A. —4b.

Of you three, which ranks as the senior member ?—Mr. Nelson has been the senior member both elections. Can you say what type of person was present in the meeting ?—Quite a good class of both Europeans and Natives. Just how was the meeting run ; did every Native speak who wished to speak, or did they have a selected speaker for them ?—I cannot say what the arrangement was. The people who spoke were of high rank. Was there more than one speaker ? —Yes. There were certain papers read at that meeting various gentlemen : how came it that such papers were read ? —At the first meeting ? Not so much reading as speeches : lam referring to a specific meeting. Here is the police report: it says here Mr. Nelson made a speech on the Legislative Council; there is a reference to the Fono of Faipules ; Mr. Smyth read a comparison of revenue and expenditure, and made a special point of Chinese and Medical Departments ; Mr. Kurt Meyer read a statement on plantations, and then Mr. A. Cobcroft; and you read one on public works. Those gentlemen all came along prepared: what was the idea of coming along prepared ?—I do not know that any one was particularly prepared. Some one had to get up and lead the meeting off. The idea was to have some speakers ready to lead the meeting off, with the idea of opening up discussion ?—Yes. All those gentlemen whose names have been mentioned, would they all be reputable members of society ?—Yes, they are all prominent citizens. Are all those men at present on the committee belonging to the Mau ? —They are not all on the committee now. Which ones are not ? —Mr. Cobcroft and Mr. Meyer. How was the meeting, Mr. Williams—something of a rowdy nature ? Most political ones are ?— I should think, quite quiet. How would you classify it ? —Very orderly. Were there any Government officials present ? —Yes, quite a large number. Did they leave the meeting, or did they stay on to the finish ?—There may have been one or two left, but most stayed on. There is a reference made here in Mr. Braisby's report, that the Samoans handed in typed sheets of complaints ? —I do not remember :itis a long time ago. Who is Lago Lago ?—-He is one of the present members of the committee. Was he a speaker for the Samoans, the only speaker I—No. Then you say that report does not go far enough. Were there other speakers ?—Yes. Were there any minutes of that meeting kept by the committee ?—Yes. Where are those minutes ? —They were taken by Mr. Nelson, I think. At that time did you know whether or not the Minister was coming to Samoa ?—We understood he was coming. Did you know at that time whether his visit had been postponed, or were you expecting him ?— At the first meeting, No. And what course was followed at the meeting ? —The committee was appointed to draw up some form of complaint to present to the Minister on his arrival. Now, was this committee purely European ?—No, Native and European. There were six Europeans, six Natives, and the three elected members. How was it elected 1 The Chairman : Does it matter ? They were elected ; that is enough. Mr. Baxter.'] Do you remember the personnel—the three elected members, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Westbrook, and yourself ; Mr. Gurr, Mr. Meredith, Mr. Smyth, Mr. Cobcroft, Mr. Meyer, and myself ? — Yes. And the Samoan members—Faumuina, Tuisila, Lago Lago, Ainu'u, Tofaeono, and Alipia ?— Yes. Messrs. Cobcroft and Meyer did not remain on the committee % —-No. Why did they retire T- —Because they had some objection to taking up Native matters. It was not for some considerable time after that that they retired. And I left the committee for business reasons ? —Yes. This committee was elected, and what was its purpose ? —lts purpose was to draw up reports to be submitted to a meeting to be called later on. Then how did that committee go about drawing up these reports I—They appointed sub-com-mittees to draw up various subjects. Would this be the correct division : Agriculture, Messrs. Cobcroft and Meyer ; finance, Messrs. Smyth and Gurr ; medical, Mr. Williams ; legislative, myself, Mr. Nelson, and Mr. Westbrook ; Native policy, Mr. Nelson and Mr. Meredith ; prohibition, Mr. Westbrook ? —Yes. I believe I retired before the reports were prepared ?—I think so. I think the Natives divided themselves up too : Finance, Afamasaga (Lago Lago); medical, Faumuina and Alipia ; Native policy, Ainu'u and Tofaeono ; prohibition, Faumuina I—Yes.1 —Yes. Was it before or after or while drawing up those reports that you learned that the Minister's visit had been adjourned ? —Yes. While drawing up these reports we learned of the postponement of the visit. How did that affect you : did you continue to draw up the reports ?- —We continued drawing up the reports and called a further public meeting as arranged at the previous meeting.

67