I.—3a.

58

[c. 11. HAltliy.

orders, i said to him when I had signed, " I know what is implied by my signature to those pages—that I am personally responsible for any of your costs in connection with the business." He said, " I do not hold you personally responsible." I said, " But I do, and I will see that no expenses are incurred which I do not see the prospect of getting paid." 3. Mr. Massey.] When you speak of the order of reference, you merely mean the instructions given by Mr. Macdonald and 3'ourself, as representing the Natives, in Mr. Bell?— Yes. Mr. Bell's transcription of them is embodied ami his own decision as to what lie would do. It was his own order of procedure, taken from our instructions to him. Of course lie was the ruling spirit, and all we could do was to acquiesce in what he did. I asked Mr. Bell not to go beyond £100 without letting me know. 1 want to show now that Mr. Bell was engaged, not continuously, but pro re nata as circumstance arose. The deputation returned home. 1 went to Te Kuiti, and the others to their respective homes, and I at once set to work to get particulars of the lands available for sale or lease. 4. Mr. Herries.] Was that to raise the money? —Yes. 6. This was not the Mokau blocks? —No, other blocks held by Natives outside of them. 6. The Chairman.] Ihere were a number of other blocks on the other side of the river?— Yes. 7. Were you interested in those also?— Yes. I need not recapitulate all the properties that I took in hand. 8. Hon. Sir J. Carroll.] Shortly, you tried on their behalf to finance on their other lands? — Yes. There was the Mangapapa Block, for one, on the other side of the river. 1 went to the Native Land Oflice to ascertain the position of the title, and found that that particular block was under lease to a gentleman in Wellington for a number of years. There were about five years to run, and there was nothing in the book about any new transaction having taken place. 1 thought that I might perhaps be able to sell the freehold of that, and so raise money in order to carry on. But I found that a new lease had been given over that property. 9. It is not necessary to go into those details. In a general way you tried to finance on the Natives' other lands? —Yes. I have the items here. 10. The Chairman.] I must ask you to confine yourself to the properties that are the subject of inquiry? —This is all leading up to the statement made by Mi. Bell, that he put upon me the onus of getting him to Te Kuiti or not, and it was through myself and Mr. Macdonald that he was kept from going to Te Kuiti. I went to explain to Mr. Bell when I was in town a month ago that I was not responsible for that. I asked him if I should publish it, and he said No. I will read the telegrams which passed between him and myself with regard to his presence at Te Kuiti on the 10th March, and will leave it to you gentlemen to say whether I was at fault or not. It was on the sth March that Mr. Bell telegraphed me first—"Do you wish me to come up in time have clear day before meeting? Think sufficient if I arrive morning meeting, and see Natives after meeting." This was the following day: "Will you kindly arrange for bedrooms somewhere for self and T. W. Lewis, arriving together Te Kuiti Friday 2 a.m., and leaving again Saturday morning. Please reply to-day where, so that we may go there on arrival.—H. D. Bell." On the same day I replied, '" Have provided excellent accommodation for both at King's Hotel Grand." I received this in reply : " Thanks for telegram about rooms, but await your reply whether you consent my not going. Much prefer stay Wellington." I replied, " Macdonald says impossible to adjourn. Has evidently settled his plans. I will not proceed with adjournment application. Will ascertain Macdonald's view re your attendance and report." I telegraphed at the same time to Tuiti Macdonald at Kuputaroa — "Money (£5) wired," He could not come until I sent him the money. " Case stands for 10th. Do you require Bell's attendance here? " He replied, " Mr. Bell not required. Will arrive Thursday morning." I then telegraphed to Mr. Bell, " Macdonald advises not necessary for you to come." I then received this telegram from Mr. Bell: " Shall be greatly relieved if you consider my attendance meeting unnecessary. Please reply to-day whether you agree with Macdonald." I replied, " You need not come. Will Lewis,be coming?" 11. Mr. Massey.] Who was Mr. Lewis, by the way?—l did not know who he was. Hon. Sir J. Carroll: He is another lawyer who was evidently appearing with Mr. Bell in the case. Witness: Mr. Bell's reply was, "Neither Mr. Lewis nor I will come." That is all I have, Mr. Chairman, and I leave you to judge whether I was right in doing what I did. 12. Mr. Chairman.] Those telegrams will be put in, or certified copies of them?— Yes, I will hand them in afterwards. In due course that meeting came off, and Mr. Dalziell appeared. All our people were in Te Kuiti. 13. Mr. Massey.] That was on the 10th March?— Yes. We were all there. There was a preliminary meeting held just before the Board sat, when everything was discussed. We were marshalling our forces and getting our proxies, when it became quite clear to Mr. Dalziell that he had not got a ghost of a show to carry his proposition for the sale. 14. You mean to carry the proposal with regard to alienation?— Yes. to carry the proposal before the meeting, that the Mokau Block should be sold for .£25,000. When he saw this Mr. Dalziell said that his instructions were very definite, and that if the Natives did not accept the terms he had offered by 7 o'clock that evening he was very sorry he would have to withdraw the offer. Upon that there was a look of chagrin on everybody's face on the other side. The representative of the other side, Mr. Andrew Eketone, got up and said he did not like that talk at all. He practically told Mr. Dalziell to go to blazes. 15. Was not Andrew Eketone in favour of selling?— Yes, he was on the other side, but he was very much annoyed that Mr. Dalziell should suggest the possibility of his withdrawing the offer. The result of that was a decision to recommend the Board to adjourn the meeting until such time as the matter could be discussed in korero and a decision arrived at, The date fixed was the 22ml March.