A.—4b.

How did you send your telegram ?—Through, the Administrator. Passports were refused. What was your next step : I believe Mr. Meredith went to New Zealand ? —Mr. Meredith went to New Zealand. He went to New Zealand on behalf of the committee ?—Yes. Was Mr. Meredith away long ? —Two months. There were a number of Native delegates attached to this committee. We have been told that your committee consisted of the three elected members, six Europeans, and six Natives. There is a reference in various papers to other delegates or sub-committees, particularly at Lepea. What had they to do with the committee ? Where did they come from ? —I do not know. Evidently they were arranged by the Natives themselves. Before the Minister's visit did your committee come into touch with those delegates or not ?—No, not the European section. Were there any meetings at Tuaefu or Lepea ? —Yes. Were you present at those meetings ?—Yes. Where were they held ? —A couple of meetings were held at Tuaefu. Do you remember the nature of those meetings ? —lt was a general discussion about the meeting with the Minister. The Minister arrived on the 3rd June, but before he arrived we would like to know whether the Samoa Guardian was then publishing ?—Yes. When was that started ?—I think it started in May, if I remember rightly. Have you an interest in the Samoa Guardian ? —I am a shareholder. Is the paper run in connection with the Mau ? Does the Mau finance it, or does it finance itself ? — It finances itself. It has nothing to do with the committee. The Samoa Guardian is not run by the committee. Is it a supporter of the Mau ? —I am not in a position to say. When the Minister arrived there was a large number of Samoans here ; it is well known that they wore purple badges : what was the reason for those purple badges ?—To show that they were members of the Mau. What was the idea of showing that they were members of the Mau ? —The idea was just to show that a big proportion of the people were in the Mau. With reference to the sports meeting held at Lepea on the 3rd June, who organized those sports ?— I understand the sports were organized by the Lepea people. Did the committee organize them ?—No, I do not remember them being organized by the committee. There was a ball at Tuaefu on the 3rd June on the same night as the ball that was given in honour of the birthday of His Majesty the King at Yailima. Were you present at either of those functions ?—At Tuaefu. How came it that you did not go to Vailima ? —I was not invited. Did you have anything to do with the invitations in connection with Tuaefu ?—I had something to do with compiling the list. The Chairman : Some balls, no doubt, have played their part in history. There was a ball before Waterloo. Mr. Baxter : To which ball do you refer ? The Chairman : Well, both seem to be historical now. Mr. Baxter (to witness).] Do you know what persons were invited to that at Tuaefu ? The Chairman : Need we examine the invitation list ? Surely not. That is hardly our duty as a Commission appointed by His Majesty the King. Mr. Baxter : No, sir ; only there have been remarks in the papers The Chairman: Many things are said that are quite unimportant, and should be disregarded. Mr. Baxter : That is my feeling about the matter too The Chairman : Well, I would like you to exercise a little more consideration for the Commission. Mr. Baxter : I only bring up these things because they have a bearing on the suggestions made of sedition and disloyalty. I just want to show the type of person who was invited to Tuaefu. Those who had been invited there were not the persons who were invited to Vailima. Mr. Baxter (to witness).] The Minister, I believe, granted the committee an interview ?—Yes. Do you know the date ? How long after he arrived ?—Nine days. Was the interview attended by you ? The Chairman : You have got an official account of that in the State papers. Mr. Baxter : I just want to bring everything right out. The Chairman : Well, just refer to it, to incorporate it in Mr. Williams's statement. Mr. Baxter.] There is a report here of the meeting of the interview which took place between the Hon. Mr. Nosworthy and the Citizens Committee on the 11th June in State paper A-4b, commencing on page 41. I believe also there was a large number of Natives collected outside at the time of the meeting ?—Yes. Were they orderly or disorderly ? —Orderly. Have you any idea, from your own estimates, how many there were ?—I should say, between five thousand and six thousand. Did your committee bring those Natives here or not ?—No ; they came of their own free will. Was any speech made from tjie Courthouse steps after the meeting by any member of your committee, or were they spoken to at Lepea -They were spoken to at Lepea. When the Minister came out the Natives all stood up and the band played " God Save the King." The Chairman : That was a most important thing.

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