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the date* when each man signed the transfer. On looking the matter up, I find the agreement was drawn on the 3rd December; six Natives signed it on the 4th December; and these six signed the transfer on the sth December, 1891.] 95. These dates are in the margin ?—Yes. To make the matter clear to the Committee, you will allow me to state that, previous to their coming into my office to sign this agreement, they had a meeting of all the grantees present. Mr. W. Kelly : Mr. Lundon should examine the witness. 96. Mr. Lundon.] You are a licensed interpreter ?—Yes ; I have already stated so. 97. For how many years ? —About twenty-two years, I think. 98. You have done a great deal for the Government and private persons during that time ? — Yes. 99. Has there ever been any dispute or fault found with your work by either the Government, or Natives, or Europeans ?—Not that I know of. 100. You recollect, in November last, my calling upon you to act as interpreter to some signatures I wanted to a deed ?—Yes. 101. Did I ask you what your charge would be, as I had to pay?— Yes, you did. 102. You told me your charges would be the scale allowed for interpreters ?—Yes. 103. If you had to go away from Herd's Point it would add to the expense ?—Yes. Hon. Mr. Richardson.] It would be better that the questions should be put as questions, and not as suggesting answers. The Chairman.] You had better put the questions direct to the witness. 104. Did I say I would bring all the owners to Herd's Point ? —Yes. 105. Did I tell you I had a deed ?—No. I do not remember you having told me that. 106. Did you ever see any deed with me ? —No. 107. Do you recollect arranging the day that I was to bring the owners of the land to Herd's Point ?—Yes. 108. Did all the owners come to Herd's Point that day ? —No. 109. Can you remember those who were absent ?—Eikihana and Ngawaka. 110. Were those the only two who were absent ? —Yes; there were other two quarter-shares that were not represented at that time. 111. All the others were present?— Yes. 112. Was there an arrangement made that we would talk the subject over in the dining-room of Flood's hotel ?—Yes. 113. There were a good many persons present besides those Natives? —Yes. I think so. 114. Did I say that any conversation I had with them before was all to be dropped, and that as now there was a licensed interpreter, we should speak about the land ?—Yes. 115. Did I commence by telling them that I had nothing to do with the Government ?—Yes. 116. That I was to act for them ?—Yes. 117. Did I ask you to ask them if they were satisfied for me to act for them ?—Yes, you did. 118. Did I ask you to Explain to them that they were to consent to the document, and hand me the money over? —Yes. 119. Did I ask you to tell them that they had sold their land to me for 4s. an acre ?—Yes. After some conversation they agreed to let you have the land for 4s. an acre. 120. Did I ask you to say that I was going to do well out of the purchase ?—Yes, you did. 121. And that I allowed them 6d. more than they had agreed to sell for?— Yes. 122. And their friends' expenses ?—Yes, they had some friends with them. 123. Did I not say that I would get the document, and get them to sign it to that effect?— Yes; and they agreed to sign it as soon as it was ready. 124. Did not Waaka say to let the document stand over until after Puhipi went away, as he was not going to sell ? —Yes. 125. Did. Waaka give a reason for not signing then ?—He said on account of Timoti standing out, he did not like to do anything. 126. And while Timoti was there was there any document signed ?—No. 127. Do you recollect. Brown and Waaka?—l did not know Brown ;he was a stranger to me at the time. 128. Did you know he was there ?—Yes. 129. Did the Native owners all come together to your office to sign the document ?—They did. 130. The document making me their agent? —Yes. 131. Was I present ?—-Yes. 132. Did you read that English document to them in Maori?— Yes I did. 133. And they all signed it without making objection ?—They did. 134. Where did they then go to ?—A day or so after they went to sign the deed at Mr. Millar's office. 135. Can you give any reason why they were not together in Millar's office ?—Yes. In the first place, it is a very small place. The public room there was a very small place, and as there were already in the place Mr. Lundon, Mr. Clarke, J. P., Flood (the attesting witness), and myself, there was very little room for more than one or two in at a time to sign. As there was a great deal of signing to do, each one having to sign some five or six times, each man would take some five or six minutes, and Mr. Millar objected to being interrupted by so many being in the place. 136. Are you quite certain I made no objection ?—I do not remember you making any objection. 137. Did you make any objection ?—No, I did not; it would have suited me better had they all been present, because one reading would have done the lot. 138. As their names were in the deed they came in and signed it ?—Yes.