11

I.—2a

243. Were not the grantees Eahui Panapa and Wi Apo?—Yes, I know they were. 244. You were present in Court when the decision was given, were you not ? —I was present in Court, and I claimed to be inserted as one of the owners. My father was of the elder branch, and the younger branch was that to which the boy belonged; and they put the boy in instead of me. 245. Then, did you consider that you had a better claim than the boy ? —Yes ; because he was of a lower branch. 246. Though you became trustee for this boy, you were trustee of an interest which belonged to yourself according to your own reasoning ? —Yes. 247. Do you remember what took place in Court with regard to the appointment of trustees ?— Notwithstanding my efforts to get into the block, the boy was put in instead of me; but I thought I had a claim to the land, as I was of the elder branch of the family. 248. Do you remember what the Judge of the Court said in appointing the trustees?— Yes. 249. What did he say ?—The Judge said that John Sheehan and myself were to be the trustees. 250. Then you knew that you and I were to be trustees ?—Yes. 251. Did I ever ask you to be allowed to become a trustee ? —Yes. 252. When ?—There", at the time of the Court. 253. Did I ask you in Court to be allowed to become a trustee ? —The Court said Mr. Sheehan and myself were to be trustees. 254. Did I ever ask you to be allowed to become a trustee ? —Yes. 255. When ?—At that time, when the land was being put through the Court. 256. In the Court ?—Yes. 257. Are you quite certain of that ? —Yes. 258. Did I say to you, "Adam Clark, may I become a trustee in this block ? " —Yes. 259. Did I say so to you in Court ?—Yes. 260. You are quite certain ? —Yes. 261. Did you hear the Court, in appointing trustees, refer to me by name ? —Yes. 262. Did you not hear the Court say that the Court itself had asked me to become a trustee, and that I had agreed, very unwillingly ?—I heard that. Ido not know whether you were unwilling, or not. 263. But you heard the Court say so ? —I heard that. 264. Where were you living then ? —At Otamatea. 265. Where was Mr. Gittos living P —He was living there. 266. Mr. Grittos is a very great friend of yours, is he not ?—Not a friend, but a minister. 267. Is he not a personal friend at all ? —He is the minister of that district, and he is a father to us. 268. Is he not a person to whom you go frequently to consult on various matters, apart from religion ? —Yes, I go to him. 269. Did Mr. Grittos offer any objection to the survey of Pakiri, so far as you know, at the time of the survey ? —I do not know. 270. Did you tell Mr. Gittos ?—I spoke to Mr. Gittos. 271. About the survey ?—I said nothing to him about the survey. 272. About what ? —When I came to hear of the survey it had been completed, and I went and told Mr. Gittos that I was going to the Court. 273. For what purpose ? —About the investigation of Pakiri. 274. Then Mr. Gittos knew at the time the land was being put through the Court what you were at the Court for ? —Yes. 275. When you returned, did you let Mr. Gittos know what the result of the investigation was ? —Yes. 276. For that block ?—Yes ; and I also told him that Mr. John Sheehan had been appointed one of the trustees for the children. 277. This was after you went back from the Court ? —After I had returned from the Court. 278. Do you remember whether Mr. Gittos passed through Awaroa at that time, while the Court was sitting ?—Yes. 279. Do you not remember Mr. Gittos holding Divine service there ? —Yes. He was on his way to Auckland. 280. Do you remember who the surveyor was ?—I do not know who the surveyor was, because he was appointed by Te Kiri and Nathan. 281. Was it Mr. O'Meara —a tall, dark man, who was at the Court at the time?—l saw him at the investigation in the Court. 282. Do you remember what the amount of the survey bill was ? —I know it was £300. 283. Is not this Pakiri Block a long, narrow strip of country reaching from the East Coast ? What is the boundary on the west of the river? —The Oteo Eiver runs through it, the boundary of Oruawharo, a Native boundary. 284. The old Native purchase? —Yes. 285. There are, I believe, on this land some small patches of kauri timber here and there ?—Yes. 286. Do you remember being interviewed by any person or persons after the land went through the Court for the purpose of granting a lease of the kauri timber ? —Yes, I remember. 287. Do you remember who it was that saw you ? —I only knew him by the name of Wi. 288. You gave the name yesterday ? —He was the first person I remember who came to me, and I referred him to Bahui and Hori te More. 289. What was the name of the person ? —Wi is the name I know him by. 290. Was he not a half-caste ? —I think he was. 291. Do you know if his name was Swanson? —Perhaps it was. After this I heard that the money for the kauri timber on the land had been taken by Hori te More and Eahui. They got £100 each,. They said to me

Aratna Karaha. Aug. 3, 1880.