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1894. NEW ZEALAND.
CHARGES AGAINST WILLIAM WILLIAMS (REPORT OF COMMISSION ON), IN CONNECTION WITH THE KAITANGIWHENUA BLOCK.
Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.
1894. NIU TIRENI.
NGA KUPU WHAKAPAE MO WIBEMU WIREMU (RIPOATA 0 TE KOMIHANA MO RUNGA MO KAITANGIWHENUA PORAKA).
He mea tuku ki nga Wliare c rua o ta Bunanga Nui i runga i te whakahau a te Kawana
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To His Excellency the Eight Honourable David, Earl of Glasgow, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand. May it please youe Excellency,— In pursuance of and in obedience to the Commission issued under " The Commissioners' Powers Act, 1867," and "The Commissioners' Powers Act Amendment Act, 1872," on the 4th December, 1893, and directed to me', I have the honour to report to your Excellency as follows: — Your Excellency's Commission reached me on the 22nd December, 1893, and immediately on its receipt I communicated with the parties interested, and set to work to collect all the records, books, papers, and documents of every description bearing upon the matters referred to me. lam glad to say I was fortunate enough to obtain every official document and paper relating to the purchase of the Kaitangiwhenua Block, and although about thirteen years had passed since the transaction which I was directed to inquire into took place. I think your Excellency will see on referring to the evidence and exhibits that most if not all of the main facts connected with the purchase, from its commencement to its completion, have been fully brought out in the inquiry I held the inquiry at Waitotara on 26th, 27th, 29th, 30th, and 31st January, and Ist, 2nd, 3rd, Bth, and 9th February I also held a sitting at Wanganui on 3rd February to take the evidence of the Hon. Mr Bryce and Mr James Duigan. Mr Levi appeared as counsel for Mr Williams, and Mr Marshall as counsel for the Natives. Mr Eobert Campbell acted as interpreter, and Mr. W H. Eussell as shorthand reporter and secretary The evidence of the following witnesses was taken on oath Major Charles Brown, John Bryce, Henry Faulkner Christie, William Cowern, James Duigan, Thomas William Fisher, Eichard John Gill, Thomas Edward Hamerton, John Handley, Wiremu Kauika, Eirirangi Mihaka, George T Potto, Wilfred Eennell, Charles Wallace, Wahiawa, William Williams, Daniel James Williams. The Commission recites that " certain charges have been made against William Williams in connection with the purchase of the block of land known as Kaitangiwhenua, and which said charges are more particularly set forth in a petition signed by Wiremu'Kauika, and presented to the House of Eepresentatives during the session of 1893, a copy of which said petition is hereto annexed. The petition charges Mr. Williams with having " stolen " from the Natives the sum of £5,411, being balance of purchase-money of the Kaitangiwhenua Block, and asks that steps may be taken to recover the money I am directed by the Commission to " inquire into the truth or otherwise of the charges so made as aforesaid, and generally into the conduct of the said William Williams in connection with the purchase of the said Kaitangiwhenua Block, and the receipt and disposal of the purchase-money therefor, and by all lawful ways and means to examine and inquire into every matter and thing touching and concerning the premises." The accusation made by the Natives against Mr. Williams is that on the 28th December, 1880, the Government cheque for the balance of the purchase-money, £5,411, handed on that day to Uru te Angina, their chief, by Mr. Gill, who attended to complete the purchase, on behalf of the Government, at Waitotara, was given by Uru te Angina to Mr. Williams, at the request of the latter, who promised to take it to the bank at Patea, cash it, and bring back the money on the following day, that Mr Williams took the cheque away, cashed it on the morning of the 29th December, 1880, and, instead of bringing the money back according to his promise, paid it into his private banking account at the Bank of New South Wales at Patea, and afterwards misappropriated the money It appears to me that this is really the only accusation made against Mr Williams by the Natives, and it is practically with that charge alone that I propose to deal. Before stating the facts immediately connected with the handing of the cheque to Mr Williams on the 28th December, 1880, and my opinion as to his conduct in cashing it and paying the money into his private banking account, &c, as before mentioned, I think it would assist your Excellency to a better understanding of the case if I were to give a short summary or history of the various steps in the transaction leading up to the final settlement between the Natives and the Government in December, 1880. The details and particulars are so fully stated in the evidence taken on the inquiry, and the documents therein-referred to, that it will only be necessary for me to give a sketch of the main features. In the year 1878 Mr Williams was carrying on the business of a blacksmith at Patea. He had acquired a knowledge of the Maori language, and had obtained a certificate as a licensed interpreter under " The Native Land Act, 1873." In the month of May, or June, 1878, he arranged with Wiremu Kauika and several other Natives, members of the Ngarauru Tribe, to purchase from the tribe a block of land, situate between the Waitotara and Patea Bivers (see plan annexed) known as ' Kaitangiwhenua," and supposed to contain an area of 200,000 acres, or thereabouts. The terms were 2s. 6d. per acre, £200 to be paid in cash, and the balance when the land had passed through the Native Land Court. At this time the land had not passed through the Native Land Court, and, by section 87 of the Act of 1873, the agreement was " absolutely void."
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Xi a His Excellency the Eight Honourable David, Earl of Glasgow, Kawana o te Koroni o Niu Tireni me nga Moutere i raro i tona mana. Tena Kob, — I runga i te tikanga whakahaere o te Komihana me te whakarongo hoki kite kupu whakahau o taua Komihana, i whakaputaina nei i raro i "Te Ture Mana Komihana, 1867," me "Te Ture Whakatikatika 1872 i Te Ture Mana Komihana," i te 4 o nga ra o Tihema, 1893, a i tukua mai nei ki ahau. Heoi tenei ahau ka tuku atu nei i taku ripoata ki a koe, ara ka ki penei atu: — No te 22 o nga ra o Tihema, 1893, i tae mai ai ki ahau to Komihana, a i te taenga mai ano timata tonu atu taku tuku kupu atu ki nga tangata i whai tikanga kite keehi, timata tonu hoki ahau kite kohikohi mai i nga pukapuka, rehita, me etahi atu ahua pukapuka whai tikanga katoa c pa ana ki nga mea i tukua mai ki ahau i roto i te Komihana, a ahakoa ka tekau ma toru rawa nga tau kua pahure i muri mai o nga whakahaerenga i tukua mai nei kia uiuia c ahau te tikanga, riro katoa mai ana i ahau aua pukapuka, ara nga pukapuka katoa c pa ana ki runga kite hoko o Kaitangiwhenua Poraka. Xi taku whakaaro mehemea ka tirohia c koe nga korero i whakapuakina me nga mea whakaatu ka kite koe i pau te nuinga, mehemea kahore te katoa, o nga tino take c pa ana kite hoko, mai ano ote timatanga ote hoko tae noa mai kite mutunga, te whakaatu itewa o te uiuinga. I noho ahau ki Waitotara kite uiui i te 26, 27, 29, 30 me te 31 o ngara o Hanuere, i te 1, 2, 3, 8 me te 9 o nga ra o Pepuere. I noho ano hoki ahau ki Whanganui i te 3 o nga ra o Pepuere kite whakarongo kite tuhi hoki i nga kupu whakaatu a Te Paraihe (Hon. J Bryce), a Hemi Taikana (Mr James Duigan) Ko Eiwai (Mr Levi) te roia mo te taha ki a Wiremu, ko Te Maahara (Mr Marshall) hoki te roia mo te taha ki nga Maori. Ko Eopata Kemara (Mr. Eobert Campbell), te Kai-whakamaori, ko W H. Eahera (Mr W. H. Eussell), te kai-ripoata ringa-poto me te. hekeretari hoki. Ko nga kupu i whakina c nga kai-korero c mau nei nga ingoa i raro iho nei i runga ano i te tikanga oati, i tuhituhia Major Charles Brown, John Bryce, Henry Faulkner Christie, William Cowern, James Duigan, Thomas William Msher, Eichard John Gill, Thomas Edward Hamerton, John Handley, Wiremu Kauika, Eirirangi Mihaka, George T Potto, Wilfred Eennell, Charles Wallace, Wahiawa, William Williams, Daniel James Williams. Ko te kupu tenei o te Komihana " Kua puta etahi whakapae mo Wiremu Wiremu mo runga mo te hoko o te poraka whenua c mohiotia nei tona ingoa ko Kaitangiwhenua, a ko aua whakapao kua ata whakaaturia i roto i te pitihana i hainatia c Wiremu Kauika a tukua ana kite Paremete i te wa c tv ana te Paremete i te tau 1893, a kua whakapiria nei te kape o taua pitihana ki tenei Eipoata." E ki ana te pitihana i " tahaetia " c Wiremu nga moni £5,411 a nga Maori, he moni toenga nei era no te hoko o Kaitangiwhenua Poraka, a c tono ana hoki kia whakahaerea he tikanga c hoki mai ai aua moni ki nga Maori. Kua whakahaua mai ahau c te Komihana, " Kia uiuia kia kitea te tika te pehea ranei o nga whakapae kua kiia i runga ake nei, kia uiuia hoki te ahua o nga mahi a Wiremu i runga i te hoko 0 Kaitangiwhenua Poraka, me te taenga atu ki a ia me te tukunga hoki c ia o nga moni hoko o taua whenua, a kite tirotiro kite uiui hoki, i runga i nga huarahi katoa c tika ai te pera, i nga tikanga o nga take katoa me nga mea c whai paanga ana ki runga ki nga mea kua whakahuatia i runga ake nei." Ko te whakapae a nga tangata Maori mo Wiremu c penei ana i te 28 o nga ra o Tihema, 1880, ka hoatu c Te Kira (Mr Gill) ki to ratou rangatira, ki a Uru te Angina, te haki (cheque) ate Kawanatanga mo nga moni toenga, c £5,411, o te hoko, ko Te Kira hoki te tangata i tae ki Waitotara i taua ra, mo te taha kite Kawanatanga, kite whakaoti i te hoko. Ko taua haki (cheque) no taua ra ano i hoatu ai c Uru te Angina ki a Wiremu, i runga ano i te tohe a Wiremu me tana ki tuturu mana c mau taua haki kite Peeke i Patea kia wahia, a mana hoki c mau mai nga moni atera i muri tata iho. I maua c Wiremu taua haki a wahia ana eia ite ata ote29 o nga ra o Tihema, 1880, a utua ana c ia ki roto ki ana ake moni, ara kaute, i roto i te Peeke o Niu Hauta Weera i Patea, kihai i whakahokia mai c ia i runga i tana kupu i ki tuturu ai, a i muri mai kainga tahaetia ana eia aua moni. Xi taku whakaaro ko tenei anake te whakapae a nga Maori mo Wiremu, na reira ko tenei anake te whakapae c whakaarohia ana c ahau kia uiuia tona tikanga. 1 mua atu i taku whakaaturanga i nga whakahaerenga me nga mea o muri tata iho o te hoatutanga ote haki (cheque) ki a Wiremu i te 28 o nga ra o Tihema, 1880, me toku whakaaro mo runga i tana mahi, ara mo tana wahanga i te haki, tukunga hoki i nga moni ki roto ki tanakaute ake i te Peeke me etahi atu o ana mahi kua kiia i runga ake nei, ki taku whakaaro ka marama rawa atu to titiro i nga tikanga o tenei Keehi mehemea ka whakamaramatia pototia atu c ahau i te tuatahi nga tikanga mana i whakahaerea tae ake kite tino whakaptinga o te hoko i waenganui i nga Maori me te Kawanatanga i a Tihema ote tau 1880. I runga ite mea kei te whakaaturia katoatia i roto i nga kupu whaaki i tuhituhia i te wa i tv ai te mahi uiui, i roto ano. hoki i nga pukapuka kua kiia ake nei, nga korero katoa me nga take c pa ana ki runga ki tenei keehi, na reira me whakaatu kau atu c ahau i konei ko nga tino tikanga anake p taua keehi. I te tau 1878 ko te mahi a Wiremu i Patea he mahi parakimete (blacksmith), a he mohio ia kite reo Maori, kua riro mai hoki i a ia he raihana kai-whakamaori i raro i " Te Ture Kooti Whenua Maori, 1873." I te marama o Mci o Hune ranei, o te tau 1878, ka whakahaere tikanga ia ki a Wiremu Kauika me etahi atu Maori tokomaha, o te iwi o Ngarauru, kia hokoa c taua iwi tetahi poraka whenua kei waenganui i te awa o Waitotara me te awa o Patea (Tirohia iho iana te mapi c piri nei ki tenei), c mohiotia nei tona ingoa ko Kaitangiwhenua, a i whakaarohia ko
