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2060. Did you not inform them of the Bill that had been introduced by the Stout Government ? —I never explained it to the Natives. The purport of what I told them was that the only way they could reach prosperity was by having the management of their own lands returned to them. 2061. Did not the Natives know that such a Bill had been introduced by the Stout Government ? —I do not know whether they knew it. I did not tell them. 2062. Do you say that Mr. Ballance introduced this Bill without informing the Natives on the Coast of what he was doing?—l never told the Natives that Mr. Ballance had introduced such a Bill. I could not say whether the Government of that day informed the Natives of the Coast or not. I knew the Bill was introduced into the House. 2063. Did you not take any copies of the Bill with you to show the Natives what was being done ?—No, I did not. 2064. When you met these Natives at Patea, do you mean to say that they did not know of this Bill, which had been translated into Maori and brought in by the Stout Government ?—They never asked me any questions about the Bill; therefore I suppose they knew nothing about it. 2065. When a Bill is translated into Maori, do you not send copies of it to your constituents if it relates to their affairs?—We only receive a limited number of copies. In some cases we distribute them to a few of our friends; in other cases we do not. 2066. Can you remember whether you sent a copy of this Bill to the Maoris living on the Coast ? It was a matter that related to them and to their lands ?—Some of the Natives were in Wellington at the time. I went to Patea for another reason altogether—it was to advise Taurua not to oppose me in the forthcoming election. 2067. Were not a number of the West Coast Natives at the sittings of Parliament or about the Houses of Parliament when this Bill of Mr. Ballance's was introduced ?—There was a man here, a half-caste named Ngarangikatitia. 2068. He is an intelligent Maori, and speaks English, does he not?—He only knows a few words of English, such as " Yes" and "No good." 2069. His name is Bronghton, he is one of the Broughton family, is he not ? —Yes. 2070. Do you know whether Ngarangi had a copy of the Bill introduced by Sir Robert Stout's Government? —I could not say whether he obtained a copy or not. 2071. Did you show him the Bill and discuss it with him ?—The Maori members were all very busy discussing the various Bills that were introduced. I could not say whether I had any conversation with him regarding this particular Bill. 2072. But Ngarangi would take a particular interest in this Bill, would he not? So would the Natives if they were aware of it? —I do not remember giving him a copy. 2073. W 7 hen you were at Patea, do you mean to say that this question of the leases was never discussed between you and the Natives?— When I went to Patea, Taurua brought an unfulfilled promise of Sir Donald McLean before me regarding the lands at Waitotara, beyond the Whenuakura. 2074. Was not the question of the leases discussed? —I was asked no questions about those confirmed leases, nor were they discussed. It was not a large meeting; there were not many Natives present. I only saw the people living at Taurua's settlement. 2075. Did you not go anywhere else on the Coast during that election?—No, I did not. 2076. You were elected and re-elected in 1887 ?—Yes. 2077. You came back to represent the people in Parliament? —Yes. 2078. Did you know what their wishes were about their lands ? —I did know what their wishes were, and you can see how I set them forth in the parliamentary debates. 2079. Now, in the second session of 1887 were there not numerous Natives here about the Parliament ?—I think Ngarangi came up again ; I think he came to bring a petition. 2080. Was it about this matter of the West Coast lands ? —Yes. 2081. Were there not other Natives from the West Coast here at the second session as well as at the first session of 1887 ?—I think there was also a Native called Kauika here. 2082. We have had them here. Was it to these Natives and yourself that the Premier made the promise you have referred to ?—I think the promise was made to us both by the Native Minister and the Premier, in and out of the House. 2083. No other persons being present ? —We had a good many meetings with the Premier. There were a great many Natives here on that occasion, who all waited on the Premier. There were some of the Ngapuhis; some Natives from the East Coast, who accompanied us to see him in reference to many other Native Bills. We had a number of meetings with the Native Minister and the Premier as well. 2084. Were not Natives from the West Coast present also ?—I do not remember ever going to the Premier accompanied by any West Coast Natives. 2085. The principal subject upon which you went to the Premier was to get the Act of 1886 repealed, was it not ?—That was one reason why we wished to see the Premier, but we had many other points. 2086. But what they all wanted was that the Act of 1886 should be repealed, and that the management of their lands should be given to them. That is a question irrespective of these reserves?- That was one of the points. 2087. Was not this the promise that the Premier made : that an Act should be brought in in 1888 to enable them to deal with their lands?— Yes; he did make that promise. 2088. Did the Premier ever say a word about reserves ?—Yes; the Premier made this statement, that he would give the owners the management of their lands, in reply to the report that had been adopted by the Native Affairs Committee on Ngaraugi's petition. 2089. You then consented to the Atkinson Bill of 1887 ?—I withdrew my opposition on the Premier giving a distinct promise of giving a better Bill next year.