A.—4b.

I want you to be careful about this : did not Mr. Cobcroft state his and Mr. Meyer's views that they would have nothing to do with the interference in Native affairs ? —I am not sure. And that to distribute the notices was an improper thing to do ? —I did not hear that remark. Those perhaps are not the exact words. Do you remember a discussion between Mr. Cobcroft and you and Mr. Nelson ?—I do not remember when it happened. I remember Mr. Cobcroft announcing that he would not participate if the committee took up Native affairs, but I do not think that it was at the first meeting. But he did tell you that ? —Yes, eventually ; but as far as my memory serves me—l could not be sure, but I think it was after the second public meeting, because Mr. Cobcroft attended the second public meeting. He attended the second public meeting and publicly announced at that meeting that the only part that they would take would be to put in a planters' report: he announced that publicly ? —I do not remember that. We will revert to this conversation in Mr. Nelson's office : did not Mr. Nelson say (I will put this specifically to you) that " The Government has made a lever of the Natives to get prohibition, so why should we not make use of them " ? —I do not remember the remark. Will you deny that that was said in your presence by Mr. Nelson I—l1 —I will not deny it, but I will say that I do not remember. And that you heard it stated that it was a fair thing to bring the Natives in ?—I thought that it was quite fair for the Natives to come in if they wanted to. That was said by you at the second meeting ?—I could not say exactly when. You know Mr. Brewster ? —Yes. And did you tell Mr. Brewster that you could not get anywhere without bringing the Natives in ? —I do not remember. Mr. Brewster will testify that you said it : will you deny it ?—I did not say that. Did you say anything like it ? —Not as far as I can remember. And did you not also say to Mr. Brewster that you would have to get rid of Richardson or that you would not be able to get in power ? —No, I did not make that remark, nor had I any intention of trying to get rid of the present Administrator. At the first big public meeting, when the committees were set up, I think it was Mr. Nelson who moved that a joint committee of European and Natives be set up ? —I do not remember that. Who was it who moved the joint committee of Europeans and Samoans ? —I do not remember. I put it to you that it was Mr. Nelson ? —I am not sure. And at the second meting, after the letter was read out by Mr. McCarthy, was it not Faumuina who moved that the meeting be continued ? —I think so. Judge MacCormick : Do you mean at the meeting on behalf of the Natives ? Mr. Meredith: No, at the general meeting. Judge MacCormick: I think it was Mr. Westbrook. Mr. Baxter: It is on page 20, sir. Judge MacCormick : It says, " The Hon. Westbrook then proposed that the meeting should be continued." Mr. Meredith : Yes, sir, that is so, but lam asking who actually did say it. (To witness :) Is that correct I—lt1 —It is correct. Judge MacCormick : The point is clear, Mr. Meredith [reading] : " The Hon. Westbrook then proposed that the meeting should be continued. Chief Faumuina then addressed the meeting in Samoan in reference to the message received from the Administrator and advised them to think it over carefully," &c. That is the extract from the police report. Mr. Meredith : I take it that would be correct, sir. (To witness :) After this meeting funds were required for the movement, were they not ? —Yes. It was decided at the meeting that voluntary subscriptions should be taken. And the Natives were expected to subscribe ?—Yes, all citizens who wished to do so. Did you have a sub-committee to raise the funds ? —No, it was just general. What arrangements were made to collect the funds ?—There was just a summary of the public meeting printed and sent out to the people in the Samoan language. The funds were to come from the Samoans ? —No, not necessarily, but from the Europeans too. Arrangements were made to collect from the Samoans ? —Yes. And who was deputed to get these moneys in ? —Faumuina and Ainu'u were to go to Savai'i. Yes ; and who was to collect in Upolu ?—Any of the members were to take up subscriptions. A couple of lists were made out. What became of the moneys collected in Upolu : to whom were they paid in ? —To Mr. Nelson, I think. Were the moneys collected in Savai'i paid into Mr. Nelson's office, too ?—I do not know. They were all eventually paid into Mr. Nelson's office—No, I think that Mr. Smyth was the treasurer. That is, the Samoan payments were paid in there as well as the European ?—To Mr. Smyth, yes. How much was collected from the Samoans ? —I could not give the figures. Who will have these figures ?—Mr. Meredith will have the figures now. Over what period was the collecting being done ?— Tt was being done from then on till the time of the Ordinance that was passed after the Minister's visit. The funds were then, stopped. Were the collectors all armed with the pamphlets that had been published ?—I do not think all of them were. Well, Faumuina and Ainu'u were given pamphlets to take over with them ?—Yes. Who prepared the circular ? —I think it was drawn up by Mr. Nelson and Afamasaga.

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