C—6

21

A Statement showing the Value separately of the Arrangements as to Title and Sale of Maunganui and Waipoua Blocks. Tiopira's Share. £ s. d. Cash paid him by Government ... ... ... ... 2,000 0 0 Cash paid him by Parore ... ... ... ... ... 100 0 0 Value of reserve, 12,220 acres, at Is. Id. ... ... ... 66118 4 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... £2,761 18 4 Parore's Share. £ s. d. Cash paid him by Government ... ... ... ... 2,500 0 O Value of 250 acres, reserve returned to him, at Is. Id. ... ... 13 10 10 2,513 10 10 Less amount paid by him to Tiopira ... ... ... ... 100 0 0 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... £2,413 10 10 Recapitulation. £ s. d. Value obtained by Tiopira ... ... ... ... ... 2,76118 4 Value obtained by Parore ... ... ... ... ... 2,413 10 10 Excess in favour of Tiopira... ... ... ... ... £348 7 6 Thus it will be seen that out of the block of land extending from the south boundary of Maunganui to the north boundary of Waipoua, including the reserve in question (all of which comprises but one estate as regards Native title), taking the value of the reserve to be only Is. Id. per acre, Tiopira has had in land and in money in excess of what Parore has received the sum of £348 7s. 6d., which I consider is considerably more than he is entitled to; and my opinion is borne out by the judgment of the Court, which found him to be entitled to less than Parore by 2,292 acres out of 72,892 acres. But whether Tiopira has had the best of it or not, the fact remains. He agreed to sell all his interest in the two blocks for the sum of £2,000, and he did it with the full knowledge of what he was about, and he has received that amount in cash. And Parore agreed to sell his interest in both blocks for £2,500, and has received that amount in cash, of which he has paid £100 to Tiopira, as agreed on at the settlement of the question of title. 6th June, 1876. J. W. Preece. Declared to before me —E. C. Baestow, E.M. Minutes of Evidence taken re Payment for Opouteke Block, 19th June. Te Haurangi: I live at Mataawa. I remember the first bringing of the Opouteke Block before the Lands Court at Kaihu, in January, 1875. Symonds was the Judge. I was there with Heta. I spoke to the Court with respect to our land that was included in their survey, that is, the survey of Wharepapa and party. I was questioned by the Judge. Wharepapa disputed my claim. I said I did not dispute their claim to their land, but only to ours, that is, Heta, Ihaka te Tai, and myself. I said the land had been stolen by the surveyor, by them. The Maoris who assisted the surveyor, Hopeha, and others were asked by the Judge. My claim was admitted by the Court to our land that had been included in this survey. Opokena is the new name of the piece. The plan was placed on the table, and Wharepapa asked me it I knew my piece. I pointed it out; its name is Owhata. I pointed out the other boundary, Te Pukitaru. I cannot point out the line on this plan (produced) ; but one was made on the plan in Court. The Court ratified it. My name was not written in. Heta then proposed that Wharepapa should be allowed to deal with our piece to. The Court and we all consented to this. It was arranged that my money should be paid to myself by Wharepapa, or some one paying the money, and that myself and Heta should be present when the money was being paid. This is what I said in the Land Court. Wharepapa promised that when he received the money that he would pay our share to us. There has been a great deal of deceit in him. I was at Kaihu when the money was paid for this land. Mr. Preece wrote for us to come. I went, but not Heta. He had also, at Ohaeawai, told me to come. I did not see the money actually paid to Wharepapa. Ido not know how much he got. I expected to be paid for the area of my piece. I forget now how large the piece was. I did know at the first Court. I cannot say how much I ought to have had. Wharepapa did not give me a penny even. I did not know that he gave any to Heta or to Ihaka. Heta may say. I asked Wharepapa for it in Mr. Preece's presence. He replied that Heta and self were thieves. He was obstinate and would not give any. The only money I got at Kaihu then was £10 from Mr. Preece. I returned home. I left £90 in Mr. Preece's hand to bring to Auckland. This was paid to me in consequence of Wharepapa's bad behaviour. The £90 was taken to Auckland by Preece in consequence of a letter I had given him from Ihaka and Heta te Haara. Immediately after I had signed a receipt for the £100, I was told by Mr. Preece that I was to have no further claim on the Government. I would not have signed had I kuown this before. Mr. Preece and Mr. Kemp alone were present. The money was paid to me before this explanation. I had the money in my possession. I did not return it, nor make any objection to what had been said. Preece wrote a letter for me to give to Heta, and read it over to me. 1 took the letter to Heta. and gave it to him on my return to Ohaeawai. We both came to Kororareka and saw Ihaka. These two disapproved of what I had done in taking tho £10. Heta and