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as to the Mokau lands. We then discussed the terms that we would make with Jones, and it was decided that W3 would only allow coal to be worked to pay for the survey of Poutama, and that when that was done the work was to ceaso. This took place in Te JRerenga's whare. Grace was present during the talk, and must have heard what was agreed to. Ono woman named Tukiata and her brother would not agree; the rest of us agreed, and the pakehas made no objection to the terms. The deed was then put before us to sign, and we thought it contained the terms we had agreed to. 1 do not deny that I signed my name to it, but I understood when I signed that the lease was to end when the Poutama survey was paid for. I heard Grace read the deed over to us, but that was after I had signed. It was not translated in my presence before I signed. I only heard it read over once. lam quite sure that was after I had signed. Grace read it over in Maori. I understood what he said. We found out then that it did not contain what we agreed to. I signed for the children at the same time as I signed for myself.- Captain Messenger was present when I signed. If Messenger has signed a statement on the lease that it was explained to me before I signed it may be true, but I cannot recollect; I will not say that the statement is untrue. Ido not remember if Dalton was there. The only interpretation I recollect was after the deed had been signed. I believe it was interpreted by Grace. It was then that we first knew that the boundary was at Totoro, and that the time was for fifty-six years. Heremia then stood up and said the signing must be done away with. The mistake Heremia made was that he did not then take possession of the deed. Heremia asked who who was responsible for the' deed being drawn in that way ; no reply was made. Heremia objected to the boundary being at Totoro, and I believe that the boundary was altered in consequence of Heremia's objection. The only explanation I can give as to why the lease was not altered in other respects was that Wetere proposed to adjourn the matter to Waitara, and that Te lanui should go there to represent us, and see that the necessary alterations were made, and bring back a copy of the lease. Te lanui went to Waitara, but I do not know whether the alterations were made, as he never brought a copy. Huia te Eira, and Mr. Butikr, the Interpreter, having been duly sworn, Huia gave evidence as follows :— I anrone'of the Natives living at Mokau Heads, and am one of the owners of land there. I claim up to Totoro. The mark made on the deed produced, which is said to be my mark, was not made by me. At the time when, as I have heard, Grace and Messenger came to Mokau to get the deed signed, I was up the river at Totoro. Some one else must have made the mark in my name. I heard of the arrangement proposed by Heremia. I was not present when he called the people together at Waihi. Heremia explained it to the people in my presence before he left Totoro. Heremia said he would not part with the land, but would allow the coal to be taken to pay for the survey and Court expenses of Poutama. I was present when Thompson explained the lease in the presence of Heremia and the people at Te Eainga. Heremia then told us that he had never made any lease, and that it must be stopped. The day after I went up the river to Totoro with Heremia and. the others. About two weeks after a man named Niwha was sent to us by George Stockman to say that the pakehas were working coal. Heremia said he objected to that altogether, as the deed had not been drawn up as he intended it to be drawn. He and five of his people, of whom I was one, came down in a canoe to where they were working, and threw the coal into the river. We then brought the pakehas down to Te Raiuga, and they went away to Auckland. Heremia was my uncle ; he may have put the mark to the deed for me. He told me afterwards at Totoro that he had written my name. I said, "If you have put my name to the deed I must submit." lam now twenty-eight years old.

Wednesday, 11th July, 1888. Pukatea Pupurutu and Mr. Butleb having been duly sworn, Pukatea gave evidence as follows: — lam ono of the Natives residing at Mokau Heads. 1 believe that I held the pen when the mark on the deed was made which is said to be my mark. I remember the day when Grace, Messenger, and Dalton came to Mokau to get the deed signed. I was drinking beer that day. I have some recollection of being led up to where the deed was by Jones, and being asked by Grace to sign ; but I cannot remember whether I touched the pen. I was drinking before that; I was drinking a great deal. 1 helped with others to take two large casks of beer out of the steamer. Te Oro was one of those who helped. We put it on the bank near the houses. I saw Jones draw beer into buckets and give it to the Maoris. The first beer I drank Jones gave me in a pannikin ; after that I helped myself. I think it was in the afternoon I was pulled in by Jones himself to sign. The house where I signed was a small house; the same that the others signed in. It was not the big whare where the talk took place. Dalton and Messenger may have been in the whare, but Ido not remember. I heard Heremia's words when he explained to the people at Mokau about the agreement with Jones. He said the coal was to go to Jones, and the timber for working it, until there was money enough to pay the cost of survey of Poutama and putting it through the Court. I never heard anything of fifty-six years or any other time being fixed. My thoughts were not clear when I went in to sign the desd. I was getting very bad through drinking the beer. Heta Tokieiki, and Mr. Butler, the Interpreter, having been sworn, Heta gave evidence as follows:— lam one of the Natives living at Mokau Heads, and am one of the owners of land there. I claim to Totoro. I did not make the mark on the deed now shown me, which is said to be my mark, nor did I touch the pen. I went up with Grace and Jones from Waitara to Mokau, when they 4—G-. 4c.