15—A. 4b.

A.—4b.

Did you see Mr. Griffin that time ?—Yes. And were the Faipules there ?—No. Was there ever a time when you did go before the Faipules ?—Yes. Was that before you saw Mr. Griffin or after ? —The interview with Mr. Griffin was first, then afterwards I appeared before the Faipules. How did you come to appear before the Faipules ?—On account of these complaints which had been put before Mr. Griffin. But did you get any summons, either verbally or in writing, to attend ?—I received a summons. Was it a verbal summons or was it in writing ?—ln writing. Do you know if the other three men received summonses at the same time ?—There was one letter for all the chiefs and orators in the village. It was addressed to " chiefs and orators of Faleapuna." And what did it ask them to do—to all attend ? —Yes. Did it say what for ?—lt stated there that we would be tried by the Faipule on account of these matters of complaint. And did you obey personally : did you go before the Faipule ?—Yes. And what were you charged with when you got there ? —The charges were not read out to me. Was it suggested that you should not have made complaints at all to Mr. Griffin ?—They questioned me about these matters of complaint we had put forward. Did you discuss those general complaints with them ? —Yes. Did anybody speak with you then ?—Yes. What did they say—that you had done wrong ?—They said that I had misled the people of Faleapuna. Is that all you know about it 'Yes. Before you left the Faipule that day, were you told what was the result of the inquiry ? — Three of us were threatened by Mr. Griffin, who intimidated us by saying, " If you do not at once apologize to His Excellency the Administrator and the Faipule Fonoti you will get into serious trouble." But did you know before you left what the decision of the Faipule would be ?—I got the decision verbally. What was it ? —I was to go and reside at Falefa, and that my title was to be taken away. Did the Faipule give that decision ?—Yes. And then you got a written order from His Excellency the Administrator after th?t ? —Yes. Can you tell us how long it was between the time you appeared before the Faipule and the time you got the written order ? —I got the written order two days afterwards. Did any of the three other men get an order ?—Yes, Savusa and Tialavea Vevesi. They also were banished. One man, then, was let off ?—Yes. Was there any trouble in your village at this time ? —No. Was there any likelihood of a row —that is to say, a quarrel: people getting angry and things of that sort ?—No. When you brought these complaints to Mr. Griffin, did you bring them to tell him that you would have it your way, or did you bring them to him to ask him to look into them ?—We asked for matters to be inquired into. And that is what you got ?—-Yes. Mr. Meredith.] Did you say that there were no Government officials in Faleapuna ?—Not now. Well, did you say that there were none at that time ? —The Faipule and pulenu'u. And Tialavea Vevesi, the other man, was himself a pulenu'u ?—Yes. He was one of the men who were brought up before the Faipule ? —Yes. And was there not trouble between the villages of Fagaloa and Faleapuna ? —These matters of complaint of ours were prevented from coming before the Administrator by the District Committee at Fagaloa. Were there not disputes between Fagaloa and Faleapuna ?—No. What were the troubles between Faleapuna and Fagaloa at that time ?—A man in Fagaloa, named Fea, said that we should not put our complaints forward. Were you taking part in the disputes ? —Yes. Was there not an inquiry, at which Savusa, you, and Tialavea Vevesi were asked to attend ? —We were summoned before the Faipule to attend before them for the inquiry. And the Faipules were Fonoti, Toelupe, Aiono, Seuili, and Asi Mama ?—Yes. And did you and the other men make their statements before those Faipule ?—No. Did you not appear ?—No , we were just charged, and did not make statements. But you were there ? —Yes. But you did not speak ?—No, not until after the threat. And did not the Faipule tell you all to have a reconciliation with your opponents : this was at Mulinu'u ?—That was made together with the threat. You were told to have a reconciliation, but there was a threat with it ?-—He said that if we did not immediately apologize to His Excellency the Administrator and the Faipule Fonoti, that we would be severely punished. There was another investigation at Faleapuna afterwards, was there not ? —Yes, but I had left there.

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