il. LEWIB.J

93

J. —3a.

29. Was thai the time you bought the leasehold interest from the executors? —Yes. 30. Was that prior to the report by the Native Commission with which Sir llobert Stout was connected? —Yes, a few years. 31. I suppose you saw the report of the Native Commission? — J did not see it till a few weeks ago. 32. You heard of it!— Yes, 1 did. 33. You heard the Commission report suggested that the leases were void or voidable! — Yes. That is a matte] , of opinion. 34. Then, after the negotiations had fallen through between yourself and the Hawke's Bay gentlemen, you took steps to acquire the freehold of the land?- —Not at the time. 35. Some time afterwards? —Yes. 36. Did you conduct the negotiations in this connection yourself or place the business in the hands of solicitors? — After the Hawke's Bay people decided not to go on I brought the matter before solicitors. •">7. What firm of solicitors did you employ? MY. Dalziell. 38. Messrs. Findlay, Dalziell, and Co.?— Mr. F. G. Dalziell. 39. Did Mr. Dalziell ascertain on your behalf in what way he could obtain the freehold for you.' —No, not at that time; there were other negotiations pending. in. Would you explain what they were? — I am not sure, but i think Mr. Dalziell approached the Government tirst. 41. Did Mr. Dal/.iell inform you what was necessary to obtain the title? —No, that matter never came up at thai time. 12. Did vim of your own personal knowledge know that it was possible to avoid the limitation provisions of the Act by the issue of an Order in Council? —That never came up at that time. 13. Mr. Dalziell did not inform you to that effect? —I knew the Act in reference to it. 11. Diil Mr. Dalziell apply on your behalf for (lie issue of an Order in Council?— No. The Natives were very anxious to sell;, they approached me many times prior to that. 45. Did not Mr. Dalziell apply on your behalf for the issue of an Order in Council? —No; I think it was Mr. Skerrett, who was acting on behalf of the Natives, who did that. T had nothing to do with that at all. 46. As a matter of fact, you do not seem to know much about, the Order in Council?—No, I do not. 47. Still. Mr. Dalziell was acting for you?— Yes. IS. You [ound out afterwards that the Government had consented to the issue of an Order in Council? —Yes. 40. You ascertained that? —Mr. Dalziell mentioned it to me. .">(). I suppose yon had a number of conversations with Mr. Dalziell in regard to the negotiations? —Yes. r>l. Did vim know anything about the first meeting of the assembled owners to consider your proposals? —Yes, 1 think 1 did. .")2. I suppose Mr. Dalziell recommended you to purchase at a price to be arranged?— No. The Natives wanted to sell a long time ago for £15,000. .">•'!. To whom did they want to sell? —To me. There were negotiations at different times, and afterwards I believe they offered their freehold rights to the Government. 54, Do you know anything about the offer to the Government? —I think they offered their freehold rights to the Governmeni for £22,500. 55. You know that of your own knowledge I—Well,1 —Well, the various Natives mentioned that to me —those who were in Wellington at the time. r>o. Do you know the names of tin.- Natives?—Yes —Pepene Eketone, An am Eketone, and. I think. Takere Wetere. r>7. Were vim given to understand that the sale had really been arranged?— No. .">B. Hut that negotiations were going on? —I believed so at the time. .">'.). And then the Natives came to you and offered to sell?— Yes. They were trying for n long time prior to that. 60. Do you know when the negotiations between the Government and tho Natives were broken ~ff? No, but T think it was some time about the end of last year. 61. Still. Pepene Eketone and other Natives trave you to understand that they were acting for the owners, anil had a right to dispose of the land? —Yes. r>2. Now, I want to come to the first meeting of the assembled owners. Was that meeting arranged on your behalf by your solicitors?—! really do not know. T think Mr. Skerrett, on behalf of the Natives, and Mr. Dalziell. my solicitor, had arranged that. (J. , !. By the way, was there not another mortcrnge of your interest besides the mortgage of £14,000 to the executors of Wickham Flower?— Yes, there were several. 01. A mortgage for £I,ooo?—Yes, 65 To Findlav, Dalziell, and Co.? —Yes; and (here was a mortgage beyond that. 60. Really a third mortgage?— Yes. 67. Was that the mortgage to Macarthy ?—Yes. 6S What really happened, 1 suppose, was that you gave that to Mr. Macarthv as collateral aeouritv?- Yes. 1 owed Mr. Macarthv a lot of money, and T gave him additional security. 69 Now T want to come back to the meeting again. T suppose Mr. Dalziell and yourself arranged and you instructed him that you were willing to pay .£25,000 to the Natives?— Yes. T think that prior to that the Natives in Wellington agreed to accept that amount. T thought they had full power at that lime to act on behalf of them all—T mean Pepene Eketone a 1 the others.