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Mr Williams, being a licensed interpreter, did not think it was advisable that his name should appear in the transaction, so he arranged with Mr William Cowern, of Patea, auctioneer, that if Mr Cowern would lend his name, and appear as the ostensible purchaser of the block, he (Cowern) should have a half-interest in the speculation. A deed of conveyance from Kauika and others to Mr Cowern was drawn up and signed by Kauika and several of the Natives. Mr. Williams, although interested in the transaction, acted as interpreter (See deed of 10th June, 1878.) The Natives who signed the deed therein acknowledged the receipt of the sum of £200, and on the same day, viz., 10th June, Kauika, who was looked upon as the chief vendor, made a statutory declaration, under " The Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act, 1870," that the said sum of £200 had been duly paid. This declaration was interpreted to Kauika by Mr Williams. (See statutory declaration, 10th June, 1878.) At the time this declaration was made Mr Williams knew that the £200 had not been paid—in other words, that the Native was making a false declaration. No money was paid to the Natives on the 10th June but, on 11th June, the sum of £50 was paid by Williams to Kanika. The evidence as to any further payments is exceedingly unsatisfactory Mr Williams alleges that he paid two sums to Uru te Angina on 13th June, viz., £150 and £300, but the evidence of payment is not altogether satisfactory or conclusive. Immediately after this deed was signed, Mr Williams offered to sell the block to the Government, and, after some negotiations with Mr. Sheehan, who was then Native Minister, the Government agreed to give Mr Williams £1,000 cash for the purchase as it stood, and, in addition, agreed to employ him at a salary of £400 a year and travelling-allowances to put the block through the Court. On the sth November, 1878, Mr Cowern assigned the purchase to the Government (see deed, sth November, 1878, indorsed on deed of 10th June, 1878), and on the same day a cheque for £1,000 was handed over to Mr Williams (see voucher sth November, 1878) Mr Cowern signed the deed and voucher referred to, but it was Mr W Tilliams who actually received the £1,000 cheque. Mr. Williams could not explain what became of this money There was no settlement between Mr. Cowern and Mr Williams for some time, but finally Mr Cowern took Mr Williams's promissory note for £150, and an assignment of an interest which Mr Williams was supposed to have in another block called Kerikerirua, in settlement of the Kaitangiwhenua transaction. About the end of 1878 Mr Williams took his two sons, William and Daniel, into partnership with him, and under the style of " Williams and Sons " they carried on the business of blacksmiths and coachbuilders at Patea. There was some dispute at the inquiry about this partnership. Mr Williams endeavoured to show that he was not really a member of the firm. The evidence, however, satisfied me that he was, and continued to be down to the date of his bankruptcy in July, 1881, a member of the firm of " Williams and Sons." After the deed of sth November 1878, was signed, Mr Williams, as a Government official (his title was "Land Purchase Officer"), commenced to act for the Government in connection with the completion of the purchase of the block. Up to 18th July, 1880, large sums of money, amounting in all to £5,600 odd, Kaitangiwhenua purchase-money, went through his hands. These moneys came to Mr. Williams through Major Charles Brown, who held the position of Land Purchase Commissioner at New Plymouth. The account kept by Mr. Eennell, Major Brown's clerk at New Plymouth, was produced (see cash-book, folio 230) and shows the various items. The modus operandi was this Mr. Williams would get a Native to sign a Government voucher, to be forwarded on to Major Brown, and when it was passed by the Treasury Major Brown sent Mr. Williams the money to pay over to the Natives. In August, 1879, Mr. Williams opened an "official account" in the Bank of New Zealand, Patea. (See W Williams's official account.) This account was discontinued about the end of 1879. Mr Williams was unable to give any satisfactory reason for not continuing the account. On referring to the account it will be seen that only about £1,600 of the Kaitangiwhenua purchase-money went through the account, and it will also be noticed that £740 of that amount was drawn out by Mr. Williams and paid into his private account at the Bank of New Zealand. (See Mr Williams's private bank account with the Bank of New Zealand.) During all this time—that is to say, from 1878 to the date of the final settlement between the Government and the Natives, on 28th December, 1880—Mr Williams and the firm of Williams and Sons had, apparently, numerous and extensive dealings and transactions with the Ngarauru (Kaitangiwhenua) Natives. No proper books or accounts showing these transactions were kept or produced, and Mr. Williams was unable to throw much light on them. The Natives never had any proper accounts rendered to them by Mr Williams or Williams and Sons showing these transactions, and the state of the accounts between them. The money received by Mr. Williams from Major Brown for payment to the Natives was mixed up with Mr Williams's private funds, and I found it quite impossible to get from Mr Williams any proper account of how the money received by him from Major Brown was disbursed or disposed of by him. The Natives apparently had very great confidence in Mr. Williams, and signed almost anything he put before them. The vouchers representing the £5,600 odd before referred to were all signed and sent in before the amounts represented by them were received by Mr. Williams from Major Brown. On 17th September, 1880, the Native Lands Court gave judgment, and decreed that the block should be vested in Kauika and five other Native chiefs of the Ngarauru Tribe. (See memorial of ownership, 17th September, 1880, Vol. ii., folio 46, see Gazette No. 97, 16th October, 1880, page 1504.) Wiremu Kauika and Wahiawa are the only surviving grantees , the others have died since the purchase was completed. Prior to this the Hon. Mr. Bryce., who was Native Minister, had given instructions that no further payments were to be made on Kaitangiwhenua till the title had been
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te nui o taua whenua c 200,000 eka, nui tata atu iti tata iho ranei. Ko te utu i whakaritea c rua hereni me te hikipene (2s. 6d.) mo te eka a kia £200 c whakaputa ki nga Maori, ko te toenga o te moni kia oti te whenua te whakawa c te Kooti Whenua Maori ka whakaputa ai ki nga Maori. Kahore ano te whenua kia whakawakia noatia c te Kooti Whenua Maori i taua wa, aki te tikanga 0 te Tekiona 87 o te Ture o te tau 1873 kahore rawa atu he mana o te whakaaetanga i whakahaerea ra. I runga i te mea he kai-whakamaori whai raihana a Wiremu whakaaro ana ia c kore c tika kia uru tona ingoa ki roto kite tikanga i whakahaerea, ara kite hoko, na reira whakaritea ana ciaki a Wiremu Kawana (William Cowern) o Patea, he tangata makete taonga, mehemea ka whakaae a Wiremu Kawana kia uru ko tona ingoa ko to Wiremu Kawana ki roto ki taua hoko, kia meatia ai ko ia ko Kawana te tangata nana i hoko te whenua, mehemea ka whakaae taua tangata ki tenei tikanga ka hoatu c ia c Wiremu Wiremu tetahi haawhe o te hoko. Heoi i tuhia te Tiiti mo taua hoko, a i penei tona tikanga he Tiiti Tuku atu na Wiremu Kauika me etahi atu ki a Wiremu Kawana, a hainatia ana taua Tiiti Tuku c Kauika me etahi atu Maori tokomaha. Ahakoa te whai tikanga a Wiremu Wiremu ki runga ki taua hoko tv ana ko ia tonu hei kai-whakamaori (Tirohia te Tiiti o te 10 o nga ra o Hune, 1878) I whakaaturia c nga Maori i tuhi ra i o ratou ingoa ki runga kite Tiiti, 1 roto ano i taua Tiiti, te utunga atu o te moni c £200 ki a ratou, a i taua ra tonu ano, i te 10 o Hune, i hainatia c Wiremu Kauika, c te tangata i whakaarohia ko ia te tino tangata o te hoko, tetahi pukapuka whakaatu kupu ki tuturu pono, i raro i " Te Ture Arai i te Hoko Tahae i nga Whenua Maori, 1870," a c whakaatu ana i roto i taua pukapuka i utua katoatia aua moni c £200. Ko nga korero o roto o taua pukapuka whakaatu kupu ki tuturu pono (Tirohia te pukapuka whakaatu kupu ki tuturu pono i raro i te Ture o te 10 o nga ra o Hune, 1878) na Wiremu Wiremu i whakamaori atu ki a Kauika, a i te taima i hainatia ai taua pukapuka i mohio tonu a Wiremu Wiremu kahore ano te £200 kia utua noatia ki nga Maori, ara i mohio tonu ia kei te teka nga korero ote pukapuka c hainatia ra c Wiremu Kauika. Kahore he moni i utua ki nga Maori itelo o nga ra o Hune, engari i te 11 o nga ra o taua marama i utua c Wiremu ki a Kauika nga moni c £50. Kahore i te marama nga korero i whakapuakina mai mo runga mo te tikanga i utua ano ranei etahi atu moni i muri iho kahore ranei. Kei te ki a Wiremu i utua atu eia ki a Uru te Angina nga moni £150 me etahi atu moni ano c £300 i te 13 o nga ra o Hune, otira ko nga korero mo runga mo te utunga o aua moni kahore rawa i marama i whakaatu tuturu pono ranei, c matauria ai te tuturutanga. I muri tonu ite hainatanga o tenei Tiiti ka whakaaturia c Wiremu tona hiahia kite hoko i taua whenua kite Kawanatanga, itewako Te Hiana te Minita mo te Taha Maori, a i muri i etahi whakariteritenga whakaae ana te Kawanatanga kite utu ki a Wiremu i nga moni £1,000 mo runga mo taua hoko, kite whakamahi hoki i a Wiremu, hei apiti atu te mahi kite moni £1,000, mo te utu c £400 ite tau, apiti atu ano ki tera nga moni utu mo ona haerenga kite whakahaere i te poraka kia whakawakia c te Kooti, me te whakahaere i te keehi i roto i te Kooti. Ite 5 o nga ra o Nowema, 1878, ka tukua c Kawana (Cowern) te hoko kite Kawanatanga (Tirohio te Tiiti o te 5 o Nowema, 1878, c mau na i tua o te Tiiti o te 10 o Hune, 1878), a i taua ra ano ka hoatu he haki (cheque) ki a Wiremu mo nga moni £1,000 (Tirohia nga pukapuka whakahaere utunga moni ote 5 o nga ra o Nowema, 1878) Na Kawana i hamate Tiiti me te pukapuka whakahaere utunga moni kiia kua ake nei, otiia ko Wiremu ke te tangata nana i tango te haki mo te £1,000. Kahore i taea c Wiremu te whakaatu i peheatia tenei moni. Ite wa ahua roa ano i muri iho i tenei hoko kahore a Wiremu raua ko Kawana i whakahaere tikanga ki waenganui i a raua, a no muri rawa iho ka hoatu c Wiremu he Poromihi Nooti mo nga moni £150, me tetahi pukapuka tuku i tetahi hea i whakaarohia no Wiremu i roto i te poraka ko Te Kerikerirua te ingoa hei whakaotinga mo nga tikanga i whakahaerea ra mo runga mo te hoko 0 Kaitangiwhenua. I te tatanga kite pau o nga ra o te tau 1878 ka whakaurua c Wiremu ana tamariki tokorua, a Wiremu raua ko Eaniera ki roto ki tana mahi a mahi ana ratou i raro ite ingoa o "Wiremu me ana Tama" (Williams and Sons) ako ta ratou mahi he mahi parakimete he hanga kooti (blacksmith and coach-building) hoki i Patea, ara he mahi ahua kamupene ta ratou mahi. I puta he tautohetohe mo runga mo taua mahi huihui a ratou itewai tv ai tenei mahi uiui. Ko nga korero i korerotia c Wiremu i reira he mea kia kiia atu ai kahore ia i roto i taua mahi huihui. Otiia i runga ite ahua o nga korero i whakina tino tuturu ana taku mohio ko ia ano tetahi i roto i taua mahi huihui, a i uru tonu ia tae noa mai kite ra i pekerapu ai ia i te tau 1881, ara ko ia tonu tetahi i roto i te ingoa mahi huihui o " Wiremu me ana Tama." I muri iho ite hainatanga ote Tiiti ote 5 o nga ra o Nowema, 1878, ara ite wa kua tv a Wiremu hei apiha Kawanatanga (ko tana ingoa he " Apiha Hoko Whenua "), ka timata ia ki te mahi mo te taha kite Kawanatanga, ara kite whakahaere tikanga mo runga mo te mahi whakaoti i te hoko o te poraka. Tae iho kite 18 o nga ra o Hurae, 1880, i tae kite £5,600 topu nga moni mo runga mo te hoko o Kaitangiwhenua i takoto ki roto ki nga ringaringa o Wiremu. Ko enei moni na Meiha Hare Paraone (Major Charles Brown), te Komihana Hoko Whenua i Niu Paremata, i tuku mai ki a ia. I whakaaturia te pukapuka i tuhituhia c Eenata c te karaka a Meiha Paraone i Niu Paremata mo aua moni (Tirohia te pukapuka o nga moni, wharangi 230), ako te tikanga ote whakahaerenga, kite whakaatu a taua pukapuka, c penei ana, ara, ko te mahi a Wiremu he mea kia hamate Maori ite pukapuka whakahaere utunga moni a te Kawanatanga hei tukunga atu ki a Meiha Paraone, a kei te paahitanga o taua pukapuka c te Tari whakahaere i nga moni o te Koroni, ka tukua mai c Meiha Paraone te moni ki a Wiremu kia utua eia ki nga Maori. I te tau 1879 ka whakatuwheratia c Wiremu he kaute mo nga moni o tana mahi mo te Kawanatanga ki roto kite Peeke o Niu Tireni 1 Patea (Tirohia nga pukapuka whakaatu a Wiremu mo nga moni o tana mahi). I te mutunga o te tau 1879 ka whakamutua taua kaute moni pera. Kahore i taea c Wiremu te whakaatu te take i kore ai taua kaute moni c whakahaerea tonutia. Mehemea ka tirohia te pukapuka o nga moni ka kitea £1,600 tonu o nga moni o te hoko o Kaitangiwhenua i tae ki roto ki taua kaute moni i te peeke, ka kitea ano hoki c £740 o taua £1,600 i tangohia c Wiremu ki waho a whakaurua ana ki roto ki tana ake kaute i te Peeke o Niu Tireni (Tirohia te pukapuka ote kaute a Wiremu ake ite Peeke o Niu Tireni). Timata mai ite tau
