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mother and five brothers and three sisters him surviving, and the said Hanora Dealy and Catherine O'Leary are sisters and the said James Dealy and Stephen Dealy are brothers of the said Daniel Dealy, and the mother and the other brothers and sisters of the said Daniel Dealy reside in Ireland : And whereas by deed of lease dated the thirteenth day of September last, made between Pero te One of the one part, and Daniel Egan of the other part, the said Poro te One did demise and lease unto the said Daniel Egan all that piece or parcel of land oontaimng by admeasurement four perches, more or less, being the lot numbered fourteen by a subdivision of the Pipitea Pa Reserve of the said city, as shown in the plan drawn hereon, coloured in outline red, with the appurtenances thereto, for the term of twenty-one years, to be computed from the sixth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six, at the yearly rental of sixty pounds, and subject to the covenants and conditions in the now reciting deed contained or implied : And whereas by deed of lease, bearing date the thirteenth day of September last, made between Teo Tipene, Hone Ngaukaka, Eota te Paki, and Heni Tipene of the one part, and the said Daniel Egan of the other part, the said Teo Tipene, Hone Ngaukaka, Eota te Paki, and Heni Tipene did demise and lease unto the said Daniel Egan all that pieoe or parcel of land containing by admeasurement twenty-two perches, more or less, being the Lot Number Fifteen by a subdivision of the said Pipitea Pa Reserve as shown in the plan thereof drawn hereon coloured m outline red, with the appurtenances, for the term of twenty-one years from the sixth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six, at the yearly rental of one hundred and forty pounds, and subject to the covenants and conditions in the now reoiting deed contained or implied: And whereas the said leases, though taken in the name of the said Daniel Egan, were obtained by him for and on behalf of the said James Dealy and Stephen Dealy, and the said Daniel Egan hath agreed to assign and transfer the same to the said James Dealy and Stephen Dealy as tenants in common in equal shares : And whereas a question has arisen as to whether the estate of the said Daniel Dealy is not entitled to or to an interest in the said in part recited leases of the thirteenth day of September last, but the said James Dealy and Stephen Dealy do not admit any such title or interest, and the said Hanora Dealy and Catherine O'Leary do not desire as sisters of the said Daniel Dealy as aforesaid to claim any interest in the said lease and have agreed to execute these presents for the purpose of releasing such interest, if any : Now this deed witnesseth that in pursuance of the said agreement, and in consideration of the premises, they the said Hanora Dealy and Catherine O'Leary do and each of them doth hereby assign, release, transfer, and assure unto the said James Dealy and Stephen Dealy all those the undivided share and interests (if any) of them the said Hanora Dealy and Catherine O'Leary respectively of and in the said in part recited leases, and of and in the lands and premises expressed to be thereby respectively demised and leased, to hold unto the said James Dealy and Stephen Dealy, their executors, administrators, and assigns, as tenants in common in equal shares for all the respective residues now to come and unexpired of the term of years granted by the said deeds of lease respectively : And this deed further witnesseth that in further pursuance of the said agreement, and in consideration of the premises, they the said Hanora Dealy and Catherine O'Leary do and each of them doth hereby acquit, release, and discharge the said James Dealy and Stephen Dealy and each of them, their and each of their executors, administrators, and assigns.and their respective estates and effects from the respective interests, claims, and demands (if any) of them the said Hanora Dealy and Catherine O'Leary in to or upon the said leases and the lands and premises comprised therein respectively, and of and from all actions, suits, proceedings, accounts, claims, and demands for or in respect of such interests, or for or in respect of any act or thing in anywise relating to the premises. In witness whereof these presents have been executed by the parties hereto the day and year first above written. Signed, sealed, and delivered by the said Hanora Dealy, in the\ presence of- Hanoba Dbam ' MO P. Levi, Solicitor, Wellington. I Signed, sealed, and delivered by the said Catherine O'Leary, in the f «.,.,« presence of- Catherine O'Leaey. (1.5.) P. Levi, Solicitor, Wellington. / 5. It is a sort of family arrangement by which these two ladies surrender or release any interest they might have in the estate?— That is the position exactly. The reason lam asked to come here and make this statement is that my client thought the report in last night's Post will do him harm, and he wants the matter properly set forth. 6. The Chairman.] It has gone forth to the world that his wife is interested in the property, which estate is absolutely James Dealy's own ? —That is the position. 7. Mr. Taylor.] Did you take instructions from Mrs. O'Leary for the preparation of that deed ? —This document is signed by Mrs. O'Leary, and the instructions were given to Mr. Stafford or Mr. Field. lam unable to ascertain which. 8. You do not know now of any conversation that took place between your partner and Mrs. O'Leary at the time the deed was drafted?—No; I cannot say anything of the conversation, that took place some years ago. 9. When was it drafted?—ln 1892. 10. Do you know if there is any other deed of any description relating to this property in existence, as between the present licensee and the sisters who signed this document ?—I am quite sure there is not. 11. No consideration is to be paid by Dealy to his sister for her share?—l have already explained that James Dealy was administrator of Daniel Dealy's estate. When Daniel Dealy died the debts belonging to the estate were largely in excess of the assets. 12. Do you know if he has paid one brother £1,000? —I know he has not. 13. Supposing Mr. O'Leary said he had done so, he would be wrong ?—Certainly. 14:! And O'Leary said his wife's interest was worth £1,000 ? —I do not know the value of the property, but it is an exceedingly sanguine estimate. 15. Instead of Mrs. O'Leary's interest being valued at £1,000 she has no interest at all in it? —She parted with the whole of her interest for nothing, whether it was worth something or 16. Absolutely without present or future consideration? —Yes, so far as I know. I should say that it was an excellent consideration that the estate was relieved of its liabilities by Dealy. 17. What did you say the others received for their share?—l say Stephen Dealy did not receive £1,000. I believe he received £800. Stephen Dealy was a partner in the concern, and had been working in the hotel since 1892 without receiving any wages. 18. When did he receive payment ?—Some time within the last six months. 19. Any deed in connection with the settlement? —Yes;. I believe my partner, Mr. Field, prepared a deed. 20. Which of your partners prepared that document ?—The release ? either Mr. Stafford or Mr. Field ; I cannot say which. 21. Has that been registered yet?—lt does not require registration.