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158. What were these compensation awards ?—They were not Native reserves, but lands to be given under Crown .grants. 159. AVhen boundaries were once settled, you and Mr. Worgan worked together as hrother officers, and consulted together ?—We worked together and consulted together all through. I know nothing of the purely Native part of the business, or of the purchase or sale of land after it was allotted. Poaei Kueamate sworn, and deposed: 160. Mr. Booth] Do you recollect about the beginning of tho year selling a block of 400 acres to Mr. Worgan ? —I remember. 161. AVas the land your own, or were you acting for others ?—Not my property, but the property of Wahanga. 162. Did you understand that Mr. Worgan was purchasing that land for the Government ?—I understood Mr. AVorgan was purchasing that land for tho Government. 163. Did you come to an agreement as to the price he wasto give you ? —AVe did ; tho price was to be 10s. an acre. 164. Did you receive any advance or advances on account of this land ? —I have received some money on account of the purchase. 165. What sums did you receive, and when ? —ln February 1872, I received £50 as my first instalment; on 25th April, I received £50 again. The latter sum was paid in a room in the Court House. 166. Did you give receipts for these sums ? —I signed a paper when ho gave me the money. 167. Did you sign two papers on each receipt ?—I signed a receipt for each sum I received. 168. AVere these receipts signed by you only, or by others as well ? —These receipts were signed in the first instance by myself and two women, and in the second instance by myself and the children of Wahanga. 169. Was that purchase ever completed by the Government?—l received these two £50, and he was to receive £100 as soon as the land had passed the Native Land Court; Mr. Worgan having stated that when the land had passed through the Court we should receive the remaining £ 100 we came outside and spent this money; we therefore let the matter rest and took no further action. I did not seek for any other purchaser of the land after having received the £100. In May last I came here ; Mr. Worgan saw me ; ho spoke to me ; his words were, Do you know the children of AVahanga ? I said, Yes ; they are those persons who came here and received the last money from you, and signed their names to the receipt. He said to me, Will you agree with me in what I say. I said, Tell me what you are going to ask. He said, There is a person who wishes to buy that land for £300. I said to him, The mind is with you. I said to him, What about this money, the Government money ? I refer to the £100 I had received. Ho said to me, Just as you like, you can return the £100 the Government paid to you. I said, AVait a bit; I will go and see the children of Wahanga; if they agree to it, well; if not, it cannot be done ; I have not the power to agree to it. When I returned to my whare I spoke to my wife, who is also a descendant of AVahanga. 1 told her Mr. Worgan had been speaking about the land. She said to me, Perhaps you may come to some trouble about this money. I replied, Mr. Worgan told mo that if you, as one of the descendants of AVahanga, return the money, it will be all right. However, three of us, two women and myself, came to this town. AVhen we came to the town Mr. Worgan introduced us to Mr. Taylor. My wife's name is Rahira, and the other woman is her younger sister, named Panga. Mr. Edwin Woon acted as interpreter, and we went with him to Mr. Taylor's ; Mr. Worgan accompanied us. Mr. Taylor was the person who wished to purchase for £300. We agreed with Mr. Taylor through Mr. AVoon to accept £300 for this land; that Mr. Taylor would repay the £100 paid to us by the Government in the first instance; we receive £100 in cash, and the remaining £100 to be paid when the land had passed the Native Land Court. On the 29th May wo received this money, viz. £100 in cash, and a paper guaranteeing us the other £100 when the land passed through the Court. [Paper handed in and read by the Court, which was a promissory note for two years signed by Mr. H. S. Taylor, for the sum of £100, dated 29th May, 1872. Also, a paper professing to be a memorandum by Mr. AVoon, showing the sums which had been received or were to be received, bearing no signature, but stated to be in the handwriting of Mr. Edwin Woon.] It was arranged between us then and there, that the money should be paid when the Crown grant was received. It might be two years or more. A deed was drawn up by a lawyer and interpreted by Mr. Edwin AVoon, which we signed. Having the money and signed our names, we came away. Subsequently Mr. AVoon asked me to hand in my claim to the Native Land Court, to have my case heard, so as to get a Crown grant; if not that, a certificate of title. Mr. AVoon handed me a form, and I sent in my claim. I wrote a letter to the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, Mr. Fenton, transmitting this claim; he replied to my letter, and said it was good. I have forgotten the letter. This land is at Whenuakura, and was a claim made on the compensation award. 170. Is Wahanga alive at this time? —He is dead. 171. Are the women you have mentioned, Rahira Kuramate and Panga, daughters of Wahanga ? —No, they are grand-daughters. 172. AVas Mr. AVorgan present when you transacted this business on the part of the claimants, that is to say, the sale of the land to Mr. Taylor ?—Yes. 173. Was Mr. Worgan present when the £100 was returned by Mr. Taylor, the second £100 paid you in cash, and the third £100 in a promissory bill ? —As far as I know, Mr. AVorgan was present. I think he was present. 174. Do you know of your own knowledge whether Mr. Taylor was acting as agent for the Government or on his own account when this money was paid ?—I do not know if he was acting for himself or the Government, but I understood, when I received the first £100 from Mr. AVorgan, that it was from the Government. 175. Do you recollect when the deed was interpreted to you whether Mr. Taylor's name was in it as well as your own ?—I do not remember, but I think Mr. Taylor's name was in it.
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