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finally settled by the Native Land Court—i.e., till the three months allowed by the Act for applicationsi for rehearing had expired. On 18th September, 1880, the conveyance from the six Native grantees or owners was duly signed by them. (See deed of 18th September, 1880, Kauika and others to the Queen.) In the month of October, 1880, Mr Williams's services as Land Purchase Officer were finally dispensed with, and at the end of that month he ceased to be a Government officer (See correspondence as to his dismissal, reappointment, and final dismissal, with file of Government papers ) It will be seen on reference to this correspondence that on 19th April, 1880, the Hon. Mr Bryce gave directions that Mr Williams's services were to be dispensed with from the end of that month and notice to that effect was sent to Mr. Williams. Mr Williams, however, wrote to the Minister urging that he should be kept on until the block had passed through the Native Land Court, and offering to waive his claim to salary or remuneration if the Government would allow him to continue in office. In his letter to the Minister, dated 17th May 1880, he says "I further think that unless I should continue to finish this purchase that some trouble may arise, as all payments have been made by and through me, so that I could see when they got the balance that the right Natives got it, and I would hold them to their former arrangements which they made when they all appointed agents to receive moneys, &c. Ido not ask the continuance of this appointment for the sake of the salary, as I am willing to forego that consideration." This letter was laid before the Native Minister (Hon. Mr Bryce), who ultimately consented to Mr. Williams remaining on till the end of October Mr Bryce's memorandum reads"thus " With some hesitation, I think, on the whole, Mr Williams's services had better be retained for a short time longer.—John Bbycb. 18/5/80." The fact of Mr Williams's dismissal was not communicated to the Natives. I have now reached an important stage in the transaction—namely, the final settlement and payment of the balance of the purchase-money to the Natives in December, 1880. When the title had become absolute — i.e., when the three months before referred to had expired—the Hon. Mr Bryce gave instructions to Mr. Gill to see to the final settlement, and to pay the balance of the purchase-money into the hands of the Native grantees or owners, who were the only persons entitled to receive the money On the 14th December, 1880, Mr. Williams sent the following telegram to Mr Gill: ■ " Patea, 14th December, 1880. "E. J Gill, Esq., Government Buildings, Wellington. "Will you be here to pay the balance of Kaitangiwhenua on the time specified—namely, on 18th? The Natives are here inquiring, and wanting to know when. "W Williams, L.P.0." Mr Gill placed this telegram before the Hon. Mr. Bryce, Native Minister, and asked for instructions. Mr Bryce wrote the following note on the telegram "Mr Gill.—The purchase should be completed at once, and the balance of the money paid to the Natives by yourself directly, and not through any other person. —John Beycb. 14/2/80." There is nothing amongst the records to show that Mr Gill replied to Mr Williams's telegram, but I think it is more than probable that he did do so. Mr Gill had a statement prepared showing the total amount of purchase-money paid up to date, and for which the Government held vouchers— namely £5,612 4s. 5d., to this he added the £500 which Mr. Williams alleged he had paid the Natives before the Government took over the block from him—thus making a total debit against the Natives of £6,112 4s. sd. The total purchase-money amounted to £11,523 5s. —namely, 92,186 acres (this was the area of the block as ascertained on actual survey the plan on the deed shows 93,386 acres, but in the body of the deed the area is altered to 92,186 acres), at 2s. 6d. per acre, and, deducting the above amount of £6,112 4s. sd. from the total purchase-money, the balance in favour of the Natives was shown as £5,411 os. 7d.
7
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1878 tae mai kite 28 o nga ra o Tihema, 1880, kite ra i tino oti ai te hoko i waenganui i te Kawanatanga me nga Maori, he maha noa atu pea nga tikanga me nga malii i whakahaerea c " Wiremu me ana Tama," ki nga Maori o te iwi o Ngarauru (nga tangata o Kaitangiwhenua). Kahore he pukapuka whakaaturanga o enei whakahaerenga i whakatakotoria ki toku aroaro, ara kahore tonu he pukapuka pera, a kihai a Wiremu i ahei kite whakamarama i ana mea. Kahore rawa he kaute tika i hoatu ki nga Maori c Wiremu ake c " Wiremu me ana Tama" ranei, whakaatu i nga whakahaerenga i waenganui i a ratou me te tv o nga moni i waenganui ano i a ratou. Ko nga moni i tukua mai c Meiha Paraone ki a Wiremu kia utua ki nga Maori i huihui noa iho ki nga moni a Wiremu ake, a kore rawa i taea c ahau te rapu atu i a Wiremu i peheatia nga moni i tukua mai ra c Meiha Paraone ki a ia. Xi te whakaaro atu nui rawa atu te whakapono o nga Maori ki a Wiremu na reira hainatia ana c ratou nga pukapuka i tonoa atu c Wiremu kia haina mai ratou. Ko nga pukapuka whakaatu utunga moni i hainatia katoatia i mua atu i te tukunga mai c Meiha Paraone ki a Wiremu o nga moni c whakaatu ana i roto i aua pukapuka. Itel7 o nga ra o Hepetema, 1880, ka whakataua te whenua c te Kooti Whenua Maori, a i kite Kooti me whakatau te poraka ki a Kauika me etahi atu rangatira tokorima o te iwi o Ngarauru, ara me tuku ki raro ki to ratou mana (Tirobia te Ota Whakamaharatanga Take o te 17 o nga ra o Hepetema, 1880, Pukapuka 2, Wharangi 46) (Tirohia te Gazette, Nama 97, o te 16 o nga ra o Oketopa, 1880, Wharangi 1504) Ko Wiremu Kauika anake me Wahiawa nga tangata ote Karauna karaati c ora nei, ko etahi o nga tangata o te karaati no muri mai i te whakaotinga o te hoko i matemate atu ai. I mua atu i tenei i puta te ki aTe Paraihe, Minita mo te taha Maori i taua wa, kaua c utua etahi atu moni mo Kaitangiwhenua kia oti ra ano nga take paanga kite whenua te whakatau te whakaoti hoki c te Kooti, ara kia pahure rawa nga marama c toru i whakaritea c te Ture, i muri iho i te whakataunga, hei tukunga pukapuka whakawa tuarua. ItelB o nga ra o Hepetema, 1880, ka hainatia c nga tangata tokoono o te karaati, ara c nga tangata no ratou te whenua, ta ratou pukapuka tuku mo te whenua (Tirohia te Tiiti hoko o te 18 o nga ra o Hepetema, 1880, a Kauika me etahi atu kite Kuini). I te marama o Oketopa, 1880, ka whakamutua te mahi hoko whenua a Wiremu a i te paunga 0 nga ra o taua marama ka mutu tana tv apiha Kawanatanga (Tirohia nga pukapuka mo runga mo te whakamutunga o tana mahi, mo tana whakatuunga ano, me te tino whakamutunga rawatanga o tana mahi, i roto ite paihere o nga pukapuka Kawanatanga). Mehemea ka tirohia enei pukapuka ka kitea i te 19 o nga ra o Aperira, 1880, ka kiia c Te Paraihe kia mutu te mahi Kawanatanga a Wiremu, a tuhia ana he pukapuka whakaatu" atu ki a Wiremu. Ko te whakahoki mai a Wiremu mo taua pukapuka he tohe kia waiho tonu ia kia tv ana i runga i tana mahi a oti noa te poraka te whakawa c te Kooti, a i ki mai ia mehemea ka whakaae atu te Kawanatanga ki tana tono c kore. ia c tono kia utua atu ki aia te moni utu tau etahi atu moni utu mahi ranei. Ko ana kupu enei i roto i tana pukapuka ki.te Minita, otel7 o nga ra o Mci, 1880. " Kei te whakaaro ano hoki ahau mehemea, ka kore c haere tonu taku mahi whakaoti i te hoko o tenei whenua tera pea ka puta he raruraru, na te mea hoki ko nga utunga moni katoa naku i whakahaere, na reira ko ahau te tangata c mohio, a te wa c utua ai te toenga o te moni, ko wai ma nga tangata tika hei putanga atu mo taua moni, a ka tohe hoki ahau kia puritia tonutia c ratou nga tikanga i whakahaerea c ratou i mua, i te wa i whakaturia ai he tangata hei tukunga mai mo nga moni me era atu mea katoa mo te taha ki a ratou. B hara ite mea c tono ana ahau kia tv tonu ahau i runga i taku mahi kia puta tonu mai ai taku moni utu tau, kahore. Ka pai noa atu ahau kia whakakorea atu c ahau tena." I whakatakotoria tenei reta kite aroaro o te Minita mo te Taha Maori (o Te Paraihe) a whakaaetia ana c te Minita kia tv tonu a Wiremu tae noa kite paunga o nga ra o Oketopa. Ko nga kupu enei i tuhia eTe Paraihe mo runga mo taua mea. " Kei te ahua awangawanga ahau, otira i runga ano i te ahua o nga tikanga kua whakaaturia mai nei, c pai ana ano me waiho tonu a Wiremu kia tv ana mo te tetahi wa poto kau nei.—Hone Pabaihb. Te 18 o nga ra o Mci, 1880." Kihai i whakaaturia ki nga Maori te whakamutunga o te mahi a Wiremu. Kua tae ahau inaianei ki tetahi o nga wahi tino whai tikanga i roto i te hoko o te whenua, ara kite wa o te whakaotinga mutunga o te hoko me te utunga ki nga Maori o te moni toenga o te hoko i te tau 1880. Itewa i tuturu ai nga take paanga kite whenua, ara ite pahuretanga o nga marama c toru 1 muri mai i te putanga o te whakatau a te Kooti, ka puta te kupu whakahau a Te Paraihe ki a Te Kira kia whakahaerea te tikanga whakaoti i te hoko a kia utua atu hoki te toenga o te moni o te hoko ki nga tangata i roto i te Karauna karaati ko ratou anake nei hoki nga tangata tika hei utunga atu mo te moni. Itel4 o nga ra o Tihema, 1880, ka tukua mai tenei waea c Wiremu ki a Te Kira :— "Patea, Tihema 14,1880. " Xi a Te Kira, Kei te Whare o nga Tari Kawanatanga i Poneke. "Kα tae mai ranei koe ki konei a te ra i whakaritea, ara a te 18 of nga ra? Kei konei nga Maori c uiui ana, c hiahia ana hoki kia mohio a hea. " W. Wiremu, A.H.W." I whakatakotoria c Te Kira tenei waea kite aroaro o te Minita, o Te Paraihe, a i tono hoki ia kite Minita kia whakaputaina atu he kuputohutohu ki a ia. Ko nga kupu enei i tuhia c Te Paraihe ki runga kite waea. "E Te Kiba.—Ko te tikanga kia tere tonu te whakaoti ite hoko inaianei, me te utu atu hoki c koe ake ano i te moni toenga o te hoko ki nga Maori, kaua c tetahi atu tangata. —Hone Pabaihe. 14/2/80." Kahore c whakaatu ana i roto i nga pukapuka i tuku kupu whakahoki a Te Kira mo te waea a Wiremu. Otiia ki taku ahua mohio i tuku kupu whakahoki ia. I tuhituhia eTe Kira tetahi pukapuka whakaatu i te nui o nga moni katoa o te hoko i utua tae noa ki taua ra o te utunga whakamutunga, ara nga moni c £5,612 4 5 c whakaatu ana i roto i nga pukapuka whakahaere utunga moni ate Kawanatanga. I apitia atu etc Kira ki enei nga moni c £500 i kiia c Wiremu i utua c ia ki nga Maori i mua atu ite tangohanga atu a te Kawanatanga i te poraka i a ia, hui katoa nga moni kua puta ke ki nga Maori c £6,112 4 5. Ko nga moni hoko katoa ote whenua £11,523 5 0 ara mo nga eka c 92,186 (Ko te nui tenei ote Poraka i kitea ite ruuritanga. Ko te nui c whakaatu ana i roto i te mapi c mau ana i runga i te Tiiti c 93,386 eka, Otiia i roto i te Tiiti ake ko te nui c 92,186 eka). Ko te utu mo te eka c 2/6, a i muri ite tangohanga mai ki waho o nga moni c £6,112 4 5 kua utua atu ki nga Maori kitea ana ko nga moni c toe ana ote hoko hei utunga atu ki nga Maori c £5,411 0 7
