A.—No. 8

15

133. Was it not on the occasion of your accompanying Rangiamohia to Manawapou that I gave you a letter to deliver to Captain Dawson at Waingongoro? Did I not at the same time give you a red scarf (the badge of the Native Contingent) at your own request, that you might show it to Captain Dawson as a proof to that officer that you had been sent by me? In that letter I told Captain Dawson to detain you, even if he had to make you a prisoner, to save you in the impending attack upon Pokaikai, and to ensure your delivering it that evening I directed Captain Dawson to give you half-a-crown. Did you receive that half-a-crown, and did you not reach Pokaikai a short time before the attack, and was not the red scarf which I had given you found in the village ? —Two things in this question are jumbled up together. I did carry the letter, as I have before stated, to AVaingongoro. I did receive half-a-crown from Captain Dawson, and as I have before stated, I was kept by him all night; but I did not receive that letter from Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell on the occasion of my accompanying Rangiamohia from Pokaikai to Manawapou. The letter which I received on that occasion was the letter addressed to Tukino, asking for potatoes. I received the red scarf when I accompanied Rangiamohia from Pokaikai to Manawapou, and returned to Pokaikai on that day wearing that badge. My object in wearing that badge was to show to my brethren that I was united to the British Government, and to save myself from being shot at by any Europeans on the road from Manawapou to Pokaikai. 134. You have stated that you arrived in Pokaikai the evening before the attack. AVhence had You come to Pokaikai on that occasion?— From Manawapou. 135. At what hour did you leave Manawajsou on that occasion, and did you go straight to Pokaikai without calling at any place on the road ? —I do not know the hour, but the sun was near upon setting. I did not call at any place on the road. I went by the public high-road, and when I reached the cross road where now Swinley's public-house stands, I turned to the right and went to Pokaikai through Matangarara. 136. How long before the attack was made did you reach Pokaikai ? —I reached Pokaikai during the evening, twilight. I eat the food that was cooked, and I then went to sleep in the house. We had slept some time. I suppose it was midnight when the firing commenced. 137. AVhat did I say to you when I gave you at Manawapou the note to be delivered to Captain Dawson at Waingongoro?—l cannot recollect Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell saying anything to me excepting about half-a-crown. I got half-a-crown from him. [Deponent then said], I also got half-a-crown from Captain Dawson. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell told me that I should get half-a-crown from Captain Dawson. Ido not know the reason why I was to get half-a-crown from Captain Dawson. I suppose it must have been for carrying the letter.

Hamiorm. Continued,

Camp Matangaeaea, Satueday, 21st Maech, 1868. Mercana having been duly sworn was examined. 138. The Chairman.] What is your name, where do you reside, and to what tribe do you belong ? —My name is Mereana Matau. I reside at Taiporohenui, and I belong.to the Tangahoe hapu of the Ngatiruanui tribe. 139. Do you know anything about the attack upon Pokaikai in August, 1866 ? —I formerly resided in the village of Pokaikai, ami I was present when the above mentioned attack was made by the Europeans. It was about midnight. I was asleep, and on waking up a bullet grazed my left side, causing a slight flesh wound. I was standing on my feet inside the whare preparatory to rushing out and making my escape. After receiving this wound I fell and was lying on the floor of the whare when I received four bayonet wounds, one of which knocked out a tooth, the other a slight wound under the left eye, and two slight prods of a bayonet above the right breast. [Deponent hero showed a vacant space in her left jaw on the upper side, and slight scars in the other spots indicated.] When my tooth was knocked out I cried, and I was, from my voice, recognized to be a woman. When the affair was over I was taken from my whare to Martha's whare, where the women and children who had been taken prisoners were assembled. While I was lying in my own house I fainted, [deponent used words which literally mean " I could not hear the voices of men, but I was breathing,"] and the surgeon of the British Forces came to me and administered some stimulants, [the word waipiro was used] and I revived, and my wounds were bleeding. The surgeon put a, bandage round my side, and caused me to be conveyed to Martha's house, and there spreading a bod for me he laid me down upon it. I was perfectly naked when I was wounded, just as I was when sleeping, and when the surgeon arrived to attend me an European brought a blanket and threw it over me. I was left in the house of Martha, and not taken with the rest of the prisoners to Manawapou, the reason being that I was considered not strong enough to walk that distance. No other clothes were given me excepting the blanket. 140. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Did you express a wish to Martha or any one else to be permitted to accompany tho prisoners to Manawapou? —I expressed a wish to Martha to be taken along with the other prisoners, but Martha said Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell wishes you to stay behind because you are not strong enough to go. 141. Were you kindly treated after you were wounded ?—I do not know by what motives the Europeans were actuated, but the surgeon came and attended me, and I was healed as I have stated above. 142. Was any food, such as bread, or was any tobacco left with you ? —No bread nor meat, but three pieces of tobacco were left in my hand by the Europeans as I was lying in Martha's house. 143. You have been reported as having died of your wounds. Are you not alive and in good health, and now living under the protection of a person of the name of Whitelock, an European, formerly of the Patea Bangers ? —I am alive and well, and am living with Whitelock, and have been living with him for months.

Mcremia. Slat March, 1868,