17

A.—No. 3.

157. What was the name of tho officer commanding the Patea District in July, 1866 ?—Major Bocke, of the 18th Eegiment, commanded the district, and Lieut.-Colonel (then Major) McDonnell was over the Colonial Forces. 158. The Chairman.] Do you know whether Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell (then Major), in July, 1866, received orders direct from the Defence Office, and not through Major Bocke? —I believe Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell received orders direct from the office of the Defence Minister. 159. Mr. Commissioner Cargill.] With whom did the Natives consider they wore fighting—with. Major Bocke or with Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell, then holding the rank of Major ?—I think that they considered they were fighting with Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. I am sure that they dreaded the Local Forces more than the soldiers, and all the Native letters came direct to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell. 160. If the Natives wished that hostilities should cease, to whom would they apply, to Major Bocke or to Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell?—They would have, without doubt, negotiated, with Lieut.Colonel McDonnell, as the Pokaikai Natives in fact did negotiate after the attack. 101. Mr. Commissioner Graiiam.] Are you sure that the Natives did not treat with Te Ua and other Natives sent by the Governor for peace ? —I am not aware of the fact. I know nothing about Natives treating with Natives for peace. 162. Would the Natives not treat with Mr. Parris, Civil Commissioner?—l really do not know. I saw Mr. Parris down in the Ngatiruanui country several times after the attack on Pokaikai. 163. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Do you know whether the Native Contingent carried off from Pokaikai any articles, as spoils of war, to Manawapou with them ? —Oh, yes ; the Native Contingent carried off with them many things. In fact, they returned, as a rule, laden with fowling-pieces, cooking-utensils, mats, blankets, and other articles of Native use. A few of the Europeans also brought away plunder with them.

Mr. W. Newland. Continued.

Camp Mataxgaeaea, Sattjeday, 21st Maech, 1868. The witness Martha was recalled, and having been duly sworn was examined. 164. The Chairman.] You yesterday produced a shark's tooth ornament before the Commission, will you state whether that is the same ornament which you had in your ear when the European laid hold of it and you cried out in the village of Pokaikai?—lt is the very same ornament. Captain McDonnell, the brother of the Lieut.-Colonel gave this ornament to Wirihana, of tho Native Contingent, with instructions to restore it to me. Wirihana gave it to me at Hawera, on the occasion of the return of my husband from New Plymouth, and of his visiting the Lieut.-Colonel's camp at that place. Wirihana also, at the same time, gave me back a greenstone ornament and seven pounds sterling which I had intrusted to his care when I was starting from Manawapou with the letter addressed by Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell to Tito, and with a view to finding my missing little girl. ] presented Wirihana with that greenstone ornament to show my sense of the obligation which he had conferred upon me by taking care of my property during my temporary absence.

Martha. 21st March, 1868.

Camp Matangaeaea, Sattjbday, 21st Maech, 1868. Andrew John Allan having been duly sworn was examined. 165. The Chairman.] What is your name and profession ? —My name is Andrew John Allan. I am a farmer residing at Waihi, in the Native Contingent block. I was formerly in Captain Wilson's Company, No. 8, of Military Settlers. 166. Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell.] Were you present at the attack upon Pokaikai, in August, 1866 ? —if so, relate the circumstances. —Yes, I was present, I was under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell's command, at Manawapou. I do not remember the date, but a force was ordered to march in the evening for Pokaikai. The force consisted of Nos. 8 and 10 Companies of Military Settlors, Patea and Wanganui Bangers, and the Native Contingent. There were a few mounted men under Mr. Bear. We marched from Manawapou in the evening and we were ordered to halt near Pohaikai. After we had halted some time we were ordered to attack the village. Company No. 8 was then ordered to the head of the column, and we marched till we got close to the village. Captain Wilson, our commandant, was then ordered to tako the village, and he was directed not to fire, but if the Natives resisted to use the bayonet, —that is to say, there was to be no firing unless we could not manage without it- We got inside the outer fence, and some of the Maori viliagers fired at vs —one, especially, fired at me —from a whare on the right hand of ,the spot by which we had entered the village. I fired at a Native as he was coming out of this whare, and that was the only shot which I fired that night. All our men got into tho pa and the affair was settled. 167. Were you the first man in the village ? —Three or four of us got into the village together, but I believe that Felix McArthy was actually the first man in the village; I was close to McArthy. Sergeant-Major Duff of the Cavalry was one of the first men in the village. He died of his wounds received at Pungarehu subsequently to the Pokaikai affair. 168. Did the Maoris of the village fire the first shot ? —I cannot swear that they did fire the first shot, for this is a difficult thing to swear to ; but I believe that they did do so. 169. Do you know anything about some women and children who were taken prisoners ? —Yes, I saw some women and children on the return march who had been taken prisoners. 170. Was any man to your knowledge the worse for liquor on that night ? —I did not see a single man the worse for liquor on the occasion. The column was not drunk or disorderly. 171. Did the Native Contingent bring back any plunder ? —I cannot answer this question, for I did not see them bringing back any plunder, but I did see some white men who had got some loot. 172. Were any. of the women or children harshly and cruelly treated ? —I did not see such a thing. 5

Mr. A. J. Allan. 21st March, 1868.