I.—3a

28

28. How many were there present in your house ?—I could not say how many really ; there were four or five. There may have been more or less. 29. Were there any Europeans present in the dining-room of the hotel?— Yes; myself and a few more, 30. Did you hear any of the conversation between the Natives and myself in connection with this block of land?— Yes; but I could not understand it well. I do not understand the Native language. 81. Pid I speak in Maori or in English?— Mostly in English. You spoke some Maori too. 32. Was Mr. Cochrane there, and acting as interpreter?— Yes. 33. Did you hear me tell Mr. Cochrane to tell them that they had sold their land individually to me at 4s. an acre ? —Yes. 34. Did you hear me tell Mr. Cochrane that I would give 4s. 6d. an acre and pay all their expenses, as I was going to do well out of it ? —Yes. 35. Did they say that they were very glad that I was making money out of it ?—Yes ; they seemed to be very well satisfied. 36. When you went to Millar at the post-office to attest their signatures, was Mr. Cochrane present?— Yes. 37. Did Mr. Cochrane read the deed that he asked you to sign?— Yes. 38. Was Mr. Clark, J. P., present ?—Yes. 39. And Mr. Millar, the Postmaster ?—Yes. 40. And myself ? —Y"es. 41. Did these three Europeans hear Cochrane read the deed to them ?—Yes. 42. Did they make any objection to sign it ? —None whatever. 43. Did you see Mr. Clark, J. P., and Mr. Millar take the cheques?— Yes. 44. Did you see Mr. Millar pin them together?—He had them together. I cannot say whether they were pinned or not. 45. Who did Mr. Millar give them to ? —He gave them to the Natives. . 46..1nt0 their own hands?— Yes. 47. What did the Natives do with them?— They handed them to you. 48. Did you hear me ask any of the Natives to hand them to me ?—No ; they turned round and gave them to you. 49. That night, after the Natives had all their money, did you check the payment ?—No; I do not remember doing it. 50. Did you hear them making speeches and thanking me for what I had done for them ?—I do not remember. 51. But you thought they were all satisfied? —Oh, yes; they seemed to be all very well satisfied. 52. Mr. Taijnta.] Who was acting as interpreter, so that you could understand what was being said? —Mr. Cochrane. 53. Did he interpret the document relating to the 4s. 6d. and 7s. 6d. per acre as well as the deed?—l was not there the whole of the time; I was attending to my business. 54. Mr. Parata.] Did you understand that these Natives were getting the full amount— £217 10s.—for the value of their shares at the time that you tested the signatures to the document ?—They did not say what amount they were to get; I knew that they were to receive 4s. 6d. an acre. 55. Did you see the amount in the cheques paid to the Natives by Mr. Millar—did you notice some of the amounts in the cheques paid ? —I could not say what amounts were then paid. I did not take notice ; I was only there to witness the signatures. 56. How many signatures did you witness?—l believe I witnessed nearly the whole of them except three—l think it was three ;I am not sure. 57. Was it all done in the one day? —No. 58. At the post-office, were all the shareholders in the room when the deed was first read out to them ?—No ; they were one by one. 59. Was the deed read and explained to each of those Natives before each of them signed ? —Yes. 60. How many papers did they sign? —I think three. 61. Do you remember what papers they signed?—No, I do not remember now. 62. Mr. Kapa.] Were you appointed witness to the signing of the Natives ? —There was do appointment; I was merely asked to act as witness. 63. How many times did you act as witness at Mr. Lundon's request? —I could not say how many times ; my name is on the deed each time I witnessed the signature. 64. Did you not know at the time you were acting as witness how much the Government were paying? Did you ever hear Mr. Lundon telling the Natives that the Government could not give them more than 4s. 6d. an acre, or that they would not get more than 4s. 6d. an acre ? —No, I never did. 65. Did you hear or see the Natives expressing great delight at Mr. Lundon having received such a large commission on the sale of their land ?—No; they seemed to be very well satisfied with the price they got themselves. 66. When did you hear Mr. Lundon saying that he would make a good profit out of the sale of this block ?•—I did not hear him say so. 67. When did you first hear that the Government were paying more than 4s. 6d. an acre for this land?—l could not say. I never knew that the Government were paying 7s. 6d. per acre until I reached Wellington. pw, 68. Do you know if Mr. Lundon received any money from the Natives out of the purchase of this land ? —I .do not.