H.—7.

is aTe Whitiite. He said Te Whiti did not approve of Natives parting with their lands, but he was going to give it to his brother. He did so. Then I bought it from his brother. 501. How did you get hold of the brother?—l went to Christchurch to see him; in fact, his brother gave me a letter to take to him. 502. Tamati says he did not want to sell, and refused to sell when you called upon him: how did you induce him to sell afterwards ?—I asked him if he would like to, and he said he would. I then went up to Opunake to see his brother, and then he said he did not want to sell his land. I said, " All right, don't sell it." He afterwards came to me, and said he wanted to sell it, which he did, next day. 503. Were you present when the conveyances were signed ? Did you see the purchase-money handed over to him ?—Yes. 504. Are you aware he says he did not receive the whole of the purchase-money?—So I have heard this morning. 505. He also says he paid a portion of your expenses?— No. He gave me £1 as a present; that was all the money I ever received from him ; that was at Opunake, when he had refused to sell. 506. Mr. Baker.] During any part of the negotiations, did he try to get a larger price ? Was the objection to sell in connection with the price offered to him ? —No. I asked him a hundred times, I believe, " Are you satisfied with the price." " Yes," he said, "I am thoroughly satisfied with the price." I left him then at Opunake. About a fortnight or a month afterwards he came back and said he wanted to sell the land now, the same as others had been doing. I asked him again if he was satisfied with the price, and he said, " Yes." 507. Then, the objection did not arise from the price offered him ?—No. Captain Coleman examined. 508. The Chairman.] You are in charge of the Armed Constabulary barracks, are you not?— Yes. 509. Do you know well the Polhill Gully rifle-range?— Yes ; for the last seventeen years. 510. -What is your opinion of it as a rifle-range ?—I think the short range is a very good one for class-firing. There are two ranges, I presume you are aware. With regard to the long range, I do not think it is safe, unless the Government can purchase the right over about 100 yards of town reserve. That forms the right of the range. I lease that at present from the Corporation. If I wished I could stop shooting upon it. I believe I could do so, but, as I am a Government servant, and I do not think it would interfere with anything I may put upon it, it does not interest me much. If, however, any other person leased it, or if I threw it back on the Corporation's hands, I believe they would be perfectly justified in stopping rifle-shooting on the long range. 511. And that they could legally do so ?—I think so. The bullets go certainly within sft. or 6ft. of portions of the place, although I might say there never has been an accident from shooting during the time I have had charge of the range. The cow business is a myth. 512. Notwithstanding the bullet having been found in it? —I should like to have seen the bullet. The owner of the cow interviewed me three days afterwards, when I told him I had a dozen witnesses to prove that we had had no rifle-shooting on the Monday, nor since the previous Saturday. All he said to that, just as he was going away, was that he ought to be more careful in his dates. 513. Can you tell what is contemplated to be done with that reserve, or what purpose it is likely to be devoted to ?—I only learned from the public Press that the- inhabitants wish to have it for a recreation reserve, but I have a lease of it for fourteen years from the Corporation; there is still five years of the lease to run. 514. Do I understand you leased the plantation reserve for a term of fourteen years, and that there is another five years still unexpired ?—Yes. 515. What area is it?— Eleven acres. 516. Is it a fair question to ask what you pay for it ?—Yes, certainly; £7 a year. 517. Mr. Macdonald.] What do you run upon it? —A horse and a cow or so. Just now another man runs cattle upon it. There is a piece of land just outside of it owned by Mr. Mitchell, and Mr. Mitchell has threatened two or three times to stop rifle-practice there. Perhaps there may be some risk, as splashes from the target go upon his ground. The late Under-Secretary for Defence directed me some time ago to go up and ascertain if such was the case. I went over the ground carefully with Mr. Mitchell and found that he was perfectly right about the splashes, but, in my opinion, they could not hurt anything, unless they struck any one in the eye, perhaps; but there is no other danger. 518. Would you be willing to part with your interest in that plantation?—Do you mean to throw it over to the Corporation, or to sell or lease ? 519. What would be the value of it ? —lt would be very little in advance of what I pay. I pay £7 a year, and there are still another five years to run. I would be perfectly satisfied if I got £9 a year for it. 520. And how many years are there unexpired ?—■ About five years. If I had cattle or horses I would not be willing to lease it. 521. Mr. Baker.] In connection with the short range, you do not consider that either Sections 4or 5 are required for the short range ? —I am still of that opinion. 522. Did you consider, when you made your report, that if the Government did not possess Sections 4or 5 the road would have to be kept open. If the road was kept open, would it be safe ?—Yes, on the short range. The road goes right behind the range. I have had thirty-five years' experience in rifle-shooting —in England, India, and in all parts—and wherever I have served it has always been considered that a butt of 40ft. high behind the target is ample for the longest ranges. Now, the road, I take it, would be at least 60ft. above the target, and our utmost range is only 300 yards, so I consider it perfectly safe.

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