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8
On the 20th December, 1880, Mr. Gill left Wellington for Patea with the vouchers, &c, intending to settle with the Natives there. Mr Charles Wallace, a licensed interpreter was employed by Mr. Gill to interpret for him at the settlement. When at Patea, Mr Gill telegraphed to Mr Williams, who was at Hawera, to come down. In his evidence before the Native Affairs Committee in 1886, Mr Gill gave a very full account of all he did (see his evidence, Nos. 16, 18, and 19). He said, referring to a note in his diary, "This was a thought of my own, that, as Williams was interested in the money matters relating to the land, having, as he said, nearly £3,000 to receive, I thought it best to telegraph to him at Hawera to come over " As two of the grantees, Uru te Angina and Hakaraia, were absent, Mr Gill found it impossible to settle at Patea. Urn te Angina was at Pakaraka, a Native settlement about six miles from Waitotara, and unable, on account of illness, to come to Patea, and Hakaraia was absent up the Wanganui Eiver Mr Gill arranged with Mr Williams to go for Hakaraia, and to assist generally at the final settlement. Mr Williams's remuneration was fixed at the sum of £50, which was paid to him by Mr Gill, at Patea, about the 23rd December Mr Williams returned to Patea with Hakaraia on the 25th December but, as Uru was too unwell to go to Patea, Mr Gill determined to go to Pakaraka and settle there. Accordingly, on the 27th December, he proceeded to Pakaraka. When he arrived there he found Colonel Macdonnell, Mr Duigan, and others, who alleged that they had claims against the Natives, and requested Mr Gill to pay them out of the balance of the purchase-money due to the Natives. Mr Gill declined to recognise these claims. The day was wasted. The settlement did not take place, and in the evening Mr Gill and Mr Williams arranged with the Natives to go to Waitotara early next morning and settle there. Early in the morning of the 28th December, Uru te Angina was carried to Waitotara, and all parties assembled in a room in the hotel there for the purpose of completing the purchase. The following were the only persons present: Mr Gill; Mr C. Wallace, interpreter Mr William Williams, his son, Daniel J Williams , and the six grantees or owners named in the memorial of ownership. Mr Gill produced the original vouchers and account before referred to, showing the balance, £5,411 os. 7d., payable to the Natives. The vouchers and account were interpreted and explained to the Natives by Mr Williams, and, after some discussion, the Natives agreed that the balance shown in the account was correct. A voucher on the usual printed form was then written out by Mr. Gill, and duly signed by each Native. Mr Wallace, under Mr Gill's directions, wrote out another receipt in the Maori language, and this was also signed by each Native, and attested by Mr William Williams, his son Daniel, and Mr Wallace. (See vouchers, account, and receipts, &c, in Government file.) The Natives then resolved that a cheque for the amount should be handed by Mr Gill to Uru te Angina, as their chief. Mr Gill then wrote out a cheque, of which the following is a copy The printing in italic represents the printed portion of the cheque:— s " General Government of New Zealand. " Official Account. "28th December, 1880. " To the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, '"' Carlyle. " PAY No. 802 Urn te Angina and others or bearer five thousand four hundred and eleven pounds and seven pence. " Eichabd John Gill, " (.£5,411 os. 7d.) " Under-Secretary, " Sub-Paymaster " (See original cheque amongst exhibits.) This cheque was handed by Mr. Gill to Uru te Angina, and immediately afterwards Mr Gill left the room, taking with him the vouchers and receipts, &c, before referred to. I may here mention that at this meeting Mr Williams made no claim of any kind against the Natives, and I am convinced that the Natives were led to believe, and did thoroughly believe, that all their indebtedness to Mr Williams, and Williams and Sons, and others, had been liquidated out of the moneys which had passed through Mr Williams's hands prior to the final settlement. In other words, that the debits shown in the account before referred to, amounting to £5,612 4s. 5d., covered everything, and that the amount represented by the cheque was their own money, and was to be divided amongst those entitled to it. I may also mention that during the time which elapsed between the decision of the Native ;Land Court, on 17th September, 1880, and the final settlement on 28th December 1880 —over three months— neither Mr. Williams nor Messrs. Williams and Sons made any claim whatever on the Natives, nor did they attempt to come to any settlement of accounts, or take any steps to attach the money in the hands of the Government. After Mr. Gill had left the room, a discussion took place as to cashing the cheque and distributing the money There was no bank at Waitotara where the cheque could be cashed, the nearest bank being at Patea, some seventeen miles away. Uru te Angina was too unwell to go to
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I te 20 o nga ra o Tihema, 1880, ka haere atu a Te Kira i Poneke ki Patea me nga pukapuka whakahaere utunga moni. Ko tana haere he whakaoti i te hoko ki nga Maori i reira. Ko te tangata i tonoa c Te Kira hei Kai-whakamaori mona ki reira ko Taare Warihi (Charles Wallace), ate whakaotinga ote hoko. I tona taenga ki Patea ka patua atu te waea aTe Kira ki a Wiremu iTe Hawera kia haere mai. I tona tuunga kite aroaro o te Komiti mo nga mea Maori ite tau 1886 i tatakuna katoatia c Te Kira nga mahi i whakahaerea c ia (Tirohia ana korero i Nama 16, 18 me Nama 19.) Mo runga mo nga kupu i tuhia eia ki roto ki tana pukapuka (diary) ko nga kupu enei aTe Kira " Naku ake ano tenei whakaaro. I whakaaro hoki ahau i runga ite mea c whai tikanga ana a Wiremu ki runga ki nga mea katoa c pa ana ki runga kite whenua, a i runga hoki i tana ki c tata ana kite £3,000 nga moni hei utunga atu ki a ia, ko te tikanga me patu waea atu ki a ia i Hawera kia haere mai." I runga i te ngaronga atu o Uru Te Angina raua ko Hakaraia, etahi o nga tangata o te karaati, kihai i taea eTe Kira te whakaoti te hoko i Patea. I Pakaraka a Uru Te Angina i taua wa, he kainga Maori c ono macro te tawhiti atu i Waitotara, a na te mate kore ana ia i ahei te haere ki Patea. Ko Hakaraia kua riro ke ki runga ote awa o Whanganui. Whakaritea ana eTe Kira ko Wiremu c haere ki a Hakaraia ame awhina hoki a Wiremu iaiaki te whakaoti ite hoko. Ko te moni utu i whakaritea mo Wiremu c £50, a i utua atu taua moni c Te Kira ki a ia i Patea i te 23 o nga ra o Tihema. No te 25 o nga ra o Tihema ka hoki mai a Wiremu ki Patea me Hakaraia, otiia i te kore o Uru Te Angina c ahei te haere ki Patea, i te tino nui rawa o tona mate, kiia ana c Te Kira me kawe ki Pakaraka whakaoti ai ite hoko. Na reira ite27 o nga ra o Tihema ka haere ia ki reira. Eokohanga atu eia kua tae ki reira a Kanara Maketanara, a Taikana me etahi atu eki ana he nama a nga Maori ki a ratou, a i tono ratou kia utua atu c Te Kira nga nama ki a ratou, i roto i nga moni toenga ote hoko ote whenua c utua ana ki nga Maori. Kihai aTe Kira i whakaae ki enei kereeme, a maumau noa iho taua ra, kihai hoki i oti te mahi i haere ai aTe Kira. Ite ahiahi ka whakaritea c Te Kira raua ko Wiremu ki nga Maori kia haere ratou ki Waitotara i te aonga ake, i te ata tonu, ki reira whakaoti ai. Ite ata tonu ote2B o nga ra o Tihema ka haria a Uru Te Angina ki Waitotara a hui ana nga tangata katoa o nga taha c rua o te hoko ki roto ki tetahi o nga ruma ote hoteera i reira kite whakaoti ite hoko. Ko enei anake nga tangata i reira, ara ko Te Kira, ko Taare Warihi (Kai-whakamaori), ko Wiremu Wiremu, me tana tama me E. H. Wiremu, me nga tangata hoki o te Karauna karaati, ara nga tangata kei roto nei o ratou ingoa i te Pukapuka Whakamaharatanga Take Paanga c mau ana. Ka whakaaria i reira c Te Kira nga pukapuka whakaatu utunga moni me te kaute tuatahi kua kiia i runga ake nei, c whakaatu ana ko nga moni toenga hei utunga ki nga Maori c £5,411 0 7 Ko aua pukapuka whakaatu utunga moni me te kaute na Wiremu i Whakamaori i whakamarama hoki ki nga Maori, a i muri i ta ratou korerorerotanga ki ana nga Maori c tika ana nga moni toenga c whakaatu ra i roto i te kaute. Katahi ka tuhia eTe Kira ara ka whakakina te pukapuka whakahaere utunga moni nei ano a haina ana a ia Maori a ia Maori i tona ingoa ki taua pukapuka. I runga ite whakahau a Te Kira tuhia ana c Te Warihi tetahi pukapuka ano, i te reo Maori, whakahaere i te utunga o nga moni, a i haina ano hoki a ia Maori a ia Maori i tona ingoa ki tenei pukapuka, ara rihiiti. Ko nga kai-titiro i to ratou hainatanga ko Wiremu Wiremu, ko tana tama ko Eaniera, ko Te Warihi hoki. (Tirohia nga pukapuka whakahaere utunga moni, te kaute me nga rihiiti i runga ite paihere pukapuka Kawanatanga.) Kiia ana c nga Maori me hoatu eTe Kira he haki (cheque) mo aua moni ki to ratou rangatira ki a Uru Te Angina. Katahi ka tuhia eTe Kira te haki (cheque) Ko tenei c mau i raro iho nei te kape o taua haki. Ko nga kupu i tuhia kite mangumangu whero ko nga kupu ena he mea perehi ki runga kite haki ara ko nga kupu perehi tuturu ake o te haki: — " Kawanatanga nui tonu o Niu Tireni. " Kaute Kawanatanga. " Tihema 28, 1880. " Xi te Rangatira o te Peeke o Niu Tireni i " Carlyle. " UTUA Nama 302 hi a Uru Te Angina me etahi atu te tangata ranei nana i mau atu tenei (haki) nga moni c rima mano c wha rau kotahi tekau ma tahi pauna c whitu kapa. " Eihaei Hone Kiea, ".£5,411 0 7 "Heretari. " Kai-utu moni o raro iho i te Tumuaki Kai-utu moni." (Tirohia te haki (cheque) tuatahi i roto i nga mea whakaatu.) Ko tenei haki i hoatu eTe Kira ki a Uru Te Angina, a i muri tata ano i tana hoatutanga i te haki ka puta a Te Kira ki waho i te ruuma me te mau i nga pukapuka whakahaere utunga moni me nga rihiiti me etahi atu mea hoki kua whakahuatia i runga ake nei. Me ki penei ake ahau i konei itewai tv ai tenei huihuinga kahore a Wiremu i tuku kereme pehea pehea ranei mana ki nga Maori, a kei te mohio tuturu ahau i whakapakea nga Maori kia whakaaro ai ratou kua ea katoa a ratou nama ki a Wiremu ratou ko ana tama me etahi atu i nga moni iputa ra ki nga ringaringa o Wiremu i mua atu i te tino whakaotinga ote hoko, ara ko a ratou moni nama katoa kei roto i nga moni c £5,612 4 5 i kiia i runga ake nei, a ko nga moni i roto i te haki i utua, atu ra ki a Uru Te Angina ma ratou motuhake ake era, hei tuhanga ki nga tangata whai take ki aua moni. Me ki penei ano hoki ahau itewa i waenganui i te putanga o te whakatau a te Kooti i te 17 o nga ra o Hepetema, 1880, me te whakaotinga mutunga o te hoko, i te 28 o nga ra o Tihema, 1880, nui atu i te toru marama, kahore rawa a Wiremu, a " Wiremu me ana Tama," ranei i whakaputa kereeme namaki nga Maori, kahore hoki ratou i whakahaere tikanga pehea pehea ranei mo te whakarite kaute ki nga Maori, kite whakahaere tikanga ranei hei here i te moni i roto i te ringa o te Kawanatanga. I muri i te putanga o Te Kira ki waho o te ruuma ka korerotia to tikanga wahi i te haki, tuha hoki i nga moni. Kahore he peeke moni i Waitotara c ahei ai te wahi i taua haki i reira ko ta peeke tata mai kei Patea, tekau ma whitu pea macro te tawhiti atu. Ite nui rawa ote mate o Uru Te Angina kihai ia i ahei te haere ki Patea, a i runga ano i ta ratou korerorerotauga whakaae ana a 2—Gh 4.
