A.—4b.
Are you in the Mau now ?—-Yes. Were you in the Mau when you were banished in 1925 ? —There was no Mau at that time, but I had had a dissatisfied feeling for a long time. Judge MacCormick : In fact, he was a mau on his own. Mr. Slipper : That is, sir, what we will show the Mau to be before we finish —just a crude selection of individual opinions. (To witness:) Were you dissatisfied in any way with the Faipules I—Yes. Mr. Meredith.] Before you came to Faleapuna you lived at Aleipata ? —Yes. And you had lived there for many years ? —Only two or three years. Have you not land at Aleipata ? —I have no land there —only my relations' land. I belong to Faleapuna. Did you not have land at Aleipata before you went to Faleapuna ? —Only family land. Were you living on that family land before you went to Faleapuna I—No,1 —No, they supported me. I went to Aleipata and held an Aleipata title there, and the family supported me. They provided me with a share. Did vou have the same share in the family land when you went back that you had had before ? —No. What was the difference ?—Because I held a title in another district. Do you know that it was the chiefs of Faleapuna who asked for the inquiry into your conduct ?— I do not know that. If any man is disturbing the peace of a village, have not the chiefs the right to inquire into it ?— In some villages, Yes ; in other villages, No. Why in some villages and not in others I—They all have different methods. Would not the chiefs of this village have the right to inquire into the conduct of a man if he was causing trouble ? —Yes. The inquiry was held before four Faipules—Fonoti, Toelupe, Aiono, and Asi-Mama 'i—Yes. Are any of those Faipules in this district ? —No. You were given notice to attend the inquiry, were you not ? —Yes. And did you attend ?—Yes. And certain charges were made against you by the Faleapuna chiefs ? —The Faipule charged me. You were charged with the following things before the inquiry started, were you not: (1) Causing trouble by spreading stories about Fonoti and Taua'a ? —I do not know that charge. (2) Using for yourself money, £5, of Faleapuna chiefs obtained by selling a boat ? —Yes, I answer to that charge. (3) Gambling I—l1 —I was charged with that, but it is not true. (4) Removing timber from the leper station at Aleipata ? —I have already given that charge. (5) Opposition to the construction of a new village on the high ground ? —Yes. (6) Assuming control of the title of Aua'a ? —I was charged with that, but it is untrue. (7) Refusal to sign the papers with the other Samoan chiefs ?—Yes. Did you give your evidence before the Faipules ? —Yes. [Notes of inquiry put in, Exhibit No. 23.] Mr. Slipper.] But with regard to these chiefs of Faleapuna, did they turn up at the inquiry to give evidence ? —Yes, there were two who charged me —-that is, the Faipule and the Fa'amasino : they were present. Were those two of the Faleapuna chiefs ?-—Yes. Did they have anything to say themselves ? —They made statements to prove their case. Were you guilty of causing trouble by spreading stories ? —I was not charged with that. In vour notice to attend before the Faipules had you been told what you were to be charged with ? —No. You did not know, then, until you got before the Faipules what you were charged with ? — I only knew the charges when I came before the Faipule. Had you anybody else to speak for you ? Did you speak for yourself or did you have any witnesses ? —The people in my village did not have anything to say except to petition the Faipule to allow the matter to be settled in our own village. Did you have any one with you when you were in front of the Faipule ?—Yes, people of our village. And they asked for the matter to be settled in your own village ? —Yes. The people of the village made application to be allowed to take the matter out of the hands of the Faipule and let it be settled in the village. What was the result I—They1—They would not allow the matter to be withdrawn : the charges were proceeded with. Before you left that meeting of the Faipule did you know what their decision was ?—No. What was said before the Faipule—was anything said to show that you had caused any breach of the peace, order, or good government of the Territory ?—I did not hear. And the next thing you knew you received your order of banishment ? —Yes. Mr. Meredith.] In regard to the dispute about the reports you had spread about Fonoti : did you not go before His Excellency and afterwards apologize for what you had said, and so settle the matter with Fonoti in that way ? Mr. SU-pper : I object to that question, your Honour. The witness answered that he was not charged with that, which answer disposes of this point. Mr. Meredith.] I will put it in another way. Was the first charge settled by your apologizing to Fonoti ? —I did not apologize to Fonoti. Judge MacCormick.] Were you matai of your family at Faleapuna ?—Yes. Mr. Slipper : Perhaps your Honours might feel disposed to ask witness if another matai has been appointed in his place.
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