6.-5

39

amounted to L 6 10s., and he objected to it at the time as a charge upon the land. Admits his signature to voucher 38,086 ; but never signed any voucher for L 6 10s. The pay-sheets signed by him have been always in biank. Has had the articles amounting to L 8 2s. 6d. and L 2 (denies L 2 25.) charged in Brennan and Smith's bill (unpaid). These articles arc not chargeable to any land ; but were a present made in consideration of assistance rendered to Young in respect of land-purchases at Rotorua. Had board and lodging at McKinney's —L 4 Bs. (unpaid). Considers the charge excessive. "Was there by himself about two weeks. Signed no pay-sheet. On account of Kangiuru he has had no money and no goods. On account of Otawa has received L sin a cheque from Young, and goods to the amount of LlO from Chaytor. Signed one pay-sheet for the L 5. Admits signature to voucher 39,998. On account of Te Rau-o-te-Hui he has received nothing except L 3, which he borrowed from Captain Mair. Signed a blank voucher for it. Denies the receipt of the L 2 charged to him by Brennan and Smith on the 9th of September. Also denies the receipt of the L 3 charged to him on the 20th of March in Brennan and Smith's account. Could not have received it in March, he being in Rotorua from the 6th of February to the end of April. Does not think he ever signed duplicate paysheets. Te Ririttjktj Paiiete (Te Parete Hoiiepa) examined. Is interested in Otawa, Te Puke, and Rangiuru ;no others, In 1879 received (on Otawa) Ll2 ■ —first L 5, then L 7. The 1/5 was given to him by Warbrick in notes. He signed one pay-sheet. The L7in a cheque from Warbrick on the Bank of New Zealand. Signed one pay-sheet only. On Rangiuru he received, in company with two others (Reihana and Te Mapu), a sum of L 25. Mr. Warbrick went to the Bank of New Zealand with them. Took them to his own house and there handed them the money. They signed one pay-sheet, before going to the bank, in the presence of Mr. Brabant. On Te Puke received a share of the L 2,000 from the Natives. Was not present when the L 2,000 was paid to the Natives. Did not see the money. Heard the amount was L 2,000. Admits receipt of a passage to Napier from Wrigley on order of Young. Signed a pay-sheet for it. Signed a pay-sheet with Reihana for rations on Te Puke. Had one night's board at McKinney's. Two of them had supper, bed, and breakfast, and in the morning he went to Napier. He had one meal on a previous occasion. Had rations on account of Rangiuru. Stayed with one companion seventeen days with Mrs. Robertson, for which she should have charged 4s. a day each. She charged LI a day for the two. He complained to Young, who said he had nothing to do with it, and he (Parete) must talk to Mrs. Robertson about it. Paruiii examined. Has never received any money on account of land. Has received goods from Lee as set forth in his claim, L 3 10s. 6d. Got some clothes a day or two after at the same place for his son, L 2 18s. Gd. Te Wharatj Hikatttji (son of To Hira) examined. Is interested in Pukeroa, Waitahanui, and Kaikokopu ; no others. On Waitahanui has received Lls, by three notes of L 5 each, from Warbrick. Signed two pay-sheets. On Pukeroa, aLI note from Warbrick. Signed two pay-sheets. Received it last summer. Himself, his brother Menehera, and his sisters, Tukau and Hariete, have been drawing money on Pukeroa. He (To Wharau) has had nothing but the LI on Pukeroa. Voucher 68,413, L 2, 15th of March.—Admits signature. Was paid by cheque—Ll for himself and Ll for Tukau. They signed one pay-sheet. Voucher 74,952, L 2, 28th April, 1879. —Denies signature and receipt of money. Voucher, LO, 6th of December, 1879. —Charged as paid to Te Hira Hikanui. Voucher signed in that name. Te Wharau and Menehera, his brother, both deny receipt of the money and that either of them signed the voucher. Both men say that they never signed any document except with their own names. Menehera signed the Pukeroa deed in his own name. [Note. —He is not a grantee.] Voucher 51,594, L 5, 6th of January, 1879.—Payment to Tukau. The brothers Te Wharau and Menehera know from Tukau that she received L 5, but both strenuously deny the signature to the receipt as that of their sister. Menehera says he went to Young and asked for L 5. lie received L 3 on Pukeroa, and signed the voucher 21,714 for it. Signed one pay-sheet and a small slip of paper. Admits signature. Had no other money, and no goods of any kind. Te Wharau says he has received L 5 and L 7 from Warbrick on Kaikokopu—the L 5 in September or October, 1879, the L 7 in December or January. The L 5 was in a cheque, changed at Robertson's, The L 7 was also a cheque, changed at Asher's. Has had no other money, no goods, and no clothes. This statement was read over in Maori to both brothers, who confirmed its accuracy.

Saturday, 21st February, 1880. Eetieeti Tapihana examined. Says he knows nothing of the L2OO referred to by Hans Tapsell, and never received any part of it. Voucher 35,365, L 5, 7th of November.- —Admits signature, and payment by cheque on the National Bank, which he cashed there. Received it from sToung. Signed two pay-sheets for the amount. Voucher 39,980, L5l, 2Gth of August, 1879. —Denies signature. Always signed his name in full ; not Betireti only. The writing is not his; it is a forgery. Never received the LSI or any part of it.