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Patea, and after some discussion Mr Williams managed to induce Uru, who had great confidence in Mr Williams, to give him the cheque, Mr Williams having promised to take it to Patea, cash it, and bring the money down to Waitotara on the following day The meeting then broke up. Mr Gill left by the afternoon train for Wellington, and Mr Williams and his son went by road to Patea, taking the cheque with them. Before leaving Waitotara Mr Gill sent the manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Patea the following telegram :— "Waitotara, 28th December, 1880. "To 11. T Christie, Esq , Bank of New Zealand, Carlyle, Patea. "I have this day paid cheque to Uru te Angina five thousand four hundred and eleven pounds. Pleaso make all necessary inquiries when presented for payment. " Eichaed John Gill." On the morning of the 29th December, as soon as the banks opened, Mr Williams went to the Bank of New Zealand with the cheque to cash it. At the request of the manager, he wrcte his signature across the back, and then obtained the cash. He then went to the Bank of New South Wales—where he had opened an account in his own name in November, 1880—and paid in £5.410 of the money to the credit of his account. (See copy Bank of New South Wales account.) Mr Williams did not inform the Natives of what he had done, nor did he communicate with them in any way, or explain why he did not intend to fulfil the promise made by him to them at Waitotara on 28th December—viz., to cash the cheque, and bring the money down to them on 29th December When Mr Williams did not put in an appearance at Waitotara on 29th December, the Natives became anxious, and Kauika wired to Mr Williams to know why he had not come down. Mr Williams did not reply to this telegram. Kauika then telegraphed to the manager of the Bank of New Zealand as follows :— " Waitotara, 29th December, 1880. "The Manager Bank of New Zealand, Patea. " Has Mr Williams cashed our cheque ? Me and my people are waiting for him. Beply if started, at once. Eeply paid. " Wiebmu Kauika." (See Mr Fisher's diary, 29th December, 1880, exhibit.) The manager (Mr Christie) replied to the effect that Mr Williams had cashed the cheque that morning. On 29th December Mr Williams sent the following telegram to Major Brown :— " Major Brown, New Plymouth. " Patea, 29th December, 1880. " I have all the Kaitangiwhenua money in the bank—safe at last. They passed all the first vouchers without objecting to any of the amounts, and praised you and self to the highest. My mind is now at rest. Will send a letter. " William Williams." The letter referred to in this telegram was not produced by Major Brown, who stated that he must have destroyed it some time ago with other papers nor was Mr Williams able to supply a copy or give the purport of the letter On the 30th December, 1880, Mr "Williams sent the following telegram to Mr Duncan, solicitor, Wanganui. I may mention that Mr Duncan had been acting for the Natives in the Native Land Court, and had a claim against them for £232 odd,' and the correspondence between Mr Williams and Mr Duncan shows that Mr Williams had promised to see Mr. Duncan paid out of the purchase-money. (See copy of correspondence amongst exhibits) ;— " A. Duncan, Solicitor, Wanganui. " Patea, 30th December, 1880. "I have been successful in Kaitangiwhenua, and shall be with you next week. " Wμ. Williams. On the 31st December, the manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Patea sent Mr Gill the following telegram:— " E. Gill, Native Department, Wellington. " Patea, 31st December, 1880. " Confidential. Williams, on behalf of Maoris, cashed your cheque Wednesday morning. Maoris very uneasy, and anxiously inquiring after money, which Williams declines to pay at present to Maoris or Europeans. Would recommend that you wire him to account for money forthwith. "H. F Cheistie." To this telegram Mr Gill wired the folowing reply :— " H. F Christie, Patea. " Wellington, 31st December, 1880. " No. 1013. I cannot interfere in the matter Mr Williams is not an officer of the Government. The cheque was paid by me to the whole of the grantees, and, until receipt of your telegram, I was not aware it had been handed to him "E. J Gill."
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Uru Te Angina kite hoatu i te haki ki a Wiremu, i runga ano hoki i te tono a tana Pakeha, a i runga hoki ite nui ote whakapono o Uru kite mahi tika o Wiremu. I tino ki tuturu pono hoki a Wiremu mana c mau te haki ki Patea, mana c wahi i te peeke, a mana hoki c mau mai nga moni ki Waitotara ate aonga ake ote ra, ara, atera i muri mai. Heoi ano ka mutu te huihuinga, ai te ahiahi ka hoki mai a Te Kira ki Poneke i runga i te tereina,,ka ahu atu hoki a Wiremu raua ko tana tama ki Patea, me te mau ano raua ite haki. I mua i tana haerenga mai i Waitotara ka patua atu c Te Kira he waea kite Eangatira o te Peeke o Niu Tireni i Patea, ko nga kupu enei .o taua waea:— " Waitotara, Tihema 28, 1880. "Xi a H. F Christie, Bsq , Peeke o Niu Tireni, Carlyle, Patea. " Kua utua c ahau i tenei ra ki a Uru Te Angina he haki (cheque) mo nga moni c rima mano c wha rau kotahi tekau ma tahi pauna. Me ata uiui c koe nga tikanga ma kawea atu taua haki kia wahia c koe. " Eihaei Hone Kiea." I te ata o te 29 o nga ra o Tihema, i te tuheratanga o nga Peeke, ka haere a Wiremu kite Peeke o Niu Tireni kite wahi ite haki. I runga ite tono ate Kai-whakahaere, ara Eangatira ote Peeke, tuhia ana c Wiremu tona ingoa ki tua ote haki, a utua mai ana nga moni ki a ia. Te rironga mai o nga moni haere ana ia kite Peeke o Niu Hauta Weera kei reira nei tetahi kaute motuhake i whakapuaretia c ia ki tona ingoa ake, i te marama o Noema, 1880, a utua ana c ia c £5,410 o taua moni ki roto ki taua kaute ana ake. (Tirohia te kape o te kaute ote Peeke o Niu Haute Weera.) Kahore i whakaaturia c Wiremu ki nga Maori tana peeketanga i taua moni ki tana ake kaute, kahore hoki ia i tuhi i whakaatu ki a ratou he aha i kore ai ia c whakarite i te kupu i kiia tuturutia ra c ia ki nga Maori i te 28 o nga ra o Tihema, ara tana kupu mana c wahi te haki, mana hoki c mau mai te moni ki nga Maori ite29 o Tihema. Ite korenga o Wiremu c tae mai ki Waitotara i te 29 o nga ra o Tihema pa mai ana te manawapa ki nga Maori, no reira patua atu ana te waea a Kauika ki a Wiremu, patai atu i te take i kore ai ia c tae mai. Kahore a Wiremu i whakahoki kupu mai mo tenei waea. Katahi ka patua he waea c Kauika kite rangatira ote Peeki o Niu Tireni. Ko nga kupu enei o taua waea : — " Waitotara, Tihema 29, 1880. " Xi te Eangatira o te Peeke o Niu Tireni, Patea. "Kua wahia ranei c Wiremu ta matou haki? Kei te tatari atu matou ko toku iwi ki a ia. Mehemea kua haere mai ia kia tere tonu te whakaatu mai. Kua utua te moni mo te whakahoki mai mo tenei waea. " Wibemu Kauika." (Tirohia te pukapuka (diary) a Te Piha, o te 29 o nga ra Tihema, 1880, i roto i nga mea whakaatu.) Ko te whakahoki mai a Kirihiti (Mr. Christie), Eangatira o te Peeke, i penei mai no taua ata i wahia ai c Wiremu te haki. Ite29 o nga ra o Tihema ka patua c Wiremu he waea ki a Meiha Parone. Ko nga, kupu enei o taua waea:— " Meiha Paraone, Niu Paremata. " Patea, Tihema 29, 1880. " Kua tae katoa i ahau nga moni o Kaitangiwhenua kite Peeke, kua pai inaianei kua ora. I ata paahitia katoatia c ratou nga pukapuka whakahaere utunga moni tuatahi a kahore hoki ratou i whakahe i etahi o nga moni i roto i aua pukapuka, a nui atu to ratou whakapai ki a koe ki ahau hoki. Kua tatu toku ngakau inaianei ka tuhia atu c ahau he reta. " Wibemu Wibemu." Kihai te reta i kiia i roto ite waea nei i whakatakotoria c Meiha Paraone ki toku aroaro. Iki ia ki tana mahara i tahuna pea taua reta i te wa i tahuna ai etahi o ana pepa i mua ake nei. Kahore hoki a Wiremu i ahei kite whakatokoto kape o taua pukapuka ki toku aroaro, ki te whakaatu mai ranei i te tikanga o nga kupu o taua reta. I te 30 o nga ra o Tihema, 1880, ka patua, te waea c mau ake nei, c Wiremu kia a Takena, roia i Whanganui. Me ki penei atu ahau itu taua roia, a Takena, hei kai-whakahaere keehi mo te taha ki nga Maori i roto i te Kooti Whenua Maori, a he kereeme tana ki nga Maori mo nga moni c £232 topu, a kei te whakaatu nga reta i waenganui i a Wiremu raua ko Takena i ki a Wiremu mana c whakarite kia utua nga moni nama ki taua roia i roto i nga moni o te hoko o te whenua. (Tirohia nga kape nga reta i roto i nga mea whakaatu.) " Xi a A. Takena, Eoia, Whanganui. " Patea, Tihema 30, 1880. " Kua taea katoa taku mahi mo Kaitangiwhenua a ka tae atu ahau ki kona, ki a koe, a tera wiki. " WiEEMU Wibemu " I te 31 o nga ra o Tihema, ka patua mai c te Eangatira o te Pe.eke o Niu Tireni he waea ki a Te Kira. Ko nga kupu enei o taua waea :— " Xi a E. Te Kira, Tari Maori, Poneke. " Patea, Tihema 31, 1880. " Confidential. No te ata ote Wenerei ka wahia c Wiremu, mo te taha ki nga Maori, to haki, Kei te nui te manawapa o nga Maori, a kei te uiui mo taua moni. Kahore a Wiremu c whakaae inaianei kite utu i taua moni kite Maori kite Pakeha ranei. He mea atu tenei naku ki a koe me patu mai he waea ki a Wiremu kia whakaaturia atu c ia ki a koe tana peheatanga i taua moni." "H. P Kieihiti (H. P Christie) " Ko nga kupu enei o te waea whakahoki a Te Kira mo taua waea: — ' H. P Kirihiti, Patea. " Poneke, Tihema 31, 1880. " No. 1013. E kore ahau c ahei kite whai tikanga mo runga i tenei mea. E hara a Wiremu ite apiha ote Kawanatanga. I utua c ahau te haki ki nga tangata katoa ote karaati, a no te taenga mai ano o to waea nei katahi ano ahau ka mohio i hoatu taua haki ki a Wiremu." "E. H. Kiea (E. J Gill)."
