NATIVE COMMISSION. CHARGES AGAINST A PUBLIC OFFICER.

Evening Post, Volume XIX, Issue 61, 16 March 1880, Page 2

NATIVE COMMISSION. CHARGES AGAINST A PUBLIC OFFICER.

AN EXTBAOEDINARY WITNESS. I*BOM OUB BPKCIAIi CORRESPONDENT. 1 New Plymouth, 15th March. rhe Commission had a long sitting to-day. Amonsrst other witnesses was Joshua Jones, better known *» Mokau Jones. It appears, from what I cotud gather, that hd hits bees talking at large about Mr. Parris, saying that hd is a dealer in native lands, and that his connection with the Commission is *c* garded with suspicion by the natives, and that, generally speaking, their mind is un« settled on that account. It is understood that Mr. Parris regarded these allegations as unmitigated Blanders, and as he alleges that Jones has been slandering him in this way ever since ho has been in the district, he (Mr. Parris) applied to the Commission to examine both Jones and himself. It would appear, also, that Jones himself was really desirous of being examined on these matters, inasmuch as he obtained a conversation with Sir Dillon Bell, and recounted to him all the wicked things he had hoard of Mr. Parris. The charges were of bo grave a nature that the Commissioners thought it right Jones should havo an opportunity of uubatantiating all his allegations, and so get them placed on record. He was summoned beforo the Commission, and reminded of his statements to Sir D. Bell. Parris was present, but when it camo to making a specific allegation Jones was unable to say anything of his own knowledge — -he had merely been told these things by Maoris, men he know very well by sight, but he could not remember a single name. Still, he said, he was certain he could bring lots of them forward if he had time. Hs was told that ho could bring them up the next day if he liked. Then as to tho land he alleged Parrfchad trafficked in, ho was asked could be locate a piece P " Yea," he replied, " it was somewhere about Sentry Hill." '• Was it north',y«mth, east, or west of it?" "Well; he ofald not remember exactly, but he knew there was some land thoreSbottts respecting Which thoro had been a dispute between Parris, the Maoris, and l the whites. He could riot be more specifier than fhat, but The referred the Commission to Mr. Sansofi, wh6 knew all about thai matter, and would furnish them with all particulars." The Commission replied thitf they would like if possible to get the informal tion from him. " Well, he never said he could apeak to these things of his own knowledge, but it was well known and generally under* stood that Mr. Parris had been trafficking in native lands. In faot, he could produoA a public newspaper in which all that he said, and a good deal more, appeared in print." It was in vain that the Commission pointed out that this was not evidence, and that they must have something more tangible to go upon. Jones then said he would ask tho Commission to place Mr. Parris in his position, and question him as to whether he did not truok in native lands, or he would ask them to put Mr. Eonnell, of tho Native Office, in tho box, and ask him whether Mr. Parria had not been trucking in native lands. The Commissioners pointed out that the regular mode was to obtain the evidence from the person who made the allegations. Jones seemed to be of opinion that it would be bettor to examine everybody he ohose to name rather than that he should bring for' ward any evidence himself. When Parria was about to ask him some questions, he said that the 800 soldiers at the back of the Commission could not oompel him to allow himself to be questioned by Mr. Parris, but he would not object to answering the Commission. At first he was inclined to defy the Commissioners until Sir D. Bell and Sir W. Fox explained to him that he was defying Parliament, and that they oould compel him to give his evidence, or give him in charge for contempt. Jones stuok to his allegations ; but the Commission, after a patient but vain endeavor to get something in the shape of evidence out of him, had to give it up as a bad job, and gave him to understand that they attached very littleimportance to what he had said. Then Joshua muttered something about a Commission appointed for a political purpose, and vanished through the door. Whatever report the Commission make, Jones intends to appeal to the Governor against it, and ho will move Parliament for another Royal Commission. Jones is tho man who was granted moneys by tho Grey Government for some undennable serviced in connection with Mokau. He explained to tho Commission that what he said about Parris he did on public grounds, as he thought those things ought to be known.