I.—3a

16

409. Did that concern you, seeing that Walker was present ?—-Yes. I always refused to have communication with Walker on the subject. I recognised him through his solicitor. 410. Who appeared in support of Stockman or Walker's application ? —They appeared themselves. 411. You had communication with them, then ?—Yes, in a quasi-Court. 412. Who produced the original agreement produced to-day?—lt was sent to me by book-post from Auckland. 413. It was not produced by Stockman? —No ; Stockman never had it; I took care of that. 414. He did not produce it, at all events? —No. 415. You showed the telegram you wrote to Mr. Standish ?—Yes ; I did there and then. 416. Was it shown to him in confidence ? —I said to him that I did show it to him in confidence. 417. Why? —Because I did not wish to be bothered with Walker. 418. Would not it have settled Walker if he had seen the telegram ? —No ; Walker could not judge of the legality of the thing. 419. I draw your attention to question No. 107 in printed evidence of last year, and your answer thereto?—ln reply to question No. 107, in the second line, for " Standish," should appear " Stockman." Mr. Arthur Owen examined. 420. Mr. Gray.] Do you produce the letter from yourself and Stockman to the chief of Mokau Wetere te Eerenga?—Yes ; it was written on the 10th June, 1887. 421. That letter was signed by both yourself and Stockman ?—Yes. 422. Do you produce some original letters from Stockman to the native, TeHuia ?—Yes; three letters dated the 4th, Bth, and 9th July, 1887. 423. These letters were sent by Stockman? —Yes. 424. Do you know anything of the circumstances under which Te Huia made a declaration, dated the 16th July, with reference to the execution of the leases ?—I do not know anything about it. 425. Did you see the written agreement of September, 1881, when it was produced before Judge Wilson at Waitara ? —I saw it at Waitara. 426. What month was that ?—I think it was in October. 427. Had you seen it before?—Never. 428. Did you give notice to the Judge to impound the deed ? —I did. 429. You produce a copy of the notice?—Yes. 430. Were leases to Walker produced before Judge Eawson, Trust Commissioner ? —They were. 431. Did he pass them?—He did not. 432. Do you know why ? —He did not care about passing them ; he told me so himself. 433. Do you know if they were sent from his office ?—They were withdrawn from Judge Eawson's officed and placed before Judge Wilson. 434. Did Judge Wilson certify without your knowledge?—He passed the Mangoira Block unknown to me. 435. Do you produce an application for a rehearing of Mangapapa from a Native named Koti Kau ?—Yes. 436. You produce an application from the same Native for a rehearing of Mangoira Block ? —Yes. 437. And you produce a copy of the Chief Judge's reply?—Yes; refusing to grant the application. 438. Do you produce a copy of the objections which were lodged with Judge Wilson to the granting of the certificates for the leases ? —Yes. 439. Do you produce a copy of Koti Kau's objections produced to the Trust Commissioner ? —Yes. 440. With reference to the telegram from Major Charles Brown, read this morning, do you know when Brown was first interested for Walker ?—I think it was somewhere about June, 1887 ; he then commenced to negotiate for this land. 441. The Chairman.] He was acting, you say, for Walker?—Yes. 442. As agent ? —As agent. [The Chairman read a letter from Major Brown denying that he had ever acted as agent.] 443. Mr. Gray.] Do you also produce copies of the leases from the Natives to Walker of the Mangoira and Mangapapa Blocks ?—Yes; I got them from Judge Eawson, Trust Commissioner.

Thursday, sth July, 1888. Mr. Robert Studholme Thompson, Licensed Interpreter, examined. 444. Mr. Gray.] You were interpreter to the Native Land Court which sat in New Plymouth in June, 1887 ?-=-Yea. 445. Do you remember the application of Stockman or Walker for a certificate before the Chief Judge ? —Yes. 446. Had you had anything to do with Stockman or Walker immediately prior to the sitting of the Court in that month ? —Do you mean in business ? 447. Yes ?—No, certainly not. 448. Were you concerned at all for Stockman or Walker during the sitting of the Court or shortly afterwards ?—No.