I.—3a

16

night of the 3rd December, and the 4th of that month was occupied by the talk of Timoti Puhipi, who eventually went away. After he left, Te Waaka and Herewini insisted upon 4s. 6d. an acre, and Mr. Lundon agreed. 132. Did you sign any document ratifying that arrangement ? —No, I did not. I was not one of those who took part in the negotiations. 133. Did you sign any document authorising Mr. Lundon to act on your behalf?—No, I did not. 134. Mr. W. Kelly.] Did you sign any document in Oochrane's office ? —I do not remember signing any document there. 135. Supposing a Maori document were put before you, would you sign that document without reading it ? —I would not sign any document without reading it over. I would either read it over or ask what the document contained. 136. You can read Maori?—lf it so happened that there was no one there to explain it, I would then read it over prior to signing it. 137. Why should you want a Maori document explained if you could read it yourself ?—The Government having appointed and authorised certain persons to explain documents of this nature to the Natives, I would wait, in that case, for the proper officer to explain the document to me. 138. You have said previously that you would not sign a document written in Maori without reading it, unless it was explained ? —Yes, I would not sign it unless I had read it myself, or it had been explained to me. 139. Hon. Mr. Gadman.] You can read and write ?—Yes. 140. Did you sign a petition ? —Yes. 141. "Who wrote that petition?—l did. 142. Would you know your signature again if you saw it ? —Yes. 143. Is that your signature to Exhibit B? —I think so. This is my signature to the Maori and English. [Witness reads the Maori document.] 144. You admit that is your signature ?—The signature is mine, but I know nothing about the contents of .that document. 145. Were the other names above your signature there before you signed it? —I do not remember anything about this document. 146. Do you think you would be likely to put your name twice to a blank sheet of paper for anybody ? —I do not remember seeing this document with these names above mine. 147. That is not an answer to my question. If anybody asked you to sign a blank sheet of paper, would you do it, knowing at the time that these negotiations were going on ?—I would not sign unless the thing was clearly explained to me. If explained to me I would then sign it, but not till then. 148. Did anybody ask you to sign a blank document ?—I do not think so. 149. You admit that is your signature ?—The signature is like mine; the signature is mine. 150. You are not a man who would be likely to sign a thing when he was drunk ? —I am a total abstainer. Hon. Mr. Mitchelson : He is a clergyman. 151. Hon. Mr. Gadman.] We will now go back to the post-office. How long did it take the interpreter to read the deed over to you before you signed it ?—There was no long talk about it. 152. Can you tell me the names of any other Natives who were present when the deed was read over to you ?—We were taken to the office singly ; no other Natives were present. 153. No other Natives could hear what was said to you ?—I believe I was the only Native present. 154. Who did Mr. Millar hand the cheque to ? —He gave it to me. 155. Into your own hand ?—He gave it into my hand; it instantly went to Mr. Lundon. 156. He did not put it down on the counter? —No. 157. Mr. Lundon got the cheque from you out of your own hand ?—Yes. 158. Did Mr. Lundon ask for the cheque, or did you give it to him?—He asked me. I gave it to him because the people who had signed previously to me had their cheques taken by Mr. Lundon. Mr. Lundon had the cheques in his hand —the cheques that had been paid to Natives who had signed previously. Waaka was one. 159. Hon. Mr. Mitchelson.] Did Mr. Millar see Mr. Lundon receive the cheque from yourself and the other Natives ? —I think he did. 160. Hon. Mr. Gadman.] You are quite clear in your own mind that Mr. Millar did not put the cheque down on the counter, and let Mr. Lundon take it up ?—No. 161. Mr. W. Kelly.] After you have seen the Maori document signed by yourself, do you still adhere to your former statement that you did not sign any document in Mr. Cochrane's office ?—I never remember signing a document in Cochrane's office. If I did so I have no recollection of it. 162. What sort of person is Mr. Cochrane? Is he a man of good character?—l have never heard anything good or bad about him. 163. What would you think of Cochrane if he states that these documents were signed in his office and witnessed by himself ? The Chairman : I do not think that is a proper question. Hon. Mr. Richardson : It is not a proper question to put to the witness, or to anybody else. Mr. W. Kelly: Supposing Mr. Cochrane states that these men did sign these documents in his office ? The Chairman : He has not stated so yet. Mr. W. Kelly: Supposing he does? The Chairman : We cannot go upon suppositions. Mr. W. Kelly : We can call that gentleman afterwards.