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23. The Northern part ? —Port Levy deed. They paid money twice. 24. Where was the deed signed ?—ln the.prosence of the assembly. No one was excluded from signing it, and the distribution was made immediately afterwards. A constable from Akaroa was present to assist in the custody of the money. 25. Was there a distribution of the money ?—I don't remember. In case of Port Levy deed, all adult owners signed the deed who were present, but some might have been absent, but I don't know that any were absent. I understood that the sales were made by the proprietera of the land. 26. Was anything in the negotiations to show that the lands reserved were reserved for the residents ?—The reserves were made as shown by the deeds. 27. Did the Natives accept your decision, or did they yield to what they regarded as your authority ? —Both the decisions were as much those of the Natives as of me ; my instructions were "to carry matters with a high hand," and I allowed those instrucions to operate. I used the previous purchase of the Nanto-Bordelaise Company, in accordance with my instructions, to carry out my duty —that is, to get the land. The effect of this was the Natives were willing to sell, but the'price to be paid was reduced. I suceeded in bringing them down towards the price fixed by the Government. 28. The Natives generally understood that you had great authority ?—I think so. 29. Did they not, as a fact, accept your decisions ?—-I should say not. 30. Did you exercise an opinion as to the right persons to sell ? —I was supposed to exercise my judgment, but really it was the Natives themselves. 31. Did they withdraw their claims before you made your decision? —I waited until they had extinguished each other, and then I took the survivors. 32. Does silence always imply consent ? —No. 33. Was there any proof of consent of parties whose names were not in the deed ?—No. 34. Prior to the signing the deed, had there been contending parties ?—I cannot say. 35. Was much time occupied in eliciting the title? —I always gave as much time as was required. 36. What was the talk about then ? —About the terms of the bargain. 37. What did the other people do then ? —I cannot answer that. 38. Did the Natives from Kaiapoi take part in the discussion ?—I think they did, but not for long. 39. Were they present at the distribution ?—No, I think not. 40. Had you informed them that they had no title to the land ?—Most probably. 41. Did the Kaiapoi Natives come armed?—On one occasion. 42. Was that to claim the land? —I will not undertake to say ; most likely. 43. How did the Kaiapoi people show their agreement?— Most likely I told them that they had no title, and they yielded. lam not prcpai-ed to swear that any single step taken by me or by the Government with respect to these Natives was fair. 44. Did you intimate to these Natives that they had no claim ?—I certainly must have done so in some manner. 45. Do you consider that their remaining silent after that would mean nothing ?—No. 46. Do you consider that any other Natives than those who signed the deed consented to tho sale ? —I consider that it was my duty to ascertain that all opposition was withdrawn before the deed was signed, and consider that that deed was made without the opposition of any persons who knew anything about it. 47. Were Kaiapoi Natives present at Eapaki meeting ?—Tes. 48. Did they take part in the proceedings ?—Many of them. 49. Did they claim land in the Port Cooper deed ? —I think not. 50. Where do the present Kaiapoi Natives come from ? —Most of them were then at Port Levy; they have had additions from the North. 51. Do you remember who were living in Eapaki at the time ?—No. 52. Was Tuawhea ?—I do not know. 53. Were many Natives living at Port Cooper at that time ?—Not many. 54. Were many Natives living at Rapaki ?—Two dozen. 55. Do you know whether the Natives who were excluded had land elsewhere ? —I do not know. 56. Did they participate in the Ngaitahu deed? —They got from Is. to 2s. 6d. each. 57. In Port Cooper negotiations, were not many absent ?—None, except perhaps a few prisoners in the North. 58. If absent in the North, would they know ? —They would be admitted by their friends in the reserve if they returned. 59. Were you aware that some were away in the North ?—I have learnt since that some were absent. 60. Then you think that the signatures may not comprise the names of all persons owning?—lt is possible. 6L When you made this reserve, did you consider the numbers of those who signed the deed ?— I considered also the people in the North. 62. How many were the people at Port Levy at that time ?—Sixty or seventy. 63. Do you remember Mr. Buller being here ? —I remember sending for him from here. 64. By the Court.] Where was the Port Levy deed signed?—At Mr. Horslam's house in Port Levy. 65. Did any one want to sign whom you refused ?—Not to my recollection. 66. You rejected no one, then ? —I think not. 67. Did any hapu or Native leave the meeting or go away in the manner Natives have of expressing dissatisfaction at any state of the proceedings ?—The Kaiapoi part of the Port Levy Natives attended the first meetings (I think), but they discontinued. 68. Were the proceedings continuous ?—Yes. 69. Were the meetings continuous? —There were varyiug intervals of time between each. The sum which I was authorized to spend was so small that negotiations were suspended for some time.