.—3a.

94

H. LEWI-,

70. Of course, you have heard that the majority of the Natives were really opposed to the sale? —I did not know that till afterwards. 71. You know that now?— Yes, that they were at one time. I really know nothing about that. lion. Sir J . Carroll: There was a majority in favour of the sale of two of the blocks. 72. Mr. Massey.] Were you present at Te Kuiti at all? —No, I was not. 73. You were represented there?—By Mr. Dalziell. 74. At the different meetings?— Yes. 7."). Did Mr. Dalziell take up his residence there for a time? —No; lie only went up there one day. 76. To the different meetings?— Yes. 77. You know there were more meetings than one?— Yes. 78. First the meeting of the assembled owners, then adjourned ami adjourned again, and then the meeting of the Maori Land Board? —Yes. 79. Very well; you became possessed of the freehold title? —Yes. 80. The Natives eventually agreed, and difficulties were got over, and the Order in Council was issued and confirmed by the Maori Land Hoard, and you became practically owner of the block subject to certain mortgages?— Yes. 81. Prior to your becoming owner of the block had you given an option over the whole property ? —Yes. 82. To the same gentlemen you have mentioned, or others?—No, to Mason Chambers alone this time. 83. Do you know the date?— The first option, 1 think, was on the 14th January of this year —that was to Mason Chambers. 84. And when the transaction was completed so far as you were concerned—that is to say, when the Maori Land Board had consented to the alienation and the Maoris consented—yoti sold your interest to Mr. Mason Chambers? —Yes. 85. Not the whole interest?--No. 86. What did you retain? —The land that was subject to leases. 87. What area?—7,o46 acres. 88. Do you still own that block? —Yes. Well, it is vested, with all the rest of the land, in the Native Land Board. 89. In the meantime? —Yes. 00. Now, about the conditions with regard to subdivision : were there any conditions with regard to subdivision as between yourself and the Maori Land Board when you became owner of the property? —I think we had complied with the Act which regulated third-class land of not more than 3,000 acres and first-class land of not more than 400 acres. 91. Did you understand that to be in compliance with the Act? —Yes. 92. Did Mi. Dalziell make that statement to you?—l knew the law in that respect. 93. That is not the law—you are mistaken. Is not the law this: that Maori lands cannot be sold in a larger area than 3,000 acres of third-class land, and corresponding areas of first and second class? —Yes. 94. And therefore you were not complying with the law ?—That was to the interest of all parties concerned. 95. That is your explanation?— Yes. 96. The law was departed from all the same? —No. 97. Well, the intention of the Act was, so far as the subdivision was concerned, when you became owner of the 53,000 acres? —I do not know about that. 98. As a matter of fact, you left it to Mr. Dalziell? —Yes, that part. 99. Well, you purchased'for £25,000, T think? -Yes, and £2,500 worth of shares fully paid up in the company of £100,000. 100. I think that was consideration by the company or by Mr. Mason Chambers? —No, I had something to do with that myself. 101. That was part of tRe consideration so far as you were concerned? —Yes, that is right. 102. Then you parted with your interest to Mr. Mason Chambers? —Yes. 103. Do you mind telling the Committee what you received therefor? —I received £71,000 cash and £4,000 worth of fully-paid-up shares in the company, out of which T had to pay my portion of the expenses. 104. And the 7,000 acres of land which you retained? —Yes. 105. I suppose your expenses would be very considerable —it looks a big profit?— There were expenses. 106. Would \ou mind telling the Committee what the expenses amounted to?—I do not know ; I never even kept an account. 107. You only say they were considerable?— Yes. That includes the freehold and leasehold. 108. That includes all your interest in the property, both freehold and leasehold? —Yes. 109. Mr. Dive.'] You stated that you received a certain amount of money for this land, and have retained 7,000-odd acres? —Yes. 110. Who holds that land? —The Native Land Board, I understand—Mr. Bowler, on behalf of the company. 111. I understood from the evidence that all the company had got was 46,000 acres? —46,229 acres. 112. And held no interest in the balance? —No; but still it is vested in the Board. 113. Only nominally?— Yes. 114. But who is virtually the owner? —I am the owner, subject to the leases.