25

H.—B

606. Did you see Mr. Lawlor attach his name to the various pages of that paper?—l think I did. I cannot positively say that I saw him attach his name to them all, but to the best of my belief he did. I was present in Court, sitting where Mr. Grey now is. 607. Are you acquainted with Mr. Lawlor's signature ?—I have no doubt this is his signature, aud I have no doubt I saw him attach it. 608. Here is the list of persons applying to have their names on the electoral roll, signed by Mr. AVilliams, as Registration Officer, and also by Mr. Lawlor. Will you look at that signature on the last page and say whether it is Mr. Lawlor's? —That is Mr. Lawlor's signature. 609. Did you understand from that that those names were to he inserted in the roll ?—Certainly. I certainly understood that from him. It is the usual way in which it is done in Russell. 610. I understand you to say that your impression is very decided that Mr. Lawlor intended all those names, dead men included, to be inserted? —He said nothing about dead men being excluded. He did not positively say the dead men were to be retained, but he said nothing to the contrary. The Commissioner: This Court will be adjourned now until 11 o'clock to-morrow morning, but will only meet for the formal purpose of being further adjourned to Whangaroa on Wednesday. I think it is likely that I shall to-morrow adjourn the Court to Whangaroa, at 11 o'clock. In the meantime, the Court stands adjourned until to-morrow at 11 o'clock.

Mr. Q-reenicay.

March 10,1879.

Russell, Tuesday, 11th March, 1879. The Commission resumed its sitting according to adjournment at 11 a.m. The Commissioner: Is there any person present who desires to give further evidence on the subject-matter of this inquiry? There was no response, The Commissioner : This Court will be adjourned to AVhangaroa, to meet there in the Courthouse at 11 o'clock to-morrow morning; or, should the steamer not arrive at that time, then as early as possible afterwards. Adjourned accordingly.

AVhangaroa, AVednesday, 12th March, 1879. The Commission sat in the Courthouse, Whangaroa, at 11 a.m. The Commissioner : This Court is held for the purpose mentioned in an advertisement which, I dare say, most of you have seen circulated iv the district, and under the authority of a Royal Commission. It'has been adjourned from Russell to this place for the purpose named iv the advertisement. lam directed to inquire, amongst other things, into the truth of certain allegations made in a petition to the House of Representatives. I find one here signed Heremaia te Ara and others. If Heremaia te Ara is present I shall be glad to receive his evidence ; and I wish to state that at the close of my examination I shall ask Mr. Williams and Mr. Lundon respectively if they have any questions to suggest to me, which I shall put to the witnesses, if they are proper questions. Heremaia te Ara sworn and examined. The Commissioner : This is the petition to the House —the authorized translation of it. Mr. Brown, read it in English first, and translate it into Maori; so that he may understand the meaning of it. The petition to tho House of Representatives signed by Heremaia te Ara aud others was then read out in Euglish and then in Maori by the interpreter. 611. Did you sign that petition to the House of Representatives? —That is our petition that we sent. 612. Did you attach your name to it yourself ?—My uncle, Pcra Hakena, did. 613. Did he do so with your knowledge? —He did it w rith my consent. He was appointed as a clerk for us. 614. Did he do it in your presence? —I was standing there present 615. Are you able to write your own name ? —I do know how to write my name. 616. Why did not you do it on that occasion? —That was the regulation laid down for our hapu, the Ngatiuru—that one man should sign. 617. AVill you be kind enough to write your name now on a piece of paper? —[Witness wrote down his name, and the paper was handed to the Commissioner.] 618. Did you ever sign au application to be placed on the electoral roll for this electorate ? —No. 619. Did you ever write a letter to Mr. AVilliams making that statement —that is to say, denying that you ever signed one of the electoral claims during the last session of Parliament ? —I have already said that my uncle is the writer. 620. I would explain that they are two separate matters—one was a petition to the House, the other a letter to Mr. John AVilliams, a member of the House ? —I do not know ; I have forgotten. 621. [Letter from witness to Mr. John AVilliams read in English and Maori.] Did you send that letter to Mr. AVilliams ? —I now remember it was my uncle who wrote it. 622. AVith your consent ? —I did consent to his writing it. 623