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With regard to the concluding portion of this telegram, I may state that, in giving his evidence before me on the inquiry, Mr Williams swore that, after the meeting at Waitotara on the 28th December was over, he met Mr Gill outside the hotel, and told him that he (Williams) had succeeded in getting the cheque, and that he (Gill) replied that "he was very pleased to hear it," or something to that effect. Mr Gill, on the other hand, swore that this was absolutely false, and that he did not know until he got Mr Christie's wire in Wellington that Mr Williams had got the cheque from the Natives. On the 7th January, 1881, Mr Christie sent Mr Gill the following letter:— " Deae Sir,— " Patea, 7th January, 1881. " Referring to my telegram respecting Mr. Williams, I appear to have misunderstood your telegram from Waitotara and the tenor of previous conversations, from both of which I gathered that you were most anxious to see that the Maoris received the money for your cheque on this office. But for the misunderstanding I would not have wired to you on the matter "I am, &c, "E.J Gill, Esq , Wellington. "H. F Christie. Mr Gill did not reply to this letter When Mr Williams did not reply to Kauika's telegram, and the Natives had learned from the manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Patea that their cheque had been cashed by Mr Williams, they got very uneasy and anxious, and Kauika and one or two of the grantees went off to Patea to see Mr Williams about it, and to obtain from him an explanation as to why he had not returned with the money When they got to Mr Williams's house they were informed by Mrs. Williams that Mr. Williams was ill in bed and quite unfit to see any one on business. Kauika, however, grew angry and insisted on seeing Mr Williams, and eventually Mrs. Williams allowed him to go into the room where Mr Williams was. At this interview Kauika demanded the money from Mr. Williams, who promised to come down to Waitotara with it as soon as he was well enough. (See Kauika's evidence, Book 1., page 84, &c.) Between this and the middle of January, 1881, Mr Williams and the Natives had one or two interviews, but no settlement was arrived at. The Natives always insisted that the money should be handed to them. During these interviews Mr Williams for the first time asserted that the Natives owed him and Williams and Sons more money than the amount of the cheque. The Natives disputed that they owed anything, and kept urging Mr. Williams to pay the money over to them. Towards the end of January, 1881, "Dru te Angina telegraphed and wrote to the Government, complaining that Mr Williams was holding their money On 29th January, 1881, he wired as follows :— " Waitotara, 29th January, 1881. " E. Gill, Native Office, Wellington. " Williams has withheld our money Do you instruct him to pay it to us now? Reply to this wire. " Ueu te Angina." Uru also wrote to Mr Eolleston, Native Minister, on the same day, asking the Government to assist the Natives to recover their money from Mr Williams. The Government, however, refused to interfere, and took up the position that as the cheque had been handed over to the Natives the Government was not liable in any way, and that if the Natives chose to trust Mr Williams—who was not at that time a Government officer—with the cheque, they did so at their own risk. The records show that from this date up to last sitting of Parliament the Natives have been constantly applying to the Government for relief and assistance in connection with this matter (See petitions, reports of Committees, &c. in Government file.) Uru and Kauika also went to Wellington on several occasions and interviewed the Native Minister but they were always told that the Government would not recognise any liability, and could not interfere in any way In July 1885, the Native Affairs Committee reported, " That the Government should ascertain whether there be sufficient evidence to warrant an action at law in this matter —either civil or criminal —and, if so, should assist the Natives to obtain justice. In the month of March, 1881, the Natives placed the matter in the hands of Mr Andrew Duncan, a solicitor practising at Wanganui, and on the 19th of that month Mr Duncan wrote to Mr Williams as follows :— "Dear Sic,— "Wanganui, 19th March, 1881. " I am instructed by Urate Angina, Matanganui, Piki Kotuku, Wahiawa, Wiremu Kauika, and Hakaraia te Nawiri to apply to you for payment of the sum of £5,411, appropriated by you out of the purchase-money of Kaitangiwhenua, due to the above-named Natives. lam further instructed to inform you that unless the above sum be paid by Wednesday next, the 23rd instant, together with 455. costs, proceedings, both civil and criminal, will be taken against you without further notice. ' I remain, &c, "W Williams, Esq., Patea." "A Duncan Mr Williams replied to this letter as follows ;—
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Mo runga mo te wahi whakamutunga o te waea nei i penei mai nga kupu a Wiremu ki ahau, i runga ano i te oati, i tona tuunga kite whaaki kupu i toku aroaro, it te wa i noho ai ahau kite uiui, i muri i te huihuinga ki Waitotara i te 28 o nga ra o Tihema, i tutaki ia ki a Te Kira ki waho i te hotera a i ki atu ia ki a Te Kira kua riro mai i a ia, i a Wiremu, te haki, a i ki atu a Te Kira ki a ia " Kanui tona koa mo tona rongonga kua riro mai te haki," ara i ahua penei nga kupu a Te Kira ki a ia. I ki a Te Kira, i runga ano i te oati, he tino teka rawa atu tenei korero a Wiremu, a kahore rawa hoki ia i mohio kua riro i a Wiremu te haki a nga Maori tae noa kite wa i tae atu ai te waea a Kirihiti ki aia i Poneke. Ite 7 o nga ra o Hanuere, 1881, ka tuhia c Kirihiti tenei reta ki a Te Kira :—■ " E Pα,— " Patea, Hanuere 7, 1881. " Mo runga mo taku waea mo Wiremu, i pohehe pea ahau ki nga kupu o roto o to waea i patu mai ki ahau i Waitotara, me te tikanga o kupu ki ahau i nga korerorerotanga o mua atu. Ano ki ahau i penei te tikanga c tino hiahia ana koe kia puta tonu atu ki nga Maori te moni o te haki i tuhia nei c koe ki runga ki tenei Peeke. Mci kaua taku pohehe kua kore ahau c patu atu i taku waea ki a koe mo runga mo taua mea. Heoi ano. " Kia E. H. Kira, Poneke." "Na H. P Kieihiti. Kahore aTe Kira i tuhi kupu whakahoki mo tenei reta. Nui rawa atu te manawapa me te raruraru i pa mai ki nga Maori i te korenga o Wiremu c whakautu mai i te waea a Kauika, i muri iho hoki i to ratou mohiotanga kite rangatira o te peeke kua wahia ta ratou haki c Wiremu, a haere ana a Wiremu Kauika raua ko tetahi, ko etahi tokorua ranei o nga tangata o te karaati ki Patea kia Wiremu mo taua moni, kite patai hoki he aha te take ki kore ai ia c hoki mai me te moni. To raua (? ratou) taenga atu kite whare o Wiremu ka kiia mai etc wahine a Wiremu kei te mate a Wiremu, kei runga i tana moenga c takoto ana, a c kore c ahei kia kite i te tangata mo runga mo nga tikanga mahi. Heoi i te riringa o Kauika tukua ana ia c te wahine kia tomo atu kite ruuma i a Wiremu. I tenei korerotanga o Kauika ki a Wiremu i tono a Kauika kia utua mai te moni c Wiremu, a i ki tuturu mai a Wiremu mana c man iho te moni ki Waitotara ate wa tonu c ahua ora ake ai tona mate. (Tirohia nga kupu whakaatu a Kauika i roto i Pukapuka 1., Wharangi 84, &c.) I waenganui o tenei me nga ra o waenganui o Hanuere, 1881, kotahi c rua ranei nga kitenga, korerotanga hoki o Wiremu me nga Maori, otiia kahore taua mea i oti. Ko te tohe tonu a nga Maori me hoatu tonu te moni ki a ratou. I enei korerotanga a ratou katahi ano a Wiremu ka ki he nama a nga Maori ki a ia, ki a Wiremu me ana Tama ako aua nama nui atu i nga moni o te haki. Ko te tohe a nga Maori kahore a ratou nama, me ta ratou tohe ano kia utua atu c Wiremu te moni ki a ratou. Ite tatanga kite pau o nga ra o Hanuere, 1881, ka patu waea ka tuhi reta hoki a Uru Te Angina kite Kawanatanga whakahe mo te mahi a Wiremu, ara ki atu kite Kawanatanga kei te puritia c Wiremu ta ratou moni. Ite29 o nga ra o Hanuere, 1881, ka patua mai c ia tenei waea : — " Xi a E. Kira, Tan Maori, Poneke. " Waitotara, Hanuere 29, 1881. " Kua puritia atu c Wiremu ta matou moni. Tonoa ia c koe kia utua mai te moni ki a matou inaianei. Utua mai tenei waea. " Übu Te Angina." I tuhi reta mai ano hoki a Uru ki a Te Eooretana, te Minitia mo te Taha Maori, i taua ra ano, tono kia awhina atu te Kawanatanga i nga Maori kite tohe kia utua mai ta ratou moni c Wiremu. Kihai te Kawanatanga i whakaae kia whai tikanga mo runga mo taua mea, a i penei te kupu a te Kawanatanga i runga i te mea i ata hoatu te haki ki nga Maori kahore he tikanga c pa mai ki runga kite Kawanatanga, a mehemea he whakaaro to nga Maori kia whakapono ratou ki a Wiremu (kua mutu nei tona tv apiha Kawanatanga i taua wa) a kia hoatu hoki i ta ratou haki ki a ia, na ratou ake ano tera tikanga, ai te putahga ote raruraru na ratou ake ano te take o tera raruraru. E whakaatu ana i roto i nga pukapuka o taua wa ra ano a tae noa mai kite tuunga o te Paremete, kua pahure ake nei he pitihana tonu te mahi a nga Maori kite Kawanatanga kia whakaorangia kia awhinatia atu hoki ratou i runga i taua mea. (Tirohia nga Pitihana, nga Eipoata a nga Komici me etahi atu mea i roto i te paihere pukakuka Kawanatanga.) He maha ano hoki nga taenga o Uru Te Angina raua ko Kauika ki Poneke, a i korero raua kite Minita mo te Taha Maori, a i o raua korerotanga katoa ko te kupu tonu ki a raua c kore te Kawanatanga c whakaae c pa mai ana tetahi he ahua tikanga ke atu ranei o taua mea ki runga kite Kawanatanga a c kore hoki te Kawanatanga c ahei kite whai tikanga mo runga i taua mea. Ite marama o Hurae, 1885, ka puta tenei ripoata ate Komiti mo nga Mea Maori "Me uiui c te Kawanatanga mehemea kei te nui nga take c tika ai kia kawea tenei keehi kite Ture, i runga i te tikanga hara hiwiri, kirimina ranei, a mehemea kei te nui nga take me awhina te Kawanatanga i nga Maori kite kimi ora mo ratou." I te marama o Maehe, 1881, ka tukua c nga Maori taua keehi ki a Anaru Takena, he tangata c mahi roia ana i Whanganui, a i te 19 o nga ra o taua marama ano ka tuhia tenei pukapuka c Takena ki a Wiremu :—■ " E hoa,— " Whanganui, Maehe 19, 1881. " Kua whakahaua mai ahau c Uru Te Angina, c Matanganui, c Piki Kotuku, c Wahiawa, c Wiremu Kauika, c Hakaraia Te Nawiri hoki, kia tono atu ki a koe kia utua nga moni c £5,441 i tangohia c koe i roto i nga moni hoko o Kaitangiwhenua, ko aua moni nei ma nga Maori c man nei nga ingoa i runga ake nei. Kua whakahaua mai ano hoki ahau kia ki penei atu kite kore aua moni c utua mai a te Wenerei te 23 o nga , ra o te marama nei me nga moni c 45/-, utu mo te whakahaerenga o te keehi, ka whakahaerea tonutia he keehi he tikanga hoki mou i raro i te Ture Hiwiri me te Ture Kirimina, a c kore c puta tetahi atu kupu whakaatu ki a kae. " Heoi ano, " Xi a W Wiremu, Patea." " Na A. Takena Ko te reta whakautu mai tenei a Wiremu mo ta Takena: —
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" Deab Sib,— " Patea, 22nd March, 1881. " I write to inform you that I shall be most happy to settle with Uru te Angina and the other owners of the Kaitangiwhenua Block, and may further state that I have been pressing them for a final settlement, but I decline to do it in the way you demand, and if you have anything more to communicate on this matter I refer you to my solicitor, Mr. George Hutchison. " I am, &c. "A. Duncan, Esq." "W Williams. It will be noticed that Mr Williams did not forward any statement of account with this letter. On 24th March, 1881, Mr Hutchison wrote to Mr Duncan as follows :— " Deak Sib,— " Wanganui, 24th March, 1881. "Be Kaitaugiwhenua, without prejudice. In a few days I expect to be able to communicate with you respecting the accounts between the Natives and Mr Williams. If, in the meantime, your instructions require you to take civil proceedings I am authorised to accept service as if Mr. Williams were a resident within the Wellington District. "Yours faithfully " A. Duncan, Esq " " Geobge Hutchison Mr Hutchison did not again communicate with Mr Duncan respecting the accounts between Mr Williams and the Natives. The correspondence, &c, shows that Mr. Williams shortly after this practically took the matter out of Mr Hutchison's hands. Mr. Williams, towards the end of March, wired to Major Brown to come down and assist him to come to some settlement with Mr Duncan. (See letters, Brown to Williams, 23rd March , Brown to Duncan, 23rd March telegrams, Williams to Brown, 26th March Brown to Duncan, 28th March, Duncan to Brown, 29th March.) On the 9th April, 1881, Major Brown and Mr Williams went to Wanganui and had an interview with Mr Duncan. The following entry from Mr Duncan's bill of costs in the matter, sworn to as being correct by Major Brown (see his evidence), shows what took place at this interview ; — " 1881, April 9.—Attending Mr. Williams and Major Brown in long conference as to compromise of case, when Mr Williams promised to furnish accounts shortly " Mr. Williams did not, however, keep his promise, and on the 20th June he caused the following letter to be sent to Mr Duncan :— " Deab Sib,— " Patea, 20th June, 1881. " At your request I have looked through the accounts re Kaitangiwhenua, and find that it would take too long to give you them in detail, but will give you the total amount of the moneys I have paid away, which is £5,813 7s. 9d. This does not include your account or North's. There are also a few outstatiding accounts, for which I am responsible, altogether amounting to about another £50. The Natives saw the whole of these accounts, and had them read out to them and said they were all correct. " I beg to remain, &c, "W Williams, " A. Duncan, Esq." " Per D. J W In April, 1881, an application was made to Major Heaphy on behalf of the Government, for his certificate, as Trust Commissioner under the Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act, to the conveyance to the Queen of the 18th September 1880. The Natives attended, and opposed the granting of the certificate, and Major Heaphy took their evidence. (See evidence with Government file.) Mr Williams was present, but he declined to ask the Natives any questions. Major Heaphy took time to consider the matter, and delivered a written judgment on the 27th May 1881, granting the certificate required by the Act. Major Heaphy's decision, and the evidence taken before him, will be found with the Government file of papers, but I will just make one or two extracts from the judgment to show the ground upon which he based his decision. He says "It appeared that dissatisfaction existed among the sellers with regard to the ultimate disposal of a cheque for £5,411, paid to them by Mr Gill, in one final payment, at Waitotara, but, as they acknowledged to have received the cheque into their own hands, I considered I had nothing to do with their subsequent disposal of it." Eeferring to the transactions between the Natives and Williams and Sons, Major Heaphy says : ' They (the Natives) do not appear to have received accounts of the goods so delivered, nor in some cases to have known the prices." Again he says, "It appears evident that a Trust Commissioner should have the means of making his inquiries while such a sale is in course of operation. If he were to withhold his certificate after the completion of the deed the wrong parties would suffer Hoivever unsatisfactory might have been the conduct of those who negotiated the purchase, I did not find that there was any transaction between the buyer and seller of a fraudulent nature. The Natives had abundance of other land for their future wants. I therefore have certified to the deed." Again " I asked Mr Williams for copies of accounts, that I might judge of the fairness of prices charged by his sons for buggies, horses, &c. He promised to furnish them, but has not done so. I have no power to compel their production."
