16

C.-6

the party who went to Colonel Haultain's. A few days after, Mr. Nelson came again to me. My name was not in the Crown grant. I went to Colonel Haultain's because Mr. Nelson and Mr. Tole asked me to do so. It was on account of Tiopira that I was asked by them to go. This originated here, but my speaking to Mr. Kemp was by the desire of Tiopira; he told me to ask the Government quietly for the money. Eichard de Thierry was present in Colonel Haultain's office with us, I think. lam wrong ; it was William Young, the interpreter, who wras there :he acted as such. I did not take him there ;it was their doing. When Tiopira and self left Kaihu, Parore was at his own kainga, near there. After we went they fetched him. I saw a payment made in the Court House to myself and Tiopira; the payment made was £1,400, and £100 for Waimata. Parore was not present. The payment for the block was not all made then. I did not see Parore receive any money. The amount he received was published to the tribe. The letter from Parore wa,s given to Mr. Kemp, but not read in Court. Tiopira signed three receipts. There was a separate document for the £100 ; that I saw. I was present and heard the deed interpreted by Mr. Clendon to Tiopira. I did not see the writing; I only listened to the interpretation. The price mentioned was £2,000 for Waipoua, and £2,000 for Maunganui. Mr. Preece was present at the reading of the deed. I heard Tiopira ask Mr. Preece if Parore had assented to the £2,000 as the price. Mr. Kemp was there too. Ido not know Mr. Preece's reply as I was confused ; all that took place was there in my letter. On the same day Mr. Preece had said to us (myself and Tiopira) that the price was fixed, and that they would not get a higher price; this was in consequence of Tiopira saying that he would not sign his name till he got Is. 6d. per acre. Parore's name was not mentioned at that time. I was not near Parore when he was arranging for the sale. At the time of sale it was not mentioned at all by Parore what price he should receive, whether more or less. Tiopira asked if Parore would not receive a larger payment than himself. Mr. Preece replied that the price would not be increased, that he would not get more. Mr. Nelson asked me to go with Mr. Tole to Sir G. Grey. I went. He questioned me ; I did not reply; Mr. Tole spoke. Sir G. Grey asked me what I had to say. Mr. Tole took up the reply. He did not ask me if the account was true. Sir G. Grey said to us Maoris: "My sons, I will ask for your money from Government quietly." Mr. Nelson and Mr. Tole told me that Mr. Tole would be the lawyer to speak to Sir G. Grey. I knew what I went for, as I had been told. I understood Mr. Tole was going to speak about this. Had I wanted to take up this matter I should have gone to my own lawyer, Mr. McCormick. Had the £250 or £500 asked for been received, I should have got some, as I have an interest in the land. Paora Tuhaere. I, Paora Tuhaere, of Orakei, do solemnly and sincerely declare that the statements herein above made by me are true ; and I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand intituled " The Justices of the Peace Act, 1866." Before me — E. C. Barstow, E.M. Charles Edwin Nelson : I have been a resident for some years in the Kaipara District, and am a licensed interpreter. I was engaged with Mr. Brissenden in purchasing land for the Government from the Natives. Mr. Brissenden and myself first negotiated the purchase of these two blocks, about nine months previous to sitting of Native Lands Court upon them. Our negotiations were both with Tiopira and Parore. We concluded a bargain with Tiopira, at rate of Is. Id. per acre for any land surveyed and adjudicated to him. I paid Tiopira, and adherents of his, £620 on the block, which was then called Waipoua only ; this money was paid after the price was agreed upon, some before the survey, some during it, some after completion. I offered Parore the same price after I had paid some money to Tiopira, some £150. Parore was willing to accept the price if 1 had given an advance on account of £500. I offered £100. He said, " You will never get the land." He said I had negotiated with the other party first. This took place at Kaihu. I saw Parore again afterwards, after having paid Ngatiwhatua £200. I tried again to bargain, without effect. He asked for £500; I offered £200, which he would not take. Parore told me twice to stop the survey; and I heard that he had threatened to stop it with an armed party. The survey was completed. I was present at the sitting of the Native Lands Court at Kaihu. It opened on 27th January. These blocks were adjudicated upon. The decision of Court was given on Ist February. Decision was that Tiopira was to have Waipoua, and Parore Maunganui. Hone Whetuki did not agree. Paora Tuhaere, on behalf of Tiopira, Ngatiwhatua, and other tribes, objected. Tiopira said he would go and take possession of the land : let the Court suspend this judgment. The Court adjourned. Mr. Kemp and Mr. Preece came down to Mangawhare, where the Natives were, to effect a conciliation, which they ultimately did. Tiopira told Mr. Kemp that he would only consent on condition that himself and Parore were both included as grantees of blocks of Waipoua and Maunganui, and for the reserve at Waipoua to be his own ; and for the " right of conquest" to be effaced from the deed. Mr. Kemp said he would do what was just and reasonable. He had seen Parore and Tirarau. On Wednesday, 2nd February, Messrs. Kemp and Preece came to Mangawhare again, and brought word from Parore that he had agreed to Tiopira's request of previous evening. Then Tiopira began to quibble, saying that both names should be in Maunganui, but his own name only in Waipoua. Mr. Preece objected. Tiopira stated that he would consent if Parore gave him £100 out of money he had received from Waimata Block. Mr. Preece said he would take upon himself to promise that Parore would do this. In the afternoon, 3 p.m., Messrs Kemp and Preece returned with a letter from Parore, saying that he would agree that he and Tiopira should be in both pieces; that Tiopira should have Waipoua, and should have £100 from Waimata. Paora Tuhaere wrote a letter accepting the terms on Tiopira's behalf, and Tiopira signed it. There was a plan of the reserve in the Court. Its area was not then mentioned. The next day the Court met, Mr. Kemp read the first portion of both letters, avoiding any mention of the £100 for Waimata, which Parore had agreed to pay Tiopira. I asked Paora to make a copy of these notes in his pocketbook, and he did so from memory immediately after. The Judge said that memorials of ownership should be made out in conformity with this arrangement, viz. the names of each in the grant, and Tiopira and party only in the reserve. On Friday, 4th, about 10 a.m., Paora and Tiopira went to