A.—4b.

Has it ever been given back to you by him ? —No, although I was before him when the matter of giving my title back was discussed. And it has not been handed back ? —I consulted the Secretary of Native Affairs at a later date, and he informed me that no decision had been arrived at. The Chairman.] That is Mr. Lewis ?• —Mr. Griffin was Secretary of Native Affairs then, and later Mr. Lewis. What was the date you lost your title ? —ln the year 1924. Mr. Slipper.] Was that the same date as you were banished ?■—l was banished first, and later my title was taken away. You were banished on the 24th February, 1924 : where were you sent to I—Leulumoega,1—Leulumoega, Upolu. How far away is that ? —Twenty miles. And after that were you sent anywhere else ? —I was imprisoned for returning from Leulumoega to Vaimoso. The sentence was about a week. Do you know for how long you were banished at first ? —No period was given in the order. Was it for as long as the Governor thought fit ? —I did not think that it meant that. Have you any of your papers now I—No,1 —No, I have not the papers with me now ; they are at home. [Subsequently put in—Exhibit No. 18.] After you came out of gaol, what happened then ? —I was sent to Savai'i. Were you married then ? —Yes. Have you any children ? —One at that time. What were you banished for at the start ? —I do not know, except that it had something to do with a hedge that I planted. Did anybody ever tell you what you were banished for ? —His Excellency told me that it was because 1 did not carry out his orders that I was banished. What was His Excellency's order ? —He ordered me to remove the hedge, which I had planted before any inquiry took place. On whose land was that hedge planted ? —On my own land, occupied by myself and where my house stands. Did anybody else say that it was some-one-else's land I—No.1 —No. How do they settle disputes here about land ? —Through the Lands and Titles Commission. Did this matter go before that Commission ?—Nobody took it before the Commission. Who settled the whole thing ? —His Excellency the Administrator. And that is why you were banished ? —Yes. Your banishment appears to have expired ? —My banishment has expired and I am back in my home. The Chairman.'] How long have you been back ? —About two years. The original banishment was in 1924 ? —Yes. Mr. Slipper.] When you were in Savai'i did you ever come across to Apia ? —Yes. What for ? —I wanted an investigation, a Court case to inquire into this order. What happened ? —I was imprisoned for three months. It was the second imprisonment. Judge MacCormiclc.] Did he receive a notice about the finish of his banishment ? —There was no period stated in the banishment order. Whilst His Excellency was round Savai'i on a malaga he informed my wife that the banishment had finished. The Chairman.] Did your wife go into banishment with you ? —She was visiting me at the time. Myself and family petitioned for the lifting of the banishment. Judge MacCormick.] Simply a verbal message ?—Yes. Mr. Slipper.] Since you have been back has it been well known by the Administration that you have been back ? The Chairman : There is no doubt about that. Mr. Baxter : In regard to the Native witnesses that come into the box, they will probably have other complaints. I suggest that it would assist the Commission if the Native witnesses are examined on various topics that we know are matters for complaint, and see what they have to say. The Chairman : Ido not think that that will be very satisfactory. Only one counsel can examine a witness. Mr. Baxter : But this is a different point. Mr. Meredith : That was the arrangement: having finished with the known evidence, they should be invited to volunteer anything further. The Chairman : And what topics do you suggest, Mr. Baxter ? Mr. Baxter : The emblems of authority, question of " fine mats," objection to the medical tax, the question of the Faipule. The Chairman : I think that the best plan would be for Mr. Meredith to proceed. Mr. Meredith.] Did you ever have a case before the High Court over this land ? —No. Were you not ordered by the High Court to give your land up ?—No. Did you hear Ale Lui give evidence ? —Yes. Did you hear that Ale Lui asked for Sola and Kele to be banished from their village?— Yes. And that Ale Lui thought that it was all right for them to be banished because they were up against him ?—Yes. Would you ask for any one to be banished if you were up against him ?—We would do that by Native authority, which we wish the Administration to uphold. Then it is the Samoan custom to banish when Natives raise trouble in their villages ? —I would do the same as Ale Lui, and request the Government to exercise that power. Do you know what the law about banishment under Malietoa was ?—I do not know,

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