A.—No. 3,

6

Ngatiruanui District? " I replied, " I believe that he has come by the instructions of the Governor, with a view to peace being made." The Lieut.-Colonel said " This is good." Then the Lieut.-Colonel said " Wiremu, here is a cartridge for you to take to Pokaikai, to Tito Hunataua." I replied, "I am afraid to go because of the wild men (Hauhaus)." He then gave me a cartridge, a percussion cap, a bottle of spirits, and a white handkerchief, and, pointing to the cartridge, the percussion cap, and tho bottle of spirits, he said, " These three things are bad and destroy life." Then, pointing to the white handherchief, he said, " This means peace." I then, taking all four articles, returned to Kauae, and I explained to the Natives there the meaning attached to the articles, and at the same time I called for a messenger who would volunteer to take the articles to Pokaikai. A Native belonging to Kauae named Beupena Tahi volunteered to do so, and ho started with tho articles to Pokaikai. 36. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Are you certain that the place to which I asked you to take the articles was Pokaikai ? —The Lieut.-Colonel wanted me to deliver the articles to Tito Hunataua, and Tito was living at the time at Pokaikai. Otapawa had fallen during General Chute's campaign. 37. When I asked you where Tito and Te Ha were, did you not tell me that they were at Otapawa ? —I replied to that question that they were at Pokakai, and that Tito had taken up his residence permanently there. 38. Do you remember my going to Kauae with Honi Pehama, Captain Dawson, several officers, and eight or ten mounted troopers, some days after I gave you tho cartridge, the cap, and the handkerchief, mentioned above, when Matanahira was present in Kauae ?—I do not exactly remember the occurence alluded to. 39. Do you remember being present at tho Kauae when I held a conversation with Natanahira, and he promised to proceed the next day to see me at Waingongoro, with a view to his going on to visit the Governor in Wellington and making peace ? —Yes ; I was present, and I remember the circumstance. 40. Did Natanahira go as he promised to Waingongoro the next day, and did you go to Waingongoro yourself? —Natanahira did not go to Waingongoro as he had promised, but I myself went to Waingongoro and had an. interview with Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell the day after the conversation. 41. State before the Commission what you said, to me on that occasion.—Natanahira had not accompanied me, and Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell told me to go back to Kauae and to ask him (N atanahira) to come to him at Waingongoro, and that they (the Lieut.-Colonel and Natanahira) would then go together to Wanganui, and thence to Wellington, to see the Governor. I went back to Kauae. I saw Natanahira, and I said to him, " Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell wants you to accompany me to-morrow. Let us go together to Waingongoro. The Lieut.-Colonel is anxious that you should go with him to Wellington." Natanahira said "It is good; but I propose to leave the decision with some chiefs of the Tiatiawa tribe, namely, Pakau and Mohi." These two chiefs were present at the time in Kauae, and they said, " No ; don't go to Waingongoro,—rather let us go to New Plymouth, and thence by steamer to Wellington." Natanahira agreed to this proposal, and went with those chiefs. The following morning they started for New Plymouth, and 1 proceeded to Waingongora to see Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. The Lieut.-Colonel said, " Where is Natanahira? " I answered, "He has gone." The Lieut.Colonel asked, " Where has he gone to ? " I replied, "To New Plymouth. Natanahira said he was willing to go to Waingongoro, but Pakau and Mohi prevailed upon him to go to New Plymouth." The Lieut.-Colonel said to me, " Oh, Wiremu ! myself and men will return." They left Waingongoro. 42. Did you not on that occasion say to me, " I am very dark about Natanahira :he has not kept his word, but has gone northward with Te Ha and others. I hope that you will not blame me ? " —I did say those very words. 43. Did I not reply, " I do not blame you; but as he has not come to make peace, and has deceived us all, I shall commence operations ? " —And did you not answer, " I cannot help it ? " —lt is quite correct. Those words were used. 44. Did you not ask me to allow a lad, who as you said, was a son of Hone Pihama, to accompany our troops (I had a strong escort of about forty or fifty men with me,) to the cross road leading to Otapawa ? —T said to the Lieut.-Colonel on that day, " This lad is a son of Hone Pihama. He wishes to return to Pokaikai, whence he has come." 45. The Chairman.] You have said that Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell gave you a cartridge, apercussion cap, a bottle of spirits, and a white handkerchief. Are you quite certain that it was Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell who gave you the bottle of spirits? —Yes; I am quite certain that the bottle of spirits was given me by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. 46. How long ago was it that Otapawa was taken by General Chute ; and have any houses been rebuilt and occupied since it was taken ?—I believe that Otapawa was taken in January, 1866 ; and I do not know from my own knowledge whether the village had been re-occupied by the Natives before the attack was made on Pokaikai. 47. Was the village of Turangarere occupied at the time of the taking of Otapawa ; and was it occupied after the fall of Otapawa up to the date of tho attack upon Pokaikai; and how far distant is Turangarere from Otapawa ?—I cannot answer this question. I was friendly to the Europeans living at Waingongoro, and I did not go among the wild men (Hauhaus). 48. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Was not the bottle of rum given to you by Captain Dawson and myself for your own private use, and did you not often get bottles of rum from the officers stationed at Waingongoro ?—The bottle of rum having been given mo at the same time with the cartridge, percussion cap, and handkerchief, I concluded that it too was to form a portion of the symbolical message sent to the wild men. If the bottle had been placed apart from the three other articles I should have known that it was intended for me personally, —still it is possible that the mistake was mine and not that of the Lieut.-Colonel. I have often received presents of bottles of rum from the officers at Waingongoro. 49. Did you not explain to the Natives of Kauae that the bottle of rum was a present from yourself? —No ; I did not.

Wiremu Hukanui. Continued.