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" E hoa,~- " Patea, Maehe 22, 1881. "He kupu whakaatu atu tenei naku ki a koe ka pai noa atu ahau kite whakaoti i tenei mea ki a Uru Te Angina me etahi atu o nga tangata no ratou nei a Kaitangiwhenua Poraka, a he mea atu hoki tenei kia mohio koe ko taku mahi he tohe ki a ratou Ida whakaotia, engari kahore ahau c pai kia whakaotia i runga ite tikanga c kiia mai nei c koe. Meheinea he kupu atu ano au mo runga mo tenei mea me ahu atu ki taku roia ki a Hori Hatihana korero atu ai, me tuhi atu ranei ki a ia. " Heoi ano, " Xi a A. Takena." " Naku, Na W Wiebmu Kahore i tukua mai c Wiremu he kaute i roto i tenei pukapuka. I te 24 o nga ra o Maehe, 1881, ka tuhi mai a Hatihana i tenei reta ki a Takena :— " E hoa, — " Whanganui, Maehe 24, 1881. "Mo Kaitangiwhenua. E kore c maha nga ra kei muri ka ahei ahau kite tuku pukapuka atu ki a koe mo runga mo te kaute i waenganui i nga Maori me Wiremu. Otiia mehemea kua whakahaua mai koo kia hamenetia (a Wiremu), kua whakamana ahau hei tango i taua hamene, ano nei kei roto a Wiremu i te Takiwa Porowini o Poneke c noho ana. " Heoi ano, " Xi a A. Takena." " Na Hori Hatihana. Kahore rawa a Hatihana i tuhi mai ano i tetahi pukupuka mo te kaute i waenganui i nga Maori me Wiremu. Kei nga pukapuka i tuhituhia me etahi atu mea c whakaatu ana i muri tata i tenei ka tangohia tonutia atu o Wiremu te tikanga whakahaere i roto i nga ringa o Hatihana. I te tatanga kite pau o nga ra o Maehe ka patua c Wiremu he waea ki Maeiha Paraone kia haere mai hei hoa whakarite tikanga whakaoti rnona i taua raruraru ki a Takena. (Tirohia enei reta— ta Paraone ki a Wiremu o te 23 o Maehe ta Paraone ki a Takena o te 23 o Maehe , waea a Wiremu ki a Paraone o te 26 o Maehe , ta Paraone ki a Takena o te 28 o Maehe , me ta Takena ki a Paraone ote29 o Maehe. Ite 9 o nga ra o Aperira, 1881, ka haere a Wiremu rauako Meiha Paraone ki Whanganui a i korero raua ki a Takena. Ko nga kupu enei i raro iho nei i tuhia ki runga kite pirea Takena mo nga moni utu o nga whakahaerenga mo runga mo taua mea i korerotia c ratou. I kiia c Meiha Paraone, i runga ano i te oati, c tika ana aua kupu i tuhia ra. (Tirohia ana kupu whaaki.) Ko aua kupu i tuhia kei te whakaatu i nga tikanga i korerotia c ratou. Koia enei ko aua kupu i tuhia ra: — " 1881, Aperira 9.—Whakahaerenga tikanga ki a Wiremu raua ko Meiha Paraone i te korero roa mo runga mo te tikanga i whakaaetia hei otinga mo te keehi, a whakaae ana a Wiremu kia tukua tatatia mai c ia nga kaute." Otiia kihai a Wiremu' i whakarite i tana whakaaetanga, a i te 20 o nga ra o Hune ka whakahaua c Wiremu kia tukua tenei reta ki a Takena :— " E hoa,-- " Patea, Hune 20, 1881. " I runga i to tono kua tirotirohia c ahau nga kaute mo Kaitangiwhenua a kitea ana c ahau c kore c taea te tataku atu ki a koe nga mea katoa i roto i aua kaute, he rnaha rawa hoki a he roa noa atu te wa hei tuhituhinga i aua mea, na reira me ki kau atu c ahau te nui o nga moni kua utua c ahau, ara c £5,813 79. Kahore to kaute i roto i tenei, kahore hoki ta Noota. Tera atu ano etahi atu kaute kei waho atu o tenei c riro ana maku c whakahaere, c tae ana nga moni o aua kaute kite £50. Kua kite nga Maori i enei kaute katoa, kua panuitia katoatia atu hoki ki a ratou, a kua kiia ano hoki c ratou c tika ana. " Heoi ano, " W Wibbmu, " Xi a A. Takena." " Na E. H. W I te marama o Aperira, 1881, ka tukua he tono ki a Meiha Hiiwhi (Heaphy), Komihana Kaitiaki i raro i " Te Ture Arai i te lioko i nga Whenua Maori," mo te taha kite Kawanatanga, kia whakaputaina c ia he tiwhikete whakamana mo te hoko ki a te Kuini i te 18 o nga ra o Hepetema, 1880. I tae nga Maori kite arai kia kaua taua tiwhikete c whakaputaina a tuhia ana c Meiha Hiiwhi a ratou kupu i korero ai mo runga mo ta ratou araitanga. (Tirohia ana kupu kei te paihere pukapuka Kawanatanga. I reira ano a Wiremu, otiia kihai ia i whakaae kia whakaputa kupu patai ki nga Maori. He roa te wa i ata whakaaroarohia ai c Meiha Hiiwhi taua mea, a i te 27 o nga ra o Mci, 1881, ka whakaputaina c ia tana whakataunga, he mea tuhituhi nana kite pukapuka, a i whakaaetia eia kia puta te tiwhikete i whakaritea etc Ture. Kei te paihere pukapuka Kawanatanga katoa te whakataunga a Meiha Hiiwhi me nga kupu whakaatu i whakapuakina ki tona aroaro mo runga mo te keehi o taua tono. Me tuhi c ahau etahi o nga kupu o roto o tana whakataunga hei whakaatu atu ite take i whakaputaina ai eia tana whakataunga. Ko ana kupu enei: "I kitea kei te raruraru nga kai-hoko mo te whakahaerenga whakamutunga ote haki mo te moni £5,411 i utua atu nei c Te Kira kia ratou i Waitotara , otira i te mea c whakaae ana nga Maori i riro atu te haki ki o ratou ringaringa, c whakaaro ana ahau kaore kau aku tikanga mo ta ratou whakahaerenga i muri iho." Mo runga mo nga tikanga i waenganui i nga Maori me Wiremu me ana Tama ko nga kupu enei a Meiha Hiiwhi ' Xi te whakaaro kahore i tae he kaute ki nga Maori mo nga taonga i tukua ki a ratou, a kahore hoki ratou i mohio ki nga utu o etahi o aua taonga i tukua atu ra ki a ratou. Ko etahi atu enei o ana kupu "Xi te whakaaro he mea tika kia tae he whakaaturanga kite Komihana Kai-tiaki c ahei ai ia kite uiui i nga tikanga itewa c whakahaerea ana te hoko. Xi te kore c whakaputaina c ia te tiwhikete i muri iho i te otinga o te Tiiti ka pa te mate kite hunga kahore nei i tika kia tau he mate ki runga ki a ratou. Ahakoa ano te ahua pohehe o te mahi ate hunga na ratou nei i tohakahaere te hoko kahore i kitea c ahau he tikanga tahae i roto i te hoko i waenganui ite kai-tango me nga kai-tuku ite hoko. He nui nga whenua o nga Maori kei waho atu i tenei hei oranga mo ratou, na reira whakamana ana c ahau te Tiiti." Ko etahi atu ano enei o ana kupu : ' I tonoa c ahau kia, homai c Wiremu ki ahau nga kape o nga kaute kia ahei ai ahau kite whiriwhiri i te tika i te he ranei o nga utu o nga mea i roto i aua kaute, ara i nga utu mo nga paki, mo nga hoiho me etahi atu mea i hokoa atu c ana tamariki. I whakaae ia kite homai i nga kape o aua kaute, otiia kahore ano kia tukua mai c ia. Kahore he mana i ahau c ahei ai taku tono kia mauria tonutia mai aua kape o nga kaute."
