G.—9

10

have been residents in or visitors to Wellington. Clearly it was not the Taupo Natives, and one can only infer who suggested it by the other surroundings of this case. Judge Fenton, on the 21st June, sends to Auckland for the epitome of the record of Owhaoko. Copy of the evidence and of the proceedings was sent to him by Mr. Dickey. There next'appears in the papers a request by Dr. Buller for the names of persons who asked for the rehearing,—clearly showing that up to this time he had not been acting for them, though it was apparently in their interest he had got the adjournment. The telegram is as follows:— Wellington, 26th July, 1880. Be Owhaoko: Please inform me by telegram of the names of the applicants for rehearing. The case has been adjourned sine die; and Mr. Penton has advised Studholme to make terms with a yiew to withdrawal. W. L. BOLLEE. A. J. Dickey, Esq., Native Land Court, Auckland. The latter part of this telegram is curious. It states that the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court " has advised Mr. Studholme to make terms, with a view to withdrawal." This is certainly a new function for a Judge to have assumed. And here it may be mentioned that Mr. Studholme had, in August, 1879, through his solicitors, Mr. Carlyle and Messrs. Whitaker and Bussell, applied for the sanctioning of a lease from Benata Kawepo and the others whose names were on the certificate, to Messrs. J. and M. Studholme. The lease was to be of the Owhaoko Block ; the rental, : and of all the other Owhaoko blocks ; rental, . The lease was granted for twenty-one years, and approved of by the Native Land Court. In answer to Dr. Buller's telegrams the information was given by Mr. Dickey. In the meantime the Judge has returned to Auckland, for, on the 11th October, 1880, Mr. Bridson, Clerk, Native Land Court, wires to the Under-Secretary of the Native Department as follows:— Owhaoko rehearing : Application N and D, 78/1675. —Chief Judge wishes to know if signatures are in the handwriting of one or of the several claimants, and what are the names attached.— W. Beidson, 11/10/80. For what purpose did the Chief Judge require this information ? Was it to enable Mr. Studholme, through his solicitor, Dr. Buller, to interview the applicants for' a rehearing ? Mr. Lewis replies,— W. Beidson, Auckland.— Be application for rehearing of Owhaoko : the signatures appear to be in the same handwriting, with the exception of Hohepa Tamamutu. The following are the names attached to the letter— viz.: Topia Turoa, Hohepa Tamamutu, Perenara te Papanui, Eawiri Kahia, Te Eangitahau, Te Behu te Keka, Te Heahea, and Paurini Karamu—eight in all.—T. W. Lewis, 11/10/80. And from the minute on the back of this telegram, in the handwriting of Judge Fenton, it appears that Mr. Studholme was also in Auckland. The minute is, — Weite letter to Mr. Studholme, at Northern Club, with copy of this.— October 12. On the 16th October the following appeared in the Gazette: — Notice. Native Land Court Office, Auckland, 28th September, 1880. Wheeeas, by an Order in Council on the 4th day of February, 1880, it was ordered by His Excellency in Council, under "The Native Land Act, 1873," "The Native Land Act, 1874," and " The Native Land Act, 1878," tha't the claim of Eenata Kawepo and others to a piece of land called Owhaoko, situate at Patea, heard and determined by the Native Land Court of New Zealand on the 20th day of December, 1876, at Porangahau, Hawke's Bay, should be reheard before the said Court, and that such rehearing shall take place before the 31st day of October, 1880 : Now, I hereby give notice that a sitting of the Native Land Court will be held at Napier, Hawke's Bay, on the 20th day of October next, for the rehearing of the above claim. A. J. Dickey, Chief Clerk.