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rehearing. It was even intended at one time that I should go to Wellington to urge their applications. Certain reasons prevented my going, and all papers connected with the rehearing application were handed to Teimana to take to Wellington. He left here on the 27th October, 188-1. On the 12th November Grice and Moon's papers and books were handed to me to make up. As I was not well I arranged with Hewitt for a sitting-room upstairs. On the 13th Mr. Moon handed me a schedule of credits to enter up, including two receipts from Waata Tipa —one dated the 10th May, 1884, at Kihikihi, for £20 ; another receipt, 12th November, 1884, at Ngaruawahia. [Eeceipt handed into Court. (Translation.) —"Kihikihi, 10th May, 1884.—Mr. Moon has issued to me this money, £20. I will repay him.—Waata Tipa."] Mr. Moon gave me these receipts. On the 17th November I met Teimana at Hewitt's Hotel. He had returned from Wellington on the 15th. I invited him upstairs to settle some accounts. Afterwards I asked him what he had done in Wellington. He gave me a long account, saying he had left the matter of the rehearing in Mr. Sheehan's hands. He alluded to a report that the Assessor had received £200, and asked, would it not be better to bring forward the charge in order to strengthen the application for rehearing ? I said that the Assessor had received no such amount to my knowledge. It was quite true the Assessor had borrowed money from Mr. Moon. The only amounts I knew of were the £25 and £20, but there might be other sums that I did not know of. 1 reminded him that he knew himself that Tipa got £20 at Kihikihi. Tipa came to Teimana and myself at Kihikihi and said he had got £20 from Moon, either to bring his wife from the Thames or to make a return for the presents he had been receiving. This was about May, 1884. I told him it would never do to bring forward a charge of bribery. I also assured him that Mr. Sheehan would give him the same advice. As to Teimana's assertions that I said I would show the receipts to the Chief Judge in Auckland, I have no recollection of my saying so. I shall say nothing about the £14,000 said to have been paid. I did not give this as a reason. I did not say £14,000 had been paid. Do you know anything of your own knowledge as to the circumstances?—Mr. Moon told me himself he had lent Tipa £20. I know nothing of the £25 except that Mr. Moon gave me the receipt to enter up. Afterwards, on scrutinizing the account, I found a sum of £10 on the 4th April requiring to be charged against Tipa. This £10 was a cheque of J. P. Thomson's. I have since been told by Thomson that the £20 lent to Tipa at Kihikihi had been repaid by Tipa at Thomson's office here in Cambridge. Later, again, Mr. Moon told me the £10 had been refunded. [Statement handed into Court of account between Moon and Tipa —handed in by Blake.] I may add that I was personally interested in Ngatiraukawa winning on account of my wife, who is nearly-related to Eewi. Mr. Moon was also interested hi their winning, through the connection of his wife with Ngatiraukawa. So, if the money had been given as a bribe it should have been in favour of Ngatiraukawa. It is true I said to Teimana that it was improper for the Assessor to be borrowing money from private people. This is all I wish to say. I have no receipt for £50, as mentioned by Teimana. By the Court: It was on the 12th November the books were given to me. On the 13th I received the accounts from Mr. Moon. This was the day after one of the receipts was signed. Mr. Moon (sworn): My name is William Moon. I am land agent and farmer, and live at Cambridge. In regard to this matter, there is no doubt I lent the sums mentioned to Tipa. There was also the sum of £10 lent to Tipa by Thomson at my request, and subsequently repaid to him. Mr. Thomson has been laid up ; I have sent a buggy for him to give evidence as to the repayment of the money. As to the £25, this was lent at Ngaruawahia after the whole case was over and finished. Tipa's wife, Ema te Aoru, is a great friend of mine : she had done me a great kindness, and this was the first opportunity I had of returning the kindness I had received. As to the £20 lent at Kihikihi, it was done quite openly in the office occupied by Blake and Teimana; and Tipa himself was the first to inform Blake and Teimana that he had borrowed £10 from me. Leaving the question of tho repayment of the money out of sight, the Assessor gave his judgment directly against Ngatiraukawa, in whom I was greatly interested. Mrs. Moon and relatives were tho original claimants on the Ngatiraukawa side. By the Court: Were any of these payments made for the purpose of influencing the Assessor? ■ —None. The last payment was after the Court was all over. There was no understanding between us that the repayment was conditional on the way in which the case was decided. I cannot give exact date of repayment. I have sent to Thomson for the information. These three sums are the only ones I know anything of. Ido not wish to add any more. Hare Teimana said: It was not correct that Tipa told Blake openly that he had borrowed money. I cannot produce the receipt for £50. If Blake has hidden it I cannot help it. As to what Moon said about Ema te Aoru being a friend of his, why did he leave it till 1884 before he returned the kindness shown him? The statements I have made to the Court are not of my own knowledge. They are as given to me by Mr. Blake. A telegram was sent to me from Auckland by Blake telling me not to say anything about the money. Mr. Blake's brother has the telegram. Before I received it I had made my statement to the Chief Judge. He proposed that if the Chief Judge took no notice they should be produced before the Supreme Court. Mr. Blake said : It is quite true my brother sent me a telegram saying that Teimana wished to bring forward a charge of bribery against the Assessor, and wished to quote me as an authority. I replied, saying he had better not make any such charge. Evidence read over and confirmed by the several witnesses. Mr. Whitaher undertook to get the dates of the repayment by Tipa, and furnish them to the Commissioner. Teimana inquired whether the investigation was concluded. The Commissioner said fresh notice would ba given if there were any further sittings. Inquiry concluded at 1 p.m. H. G. Semi Smith.
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