51

1.—12

1328. Was that a part of the agreement with Caverhill ? —Yes ; he was to fence it in, and after the term expired he was to leave all these improvements to us. 1329. Were you ever asked to grant a renewal of this lease ? —No. 1330. Did you agree to appoint an arbitrator ?—No. 1331. Who was the arbitrator the Maoris appointed in this case?- —Te Rangiwhetu was appointed by Mr. Rennell. 1332. That is a different matter. Do you know whether Major Kemp was appointed arbitrator ? —Yes ; I understood that Kemp was arbitrator. 1333. For Ruatemoko ?—Yes. 1334. Who was he appointed by ?—Perhaps it was the Government who appointed him. 1335. Did he sit as arbitrator?— Yes. 1336. Did Major Kemp agree to the award?—-When he found that it was wrong he resigned. 1337. Do you know whether Hislop (Heterapa) was arbitrator in the Okahu land?—l saw him when the arbitration was sitting on the Okahu Block. 1338. Did you agree to appoint Hislop arbitrator ?—No. 1339. Which of your people agreed to appoint Hislop arbitrator? —I have already stated that Mr. Rennell appointed Te Rangiwhetu. 1340. Or was it Mr. Rennell and another person who appointed Te Rangiwhetu ?—Yes; I believe it was they who appointed him. 1341. Were there any others appointed ? —No. 1342. Were you present when the appointment was made? —Yes, I was there; but it was only myself and Te Rangiwhetu that had anything to say about it. 1343. How many persons are there in the Okahu grant ?—1 could not. say how many there are of us in it. 1344. Did you give evidence before the arbitrator? —Yes. 1345. What did you say ? —I told them they should return both leases to my tribe. 1346. Do I understand you that you objected to the proceedings ?—Yes. 1347. You say in your petition that you objected to the administration of your land by the Public Trustee : would you say why you object ? —Because that is the law that is killing this Island. 1348. Do you wish for the management in your own hands?— Yes. 1349. You are interested in some lands that were leased by the Public Trustee other than the confirmed leases ? —I am interested in other pieces of land outside those which I have already mentioned. 1350. Mr. Rennell] You say that the grass-seed on the Okahu land was very valuable ?—Yes. 1351. Then why did you let it ?—Because our people were divided among themselves. 1352. You said that I appointed Rangiwhetu arbitrator ?—lt was not you that appointed Rangiwhetu arbitrator, but it was by your authority that he was appointed. 1353. Rangi was not an arbitrator; Hislop was the arbitrator ? —I still say that it was you that had Rangi appointed ; Rangi proposed that Hislop should be appointed. 1354. Did you hear me appointing Rangiwhetu arbitrator, or how do you know that it was I who appointed him? —It was you that proposed that he should be appointed. 1355. But Rangiwhetu was not an arbitrator?—l heard that the whole of the people had appointed Hislop ; but I heard afterwards that w 7 as not the case : I then understood that it was you who appointed. 1356. Do you know anything of the way in which lands were leased to Mr. Wilson by the Natives? —I think it was this way: that Mr. Mackay had control, and the Public Trustee leased to him. 1357. Mr. Bell] You say that you and Rangi were the only persons that had anything to say in regard to the arbitrator? —It was only myself and Rangi. 1358. With regard to the Okahu land ?—Yes. 1359. Then, was it you and Rangi that were entitled to all the land ?—Rangi was acting in a selfish manner, trying to take as much of the land as he could for himself. 1360. Did you and Rangi think that you ought to have all the rents of Okahu to yourselves ?— My opinion of it was that the whole of the tribe ought to receive the rent. 1361. Do you think it ought to be paid to you and Rangi, and divide with the people?—My opinion is that the rent ought to be divided amongst the whole tribe. 1362. By whom? —My idea w 7 as that a committee ought to have appointed a proper man to receive the rent. 1363. And to divide it?— The committee would then have the dividing of the money. 1364. There has been a division of this Okahu Block—has there not —made by the Native Land Court, or, rather, an ascertainment of shares ?—I know nothing about it, but Mr. Rennell I daresay does. 1365. You have received some rents from Mr. Rennell, have you not ?—I have received two amounts—£2o from Mr. Mackay, £20 from Sir Walter Duller. I received it here in Wellington. 1366. Have you not received rent from Mr. Rennell for Okahu ? —Oh, yes! I have received money from him. 1367. I mean the rents for Okahu, regularly ?—Yes; I have received rent from him every year. Further cross-examination postponed.