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The Trust Commissioner's certificate is indorsed on this deed, and is dated 27th May, 1881. On the 9th July, 1881, Mr Williams was, on the petition of a creditor, Thomas North, of Patea, draper, adjudicated a bankrupt by order of the District Court at Patea. The Commission does not direct me to inquire into Mr Williams's conduct in connection with his bankruptcy, but I may say this that a careful perusal of the papers and evidence, &c. (forwarded herewith), relating to the bankruptcy proceedings must, I think, convince any unprejudiced person that, in transferring to his sons, a few weeks before the adjudication, practically the whole of his assets, valued at £1,922 odd, in liquidation cf an alleged indebtedness to them, he was guilty of a gross fraud on his creditors. The proceedings in the bankruptcy from the beginning to end were of the most extraordinary character, the chief aim and object of Mr Williams, his sons, who assisted, and the friendly creditors evidently being to prevent the hostile creditors from getting anything out of the estate. The question may be asked, " Why did not Mr Duncan, as solicitor for the Natives, look after their interests, and press their claim against Mr Williams?" As I have already stated, Mr Duncan had a claim on the Natives for £232 odd for two days' attendance before the Native Land Court, at one hundred guineas a day and for preparing the conveyance from them to the Queen. At the time of Mr Williams's bankruptcy this amount was still unpaid, and his sons, with his knowledge, agreed to pay, and did pay, the full amount to Mr Duncan on condition that he would not take any further action against their father Mr D J Williams, in giving his evidence before me on this inquiry, admitted that they, to use his own words, " squared" Mr Duncan by the payment in full of the amount claimed by him. The Natives, it is needless to say, knew nothing about this, and expressed considerable surprise when the facts were brought out in the course of Mr D J Williams's evidence on the inquiry before me at Waitotara. After a very exhaustive investigation, I regret to say that I am unable to come to any other conclusion than that Mr Williams, who at the time enjoyed the full confidence of the Natives, and had considerable influence over them, obtained the cheque for the balance of the purchase-money ■ —£5,411 Os. 7d.—from them by treachery, deceit, and trickery, and that, having cashed it, he, in breach of the conditions upon which the cheque was handed to him, fraudulently appropriated the proceeds in the manner before mentioned, and has never accounted to the Natives, not only for that money, but for the sums received by him through Major Brown prior to the final settlement. I gave Mr Williams written notice (see Commissioner's correspondence) to prepare and produce at the inquiry a full, true, and particular account of his dealings and transactions with the Natives, but he failed to comply with my request. The evidence has fully satisfied me that the Natives have never, at any time, had an account from Mr Williams showing how he disposed of the large sums of money which passed through his hands. Mr Williams, as I have already shown, promised Major Heaphy, the Trust Commissioner, to supply accounts, but did not keep his promise. He also undertook to furnish Mr Duncan with accounts, but again failed to do so, alleging that "it would take too long to make them out. Just as the inquiry was drawing to a close, Mr. Levi, counsel for Mr Williams, handed in an account (see account amongst exhibits) which he said he (Mr Levi) had prepared to the best of his ability, but he admitted that he was unable to bring any evidence to verify it, and did not attempt to prove its correctness. A glance at this statement will show that it is incorrect in many particulars, and incomplete. lam inclined to agree with Mr. Gill (see his minute of 27th August, 1893, in Government file) that the Natives have been " robbed to a considerable extent, and I certainly concur with the late Mr Ballance's opinion (see minute, 20th May, 1891, Government file) that they were " abominably treated " by Mr Williams. There is a well-known legal maxim to the effect chat "There is no wrong without a remedy " I apprehend, however, that it is no part of my duty to suggest what remedy should be applied in the present case. That is a question which will no doubt be carefully considered and decided upon by your Excellency's Advisers. With regard to the costs of this inquiry, I am empowered by section 6 of " The Commissioners' towers Act 1867 Amendment Act, 1872," to order " that the whole or any portion of the costs of any inquiry shall be paid by any of the parties to such inquiry " I am of opinion that the whole of the costs of the inquiry should be paid by Mr Williams, and I order accordingly I forward for your Excellency's information, — 1. Shorthand reporter's minutes of proceedings and notes of the evidence taken on the inquiry, contained in four bound volumes, indexed, &c., 2. All the exhibits produced on the inquiry, consisting of books, files, correspondence, papers, deeds, documents, &c, more particularly referred to and enumerated in the list written at the end of the notes of evidence before referred to , and 3. The Commission which your Excellency was pleased to direct to me, under which this inquiry was held. Given under my hand and seal at Wanganui this 19th day of March, 1894. Chaelbs C. Kettle, D.J , Commissioner.
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Ko te tiwhikete a te Komihana Kaitiaki kei runga i te Tiiti c man ana, a i tuhia i te 27 o nga ra o Mci, 1881. I te 9 o nga ra o Hurae, 1881, ka whakataua a Wiremu c te ota a te Kooti Takiwa i Patea he peekerapu, i runga i te pitihana a tetahi o nga tangata i nama nei ia ki a ratou, ara a Tamati Noota (Thomas North) he tangata nana tetahi toa hokohoko kakahu. Kahore te Komihana c whakahau ana kia uiuia c ahau te ahua o nga tikanga whakahaere a Wiremu mo runga mo tona peekeraputanga, otiia me ki penei ake ahau mehemea ka tirohia nga pukapuka me nga kupu i korerotia me etahi atu mea (ka tukua atu nei), c pa ana kite whakahaerenga o te keehi peekerapu, ka mohio te ngakau tapatahi, kore whakahoa, i te tukunga c Wiremu ki ana tama i ona taonga, taputapu hoki, ko te nui nei o nga moni mo aua mea £1,922, i roto i nga wiki c rua i rnua atu i te putanga o te ota whakataunga i tana peekeraputanga, hei whakaea, c ai ki tana ki, i ana nama ki ana tama, i mahi tahae tino kino ia ki nga tangata na ratou ra nga nama i a ia. Ko nga tikanga whakahaere i roto i te keehi peekerapu tena te tino rereke noa atu na te ahua, mai o te timatanga 0 te keehi tae noa kite mutunga , ko te tino mahi a Wiremu, a ana tama, me nga tangata na ratou nga nama i a ia, i a Wiremu, a c whakahoa ana ki a ia, he mea kia kore c puta atu he mea kotahi 1 roto i nga taonga me nga taputapu ki nga tangata na ratou nga nama i a ia, a kei te tv riri mai ki a ia. Ka ahei ano te patai i tenei patai, "He aha a Takena, te roia mo nga Maori, te ata whakahaere ai, te ata tiaki ai i te keehi a nga Maori kia pai te haere, te kaha ai hoki te tohe kia whakaritea ta ratou kereeme c Wiremu? Kua whakaaturia c ahau i runga ake nei he kereeme ta Takena ki nga Maori mo nga moni c £232 topu, mo nga ra c rua i tae ai ia kite Kooti Whenua Maori kite whakahaere keehi, i runga i te moni utu kotahi rau kini mo te ra kotahi mo te mahinga hoki ite pukapuka tuku a ratou ite whenua kite Kuini. Itewa i peekerapu ai a Wiremu kahore ano ana moni kia utua noatia. Heoi i whakaae nga tama a W 7 iremu, i mohio ano a Wiremu ki taua whakaaetanga, kia utua aua moni katoa kia Takena, engari ko te tikanga i whakaritea mo taua utunga kaua a Takena c whakahaere keehi ki to raua matua. I te tuunga o E. H. Wiremu kite whaaki korero i toku aroaro i te tuunga o tenei mahi uiui i penei mai tana kupu kua utua katoatia te moni i kereemetia c Takena. Kahore rawa nga Maori i mohio ki tenei whakahaerenga, a he nui to ratou ohoreretanga i to ratou rongonga i nga kupu i whaakina c E. H. Wiremu i toku aroaro i te tuunga o te mahi uiui ki Waitotara. I pau katoa nga tikanga o tenei keehi te uiui c ahau, ara i nui rawa atu taku mahi uiui mo tenei keehi a kahore atu he whakataunga c kitea c au maku, ko tenei anake, i riro mai i a Wiremu, i te tangata i maharatia nuitia nei c nga Maori he tangata totika, me to ratou whakarongo ano ki a ia i runga hoki i to ratou whakapono he tangata mahi tika ia, i riro mai i a ia taua haki (cheque) mo nga moni c £5,411 0 7 i runga i te mahi kohuru, tahae, whakapatipati hoki, a i muri i tana wahanga i taua haki kihai ia i whakarite i te whakaaetanga i hoatu ai c nga Maori te haki ki a ia, engari tahaetia ana c ia nga moni, a kahore ano ia kia whakaputa'kaute whakaatu ki nga Maori mo enei moni me nga moni hoki i tukua atu c Meiha Paraone ki a ia i mua atu o te utunga whakamutunga. I hoatu c ahau ki a Wiremu he pukapuka tono (Tirohia nga pukapuka ara reta ate Komihana) kia tuhia kia mauria mai hoki c ia he pukapuka whakaatu i ana mahi me ana whakahaerenga ki nga Maori, heoi kihai i rite mai i a Wiremu taku tono. Kei te tino tuturu toku mohio kihai rawa i hoatu c Wiremu he kaute ki nga Maori, whakaatu i peheatia te whakapaunga c ia o nga moni nui i puta atu ki ona ringaringa. I whakaae a Wiremu kia tuku kaute mai ia ki a Meiha Hiiwhi, Komihana Kai-tiaki, kua kiia ake nei hoki c ahau i runga ake nei, heoi kahore i rite i a ia tera ano o ana whakaaetanga. I ki tuturu ano hoki ia kia tuku kaute atu ia ki a Takena, heoi kihai ano hoki i rite i a ia. Ko tana kupu ki a Takena "he roa rawa c tuhi ana i ana kaute. I mua tata ite mutunga ote mahi uiui ka homai c Eiwii, c te roia mo te taha ki a Wiremu, tetahi kaute (Tirohia tana kaute i roto i nga mea whakaatu) I ki taua roia nana taua kaute i tuhi a i tino ata mahia c ia taua kaute i runga i tana whakaaro kia tika, otiia i whakaae ano ia c kore c taea c ia te whakaatu etahi mea kupu whaaki ranei c mohiotia ai c tika ana taua kaute a kahore hoki ia i whakahaere korero tikanga ranei hei whakatika i taua kaute ano. Kei te ahua whakaaro pera ahau me Te Kira (Tirohia ana kupu i tuhituhi ra ite27 o Akuhata, 1883, kei roto kei te paihere pukapuka Kawanatanga), ara he nui noa atu nga moni a nga Maori i whanakotia, a kei te pera hoki toku whakaaro me to Te Paranihi kua mate nei (Tirohia nga kupu i tuhituhia i te 20 o nga ra o Mci, 1891, kei te paihere pukapuka Kawanatanga), ara " i tino kohurutia rawatia " nga Maori c Wiremu. Tenei ano tetahi kupu whakatauki ote Ture, kei te mohiotia nuitia taua whakatauki, ara, " Kahore he he (mate) c kore ana he mea hei whakatika (whakaora) " Otiia kei te mohio ahau kahore he mana i ahau c ahei ai ahau kite whakaatu i tetahi huarahi whakaora mo runga mo tenei keehi. Ko tena ma o Kai-tohutohu c tirotiro, a tera ano pea c ata rapurapua c ratou he tikanga whakaputa ora. Mo runga mo nga moni hei utu mo tenei mahi uiui kei te whai mana ahau i raro i te Tekiona 6 o "Te Ture Whakatikatika 1872 i Te Ture Mana Komihana, 1867," kite whakahau, "ko nga moni katoa, ko tetahi wahi ranei o nga moni, hei utu mo nga whakahaerenga i roto i tetahi mahi uiui, me taua mahi uiui ma tetahi ma tetahi ranei o nga taha ki taua mahi uiui c utu." Kei te whakaaro ahau ko te tikanga ma Wiremu c utu nga moni katoa mo tenei mahi uiui, na reira ka Whakataua nei c ahau kia pera. Tenei ka tukua atu nei c ahu hei whakaaturanga ki a koe : — 1. Nga pukapuka ripoata ringa poto, nga pukapuka o nga korero katoa o nga whakahaerenga, me nga kupu whaaki i whakapuakina i roto ite mahi uiui. B wha aua pukapuka. 2. Nga mea whakaatu katoa i tukua ki toku aroaro i te wa o te mahi uiui, ara nga pukapuka, nga paihere pukapuka, nga reta, nga tiiti me etahi atu ahua pukapuka maha. Ko te ata whakaaturanga o ana pukapuka katoa kei te rarangi ingoa a ana mea c na i te mutunga a nga kupu whaaki kua whakahuatia i runga ake nei. 3. Te Komihana i tukua mai nei c koe ki ahau, whakamana i ahau kite whakahaere i tenei mahi uiui kua whakahaeraa nei c ahau. I tuhia i raro i toku hiiri i Whanganui i tenei te 19 o nga ra o Maehe, 1894. Taaee K. Kataka (Chaeles C. Kettle), Kai-whakawa Takiwa Komihana.
Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,400 copies), £1018s. 665.
Authority 5 Samuel Costall, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB94.
Price, 9d.] 3—G 4.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/AJHR1894-I.2.2.5.3
Bibliographic details
CHARGES AGAINST WILLIAM WILLIAMS (REPORT OF COMMISSION ON), IN CONNECTION WITH THE KAITANGIWHENUA BLOCK., Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1894 Session I, G-04
Word Count
17,628CHARGES AGAINST WILLIAM WILLIAMS (REPORT OF COMMISSION ON), IN CONNECTION WITH THE KAITANGIWHENUA BLOCK. Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1894 Session I, G-04
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