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Dear Sir,— Parliament Buildings, 29th July, 1890. 1 fear I did not make myself clear to the Committee to-day with regard to Mr. Bell's questions as to the similarity of the two West Coast Reserves Bills, introduced by the Stout-Vogel Government and the Atkinson Government respectively. There was. a wide difference, indeed, for under the former the Maori owners received the benefit of certain large improvements. Sir Julius Vogel moreover proposed, " That no lessee shall, or indirectly be allowed to reacquire any lease surrendered, unless he has fully paid up his liabilities." Also, "Any surrender acquiring directly or indirectly a fresh lease shall pay the cost of revaluations." Both these wise precautions have been ruthlessly ignored under the latter Act. Will you kindly lay this letter before the Committee. Faithfully yours, The Hon. the Chairman, Joint Committee, Na Hoani Taipua. West Coast Native Reserves.

Thursday, 31st July, 1890. Mr. James Livingston examined. 2116. Mr. Bell] You are a settler living at Hawera ?—Yes. 2117. You have a very large property ?—Fifteen hundred acres. 2118. You are not the holder of a confirmed lease? —No. 2119. Nor are you in partnership with the holder of a confirmed lease ? —No. 2120. Nor the relative of any confirmed-lease holder?— No. 2121. You were appointed by the Government to act as arbitrator for the Natives in this matter of the leases of the West Coast reserves? —Yes. 2122. Did you understand that it was your duty to act on behalf of the Natives? —Yes. 2123. How long have you been on the Coast ? —I have been about twenty-three years in the district. 2124. Is it a fact that you took a leading part at the time of the disturbances with Te Whiti's people ?—They came on to my ground. 2125. They ploughed up your lawn, I believe ? —Yes. 2125 a. You were forced into a prominent position?— Yes. 2126. You have had your property a long time?— Yes. 2127. You have been settled there all these years?— Shortly after Titokowaru's rebellion took place I left there, and was away from the district about two years. 2128. Have you held office as a Councillor in the County Council?— Yes, for Patea, when the Council was first started, aud also in Hawera County Council. 2129. You have taken part in the local affairs of the Coast ?—Yes. 2130. You have been a prominent man there ?—More or less I have tried to do my duty in the district. 2131. In every case did you inspect the land which you were required to value'?— Yes. 2132. In every case? —Yes, in every case. 2133. You went on the land with your co-arbitrators ?—Yes ; and when I was umpire. 2134. In what cases were you umpire?—ln three cases. 2135. Who were the arbitrators with you?— Mr. Heslop and Mr. Nolan in one case, and Mr. Nolan and Major Kemp in two other cases. 2136. In the cases where Major Kemp sat were you called on to give your opinion ?—ln one case I had to make the award. 2137. Were you present when Kemp refused to assent to the award ? —ln two cases, 2138. Did you hear him?—l sat with the arbitrators; I took notes of the evidence. Afterwards I went into calculations to show what the rent should be. I was not with them then. I do not know what reasons Kemp had for refusing to agree to an award. 2139. There were three cases in which you were umpire ?—Yes. 2140. In all the cases in which you acted as arbitrator you were appointed to act for the Natives? —Yes. 2141. You sat as arbitrator in some cases with Mr. Cowern, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Bailey, and Mr. Nolan ?—Yes. 2142. The majority of cases were those in which you sat with Mr. Cowern? —Yes, in Patea district. 2143. There was only one with Johnson and one with Bailey?— Yes. 2144. At Hawera'?—With Mr. Nolan at Haw 7 era. 2145. At Patea?—With Mr. Cowern. 2146. Who was umpire at Hawera?—Mr. George McLean. 2147. At Patea ?—Mr. Arundel. 2148. Did you hear evidence taken in the cases in which you sat ?—Yes; I wrote it down also. 2149. Have you your note-books containing the evidence with you?— Yes. We had also sittings at Waitotara. We held the Court where it was most convenient for the largest number of Natives to attend.

2150. Who sat with you when you were at Waitotara?—Mr. Cowern. 2151. Have you your note-books here? have you any objection to the Committee seeing your notes? —I have the books here. I have no objection to the Committee seeing my notes. 2152. It has been suggested that you took merely a passive part in these proceedings, and that you asked no questions ? —I asked all the questions that were necessary. Sometimes I acted as