A. —4b.

Were they taking the circular produced by Mr. Williams ?—Yes. Between the second meeting and the Minister's visit was there any unrest or disturbance amongst the Samoans ? —There was in a way, because the Samoans were very much annoyed at the people being confined to their villages and not being allowed to move for three months. You said " people," Mr. Westbrook : how many do you mean, approximately I—All members of the committee. Regarding these much-talked-of reports, when did the committee put them in : after the second meeting ? —Yes. Were they put in in time for His Excellency to place before the Fono of Faipules ?—Yes. What was the object ? —That they should be put before the Minister of External Affairs and that the committee should meet the Minister. It was decided that a delegation should go to New Zealand : why did they not go ? —They were prevented by not getting their passports issued. I believe that Mr. Meredith went to New Zealand : was he sent by the committee or not ? —Yes. He was sent on committee business ? —I think so. Did he pay his expenses or did the committee pay them ? —He paid his own expenses. Coming to the Minister's visit: at this visit there were a number of Samoans in at the time, and the supporters of the Mau wore a purple badge. Did you know that they were going to wear that badge before you actually saw it ?—Yes. What was the object in wearing that badge ? —Just to show their numbers. After the Minister left, Mr. Westbrook, I believe the chairman of the committee got a letter referring to an alteration in the law. I believe your name was mentioned in that letter. There were, I understand, two letters —one advising of the alteration in the law, and one instructing you to cease to have anything further to do with the Natives ?—Yes, that is correct. Are you aware of anything you have done towards disturbing the Natives and creating a state of unrest ?—No, not to my knowledge. Well, there is a state of unrest, Mr. Westbrook : whom or what do you blame for that ?-— I blame the action of the Administrator, and also the Minister. Well, we will take His Excellency :to what actions of his do you refer ?—His trying to prevent us voicing our opinions. What do you mean by " us," Mr. Westbrook ? —People generally. But do you mean the Europeans alone, or the Europeans and the Samoans ?—The Europeans and the Samoans. That is rather a general sort of a statement. In what way do you mean he prevented you from voicing your opinions ? —I mean that we had very little opportunity in the Council, because everything appeared to be cut-and-dried beforehand with the official members ; that what we were attempting to do in a constitutional manner was received in a hostile way. That is something of a generality. What do you mean when you say " hostile " ? What act on the part of the Administrator do you mean was hostile ? —The stopping of the passports ; confining the Natives to their villages ; trying to burst up the movement without in any way trying to personally meet the people. I feel sure that if the Administrator had met the committee and conducted the matter over a round-table conference and found out what was really wrong, and talked things over and made representations or recommendations to the Minister, there would have been no trouble. You also blamed the Minister : in what way ? —He was here nine days without granting an interview to any members of the committee. Had he been asked to grant an interview to the committee ?—Yes, I think so. Is there anything else you are blaming the Minister for ? —Yes ; in the first place, the Minister opened the meeting by condemning the citizens and telling them they were all wrong, without giving them a hearing. An interview was granted to us. Any other act ?—Yes, the threats of deportation ; they naturally " got the people's backs up." In the Minister's letter reference is made, I think, speaking from memory, to seditious and disloyal acts on your part: have you ever received any definite information to what seditious act that was ? —No. Have you personally, or through the committee, asked for details %—No. This first meeting was in October of last year ; in an official report from the Administrator, and which is before the Commission, appears the words, " One person, with one object only, was the originator of the present trouble —viz., Mr. Nelson, the wealthy half-caste merchant, whose aim apparently was to increase his power and influence, particularly in Native matters, and so enhance his commercial interests " : do you think that is a correct statement ?—I am sure that assertion is not true. Is Mr. Nelson the only one responsible for starting this, or are you and Mr. Williams implicated ? —I am, in a way. When I was away I tried to interview the Prime Minister in Wellington. Who called the public meeting % —The elected members. Do you know whether Mr. Nelson has benefited materially ? —I do not think that he has. He is paying his own expenses at this time I—Yes.1 —Yes. Was there any dissatisfaction or not prior to this meeting ?—Yes, I think that there was. From the same report —" Support from a number of Native chiefs, principally dismissed officials or police offenders " : are these the only supporters you had ? —We had general support.

75