BEFORE THE V/AIKATO COMMITTEE.

F—No. 3

300. Were you made acquainted with the nature of any of the speeches made there?—l ws not. 301. Did you attend any other meetings held in Waikato in connexion with the King movement ? —I did not. 302. Were you aware that meetings of this nature were being held at Waikato? —I heard of a meeting at Paetai, and also of another meeting at Taupo. 303. Did you become acquainted with this before recommending the building of an assembly house? —I cannot recollect exactly about the date; the Ihumata meeting was in June 1857, and the Taupo meeting was before that. 304. Mr Domett] As you were in constant communication with the Natives, and were aware of the two meetings you mention, bow was it you were not aware of the objects of the Ihumata meeting?— They were all meetings for the purposes of general discussion. 305. Was there any agent of the Government present at that meeting? —I don't know about an agent of Government; the Bishop of New Zealand was there, and Mr. Buddie, and several other gentlemen ; some settleis, and some members of the Missionary body. I should tell the Committee that on the occasion of the Ihumata meeting I expressed my disapproval of the King movement, in a private conference I had with a great number of the Natives. 1 have a document in Maori from Maihi Mokonohi and his people, in which they g->ve the expressions I used on that occasion. If necessary 1 can give the Committee a copy of it. The words I used were " Whakarerea ta koutou Kingi; ka haea koutou c te pakeha," I should also say that ] was hoping at the time that the press would be the means of putting down the King movement, if it went beyond its original object as a land league, because in the matter of the press I was acting in concert with Waata Kukutai, Paora te Putu of Coromandel, and the Thames people generally, and the Ngatiporou and Whangaruru Natives and others. 306. Mr. Forsaith.] Assuming the King movement and the Land league movement to be distinct ; are you equally opposed to the one as to the other ?—Certainly not : the land league was a simple question of time, they might make one to-day, and break it to-morrow. 307. Mr. Bell.] Then do you mean to add any opinion on the King movement?,—Well, I don't know ; I should like to be told what you mean by the King movement. 1 have really never understood what was meant by it. 308. Is there any reason against supposing the King movement to be an attempt of the Natives to obtain civil institutions independent of, or in opposition to, Governmental authority ? —The Natives have always professed to be anxious to obtain civil institutions, but I think they have mo settled principles on the subject. 309. Then do you think that in spite of the King movement they would still be willing to receive civil institutions from Government?—l do. 310. Mr. Fox.] Do you think so in the Waikato?—lf they had confidence in the persons who are the medium of communication with the Governor, I think they would do so ; they do not place confidence in those who are the medium of communication with the Government. 311. Mr. Bell.] Do you mean at present, or at the time of the Ihumata meeting'?—l mean at that time, and up to the present time. 312. Mr. Domett] Had they confidence in Mr. Fenton ?—I think they had confidence in Mr. Fenton, what little they knew of him; he was a comparative stranger to them ; he was better known in the Kaipara district. 313. Did any Waikato chiefs express to you any disapproval of Mr. Fenton's proceedings 1 — I think the chiefs generally expressed their willingness to receive Mr. Fenton, and were much obliged for the suggestions he had made. 314. Mr. Forsaith.] Did you ever have any communication with Potatau with respect to Mr. Fenton's proceedings? —My communications with Potatau were of little or no consequence. I seldom or never communicated with him. I had no communication with him about Mr. Fenton's proceedings ; he never expressed any opinion to me about them; he had no opinions on the subject. 315. Chairman.] Do you mean that he was in a state of imbecility and was incapable of forming an opinion ?—No ; he was always very friendly with the Government, and never opposed the Government or their officers in any way. He was receiving a pension from Government, and some of his friends suggested that it should be given up. They asked me whether it was desirable to give it up : I said, certainly not. 316. Mr. Heale.] Did you ever hear of any opposition on the part of the older chiefs of Waikato to Mr. Fenton's proceedings ?—No ; I cannot say I recollect anything of that kind. 317. You are aware that there was such an opposition in the Upper Waikato? —No, I am not aware of that; they never said anything of that kind to me that I can recollect. 318. Then as far as your knowledge goes, no danger could have resulted from Mr. Fenton's proceedings ?—None whatever from his proceedings* or from his being a Resident Magistrate and carrying out the wishes of Government generally. 319. From what you heard among the Natives, do you think that the activity of Governmental action during Mr. Fenton's stay at Waikato was not calculated to create jealousy among the old chiefs ?—I never heard of it; sometimes there were rumours from persons of no consequence, but the chiefs never spoke to me to that effect. 320. Then do 1 understand you to give a general opinion that activity of Governmental action among the Natives in aiding them to govern themselves, is not objectionable or dangerous provided they have confidence in the agents ?—lt would not have been at that time, under the administration of Mr. Fenton; I am not so well acquainted with their feelings now ; I have little communication with the Waikato Natives now.

C. O. Davis, Esq. 9 Oct. 1860.

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