I.—3a

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86. The Chairman,} This is not hearsay evidence. You are asked the question whether this supposed conversation that took place between Baiha and Lundon occurred before or after you signed?—lt was after I had signed that I heard of this conversation. 87. Mr. Lundon.] Was Baiha'sname on the deed? —I do not know. 88. Was your own name on the deed as an owner of the land ?—My father's name was in the certificate of title, and I was appointed his successor. 89. Then, your name was on the deed? —I do not know what you mean by a deed. Ido not know anything of such a document. If you asked me had I a share in the land I can answer that at once. 90. You say you do not know whether her name was in the deed : why not ? Some of the Committee are Native members, and they know as well as I do —they all know that the names of joint owners are always put in the deed. I asked you if her name was in the deed; you say say you do not know; then I asked you if you know that your own name w r as in the deed, and you do not say it was. Y.ou say you do not know what deed means. .How. Mr. Mitohelson: His name must have been on the deed, or he would not have been paid the money. 91. Mr. Lundon.] lam testing his credibility. He knew everything yesterday, but he knows nothing to-day. (To witness) :If her name was not on the deed, what had Ito do with her?— Before I answer that question I wish to know what action of yours you allude to? Mr. Lundon: lam accused in the petition of keeping her money back. The Chairman: No; not in the petition. The statement in the petition is that some of her money was missing, and that she wrote and got it restored; it does not accuse you of keeping any money from her at all. Son. Mr. Mitchelson : What relation has that with the case ? Mr. W. Kelly : You had better let Mr. Lundon finish his cross-examination, then you can put questions, or we will never get through. Mr. Lundon : If her name w r as not in the deed, why am I accused of trying to defraud her ? 'The Chairman : Excuse me, you are not accused of trying to cheat her at all. The petition simply states that she was supposed to have lost some money; she wrote to the Government about it, and got that money restored. Mr. Lundon : There is no truth in that. Her name was never on the deed, and I had nothing to do with her. The Government sent her the money, and she got every farthing of it. lam accused of keeping money from people at the North Cape The Chairman : Not in this petition. 92. Mr. Lundon.] It shows the disadvantage I am placed in through not having a copy of the pstition. I will cross-examine the witness now as to the evidence he gave yesterday. (To witness) : In your evidence yesterday you stated that Mr. Miller did not give you the money into, your hand?— Yes, I made that statement yesterday. 93. If I and Mr. Clarke, J. P., Mr. Cochrane, and John Mood said that he did, we would be telling lies ? lam sure these men will swear what I said, as attesting witnesses ?—Notwithstanding that they may swear that, I still adhere to my statement that the money was not placed in my hands. (Interpreter: He uses a word meaning in the hollow or palm of his hand.) 94. In your cross-examination yesterday, you stated that you did not sign any document making me your agent ?—Yes, 1 did say so. 95. Did Eobert Cochrane read a document of that description to you in his office?—Eobert Cochrane did not. He simply read out a list of the people who had signed before I signed. 96. He did not translate it to you, or read it to you ? —No, he did not. He never read from any document authorising you to act for me. 97. Then, if Cochrane and I swore that that document appointing me your agent was read to you, would we be swearing that which was not true ?—Produce the document. 98. That is not an answer. I will produce it before you wish it, very likely; I will produce it in another place ?—Very good ; produce it there. 99. That is not an answer. Did he or did he not?— All that Eobert Cochrane read out to me was a list of the people who signed prior to my signing. 100. If Cochrane and I state that the document was read to you —the agency document—if we swear that, will we be swearing falsely ?—I believe that you will be making a false statement if you say so. 101. I will go further, and ask you, did you sign a document in Maori authorising me to act for you ?—Where did I sign it ? 102. Answer my question ? —I have no knowledge of such a thing. 103. Did you sign one in Cochrane's office at the time you signed the other?— All I can remember is, that the document Cochrane explained to me was the list of names of people who had signed. That is my difficulty in not remembering any other. 104. Are you an educated man ? Can you read and write well ?—I know how to read and write. 105. Would you sign a Native document in the Native language without reading it?—l would read the document over first. 106. Then, you would read such a document in Cochrane's office—the document in Maori appointing me your agent? —I do not remember ever reading any such document. I only remember reading from the list of people who had sold. 107. I have the document in my pocket now. Will you still persist in saying that you did not read it or sign it ?—I am in perfect ignorance of any such document; that is why I did not answer your question. If you hold any such document you must have obtained my signature to it by misrepresentation.