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1406. Mr. Rennell has nothing to do with it. Do you not know that Mr. Rennell has nothing to do with the ascertainment of the title of the land?— [Evidence interrupted by conversation between Committee and counsel, and no answer given.] [Mr. Stewart leaving the room for a time, the Hon. E. C. J. Stevens takes the chair.] Mr. Mackay read the following circular, which was handed to the witness for perusal. Witness (after reading) : This document is correct; but when the Crown grant was issued for the land, then other hapus got it. 1407. Mr. Mackay.] What other hapus got it?—l gave one hapu to you to my knowledge. 1408. Have you any other hapu except Te Inuawai? —My principal hapu is 1409. Are you on the grant of Te Inuawai ?—My father's name is in. 1410. What is your father's name? —Matoeoterangi. 1411. Was not the grant before I sent you that circular? —This is the first time you have given me this document. 1412. Do you swear that ?—This is the first time I have seen such a document as this. You did not give me one formerly. 1413. Did you not come and meet me —you and your son —and sign that agreement [agreement produced] ?—Yes. 1414. And did you not then agree, out of 2,103 acres, to lease 1,400, and reserve 703 for your hapu ? —I did agree. 1415. And was it not all open land with the exception of that which you reserved specially for the bush ?—I got that piece reserved [showing on map]. 1416. It was all open land reserved for you otherwise ? —Yes. 1417. You said yesterday there was not sufficient land left for your tribe—that there w 7 ere a number of landless Natives belonging to your hapu —a large number that were landless ?—-Yes. 1418. Do you recollect my visiting your hapu on the 17th October, 1883, at Mataweetee ?—I remember your coming. 1419. We had a very long sitting that day in the meeting-house, did we not?— Yes. It was not in the house, but at the door. 1420. Yes. Well, I brought with me a lease [producing lease] ? —Yes. 1421. And I examined it with your list of the grantees ? —I do not know about that, but I did not sign that lease at all. 1422. Were you not there —you and all who were resident at the pa—on that day ?—Yes, the whole tribe were there. 1423. Well, this list is a census of all the names upon the grant—all those seventy-nine names? — [Objected to by Mr. Sinclair on the ground that it was an understanding this point should not be gone into; and, objection being sustained, Mr. Mackay said ho would postpone what he could prove in regard to this.] Witness here asked to be allowed to make a statement, and, permission, being given, he proceeded as follows: I want the Murimotu land to be given back to me and my people. The Bill dealing with the West Coast Native reserve which is now being considered embodies the wish of all the Natives on the Coast. If that Bill becomes law, the Natives on the East Coast will follow our example, and it will be the means of making the Maoris and Europeans to live peaceably together under the Queen's laws. The interpreter said the remainder of the statement was quite untranslatable. Mr. Sinclair : That was why he had to make a statement. I could not brief his evidence. Under these circumstances the witness was thanked, and withdrew. Kaeoeo, of Hawera, recalled for cross-examination. 1424. Mr. Levi.l Do you know well the Hapotiki and Mokoia reserves, leased to Mr. Lysaght ? —I do. 1425. Do you know the improvements made upon this place by Mr. Lysaght ?—Yes. 1426. What improvements have been made within the last six years ?—Do you mean by way of fencing or ploughing the land ? 1427. Yes, I want everything?— Mr. Lysaght has erected fences. 1428. When did he do that ?—Many years ago and down to the last six years. Some of the fences have been kept in good repair. 1429. Can you say how much fencing has been erected since 1884, say ? —A good deal, seeing it is a very large piece of land. 1430. Can you give an idea of how many chains, roughly?— The fence follows the stream quite a mile in length. 1431. How long ago was that fence erected —in what year? —Last year—lBB9. 1432. Early or late in 1889 —was it before or after the arbitration sitting?— Afterwards. 1433. Is that the only fence which has been erected within the last six years ?—This is the only new fence that has been erected. 1434. What other improvements beside fencing have been done ?—No other improvements. 1435. Has no bush been cleared within the last six years ?—No, I have not seen any bushfalling. 1436. Has no grass been sown? —I have not seen any; the only grass is what was laid down by the Natives. 1437. Have no buildings been put up ?—There are buildings. I do not know whether they were erected by Mr. Lysaght or the first lessee. 1438. Have they erected any buildings within the last six years ?—No. 1439. Do you know of any drains that have been made within the last six years?— No'; there are no drains on the land.