I remember Davie was in Napier during the Commission, and he brought Paora Nonoi's will and power of attorney to me. He wished to obtain my advice iv reference to them. I told him I did not care about taking the matter up. ISOS. He said nothing about this 350-acre promise? —No. 1806. Had you anything to say to Rora Notioi about it?—Tes. 1807. Did she tell you anything about it ?—I told you I went to Napier on special business, ltora, with other Natives, then spoke to me of a promise of the reserve. 1808. About the 350 acres ? —I think it was about 350 acres. I asked them if they had any documents. 1809. Had they any documents ? —They said they had some, but they could not find them. They went back to their place to look for a document they said they had. They could not find it. I looked upon the matter as hopeless without the document. There were at that time about two hundred and fifty cases on the list which was submitted to the Commission, and all of a similar kind. I was not long there before I saw that in some instances the allegations were without foundation, and in most of them without any written evidence. 1810. But, as a matter of fact, although there was written evidence in existence from 1873 to 1877, there was no attempt made to produce the written document ? —No. It was not known that Davie had it. It was a surprise to me when Davie returned and produced the document. 1811. Mr. Ormond.] What knowledge have you, Mr. Sheehan, of the relations between Mr. Sutton and the parties he sold to —Messrs. Coleman and Fountain: I mean when you inquired into the title, what knowledge did you get ? —The title was very involved, but I think I can give you a fair opinion. There was a lease first of all before the land passed the Court, and the land in occupation. After the laud passed the Court the legal title begins. The lease of these two blocks was taken up, I forget by whom. 1812. Mr. Sutton.] Mr. Tanner. —Then Messrs. Coleman and Fountain got the lease from Mr. Tanner. The iease was for twenty-one years. The deeds specified that the lessors retained certain portions of land shown on grant, and that a reserve was to be made in the Kakeraawa Block. From my own knowledge acquired of the matter I believe the reserves were laid down according to arrangement specified in this deed. In the Awa-o-te-Atua Block only one reserve was shown. When I reached Napier in 1873 the title was vested in Coleman. He was the lessee in possession. At the time of my arrival in 1v73l v 73 mortgages had been obtained from certain of the grantees. Some of the grantees at that time had neither mortgaged nor sold. They had retained their interests iv several of the blocks. Henare Tomoana had not sold iv the Kakeraawa Block, nor Karaitiana in the Awa-o-te-Atua Block. They were, I think, the only two in those two blocks who had not dealt in some way with their shares. Mr. Sutton purchased a great many of the interests, if I remember rightly. I opine that he was buying for Coleman, from the fact that in the title there is an agreement between

Mr. Sheehan,

Bth Dec, 1879.