A.—No. 8

14

at the time of the attack was thus formed: Captain Wilson's Company, No. 8 ; Lieutenant Fooke's Company,No,lo; Patea Rangers; Wanganui Rangers; and Native Contingent. After the first shot was fired the companies diverged right and left. AVhen I heard the firing, I thought it came from tho villagers firing upon our men, and this was the cause why I hurried to the front as above detailed. Tho rifles of the force were loaded, and I believe that none of the pieces were reloaded : that is to say, that none of our men fired off twice, the firing lasted so short a time. As a body, the Native Contingent did not fire; one or two of tho Contingent who happened to be with some of the European Companies, might have discharged their rifles once. 124. Did you observe or hear of any cruelty towards, or ill-usage of, the women and children ?— I did not see any ; but I heard that a man of the name of Bezer, a private servant of Dr. AValker, Acting Assistant Surgeon of the Force, had torn an ornament from the ear of Martha. Captain Newland told me of the circumstance ; and I think he added that he had put Bezar under arrest.

Mr. W. 1-i. Gudgeon Continued.

Camp Matangaeaea, Feiday, 20th Maech, 1868. Hamiora having been duly sworn was examined. 125. The Chairman.] What is your name, where do you reside, and to what tribe do you belong? ■ —My name is Hamiora, and I reside at present in Matangarara, but I resided formerly in Ohangai. I belong to the Tangahoe hapu of the Ngatiruanui tribe. 126. Do you know Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell and Wi Hukanui?—Yes, I do. 127. State what you know about the Pokaikai affair, commencing from the time when Te Ua came from Wellington to the Ngatiruanui country ?—Te Ua came with a message to our tribe, but I do »ot know what that message was. Te Ua, Natanahira, and Hone Pihama went from Pokaikai to Kauae. On tho following day Beupena Tahi came to Pokaikai from Kauae, bringing with him a cartridge, a percussion cap, a bottle of spirits, and a white pocket handkerchief. These things, he told us, were sent by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. Our people retained the white handkerchief, and they returned the other things by the hands of Beupena Tahi and myself to the officer commanding at Waingongoro. Beupena delivered them, but I did not sec him do so. That day wo went on to Kauae, and we slept there that night; the next morning Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell came to Kauae and had an interview with Natanahira. What passed I know not. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, returned that day to Waingongoro. .On the following morning Natanahira told me to go to Lieut-Colonel McDonnell at Waingongoro and tell him that he (Natanahira) was unable to go to see him at Waingongoro and accompany him to Wellington, and that he had sent me in his stead. I went the same day to Waingongoro as directed by Natanahira, and Wi Hukanui accompanied me. I saw Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, and he told me that I must go with Captain. McDonnell to Manawapou. I went to Manawapou with Captain McDonnell and the escort. The same day Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell also arrived at Manawapou, and I slept that night at that place. In the morning Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell wrote two letters, one to Tukino, of Pokaikai, the other to Captain Dawson, commanding at Waingongoro. Both these letters were entrusted to me to deliver. I delivered the letter to Captain Dawson, who asked me to sleep at Waingongoro, which I did. During the night several men were sent from Waingongoro to Manawapou. Tho following morning Captain Dawson told me to go away. I asked why he had kept me at Waingongoro all night, but he gave me no reason. I then went to Pokaikai and delivered the letter 1o Tukino, with a message which Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell had instructed me to deliver to Tukino. The message was, that when he (the Lieut.-Colonel) returned from Patea, he would pay a visit to Pokaikai. On the following day Bangiamohia came to Pokaikai. Her object in coming was to see her relations in Pokaikai. Tukino said to me, " You must accompany Bangiamohia back to Manawapou. Her husband's name is Arepata, and he was at Manawapou, a private in the Native Contingent." I did so, and I there saw Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, and he asked me to go into his tent, where he wrote a letter to Tukino, in which he asked Tukino to send him some potatoes. 1 heard this letter read in Pokaikai, and hence I became aware of the contents. I stayed some hours in Manawapou, and I returned to Pokaikai in the evening, when I delivered the letter to Tukino. The people having heard the letter read, consented to send some potatoes as a present to the Lieut.-Colonel. It was showery that day, but I did not get wet in riding from Manawapou to Pokaikai. That same night the attack upon Pokaikai was made. 128. Mr. Commissioner Graham.] Was Bangiamohia ill-treated by the people of Pokaikai ? —I did not see anyone ill-treat her, nor did I hear her complain of being ill-treated while I was at Manawapou. 129. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] You have stated that Natanahira told you to go to Waingongoro and explain to me (Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell) that he was unable to come to Waingongoro, and that he had sent you in his stead. Did you mention this to me at Waingongoro, or did you even speak to me on the occasion? —I did not tell to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell what Natanahira had said to me in Kauae about being unable to come to Waingongoro, nor did I speak to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell at all on that occasion. 130. Did you not ask Captain McDonnell when the escort had reached tho cross road leading to Otapawa to allow you to accompany the escort as far as Manawapou ? —The Lieut.-Colonel told me to go with Captain McDonnell to Manawapou from Waingongoro, and Captain McDonnell also told mo the same, and I did so. 131. Did you not, when at Manawapou, say to mo and others, Poma, Wirihana, and Captain McDonnell, alt of the Native Contingent, " Kanui te ho o Natanahira Erangi me haere ahau ko to rongo ratou ki taku kupu ko te haere mai ratou i rungi i taku kupu " —Natanahira has done a great wrong; rather let me go. They will listen to my words, and como in on my entreaty?"—l did not use the above words. 132. Did not Wirihana of the Native Contingent at Manawapou give you any message to the Hauhaus in Pokaikai as to what would be done to them if they did not come in and makepeace?— I do not recollect the circumstance.

Mamiora. 20th March, 1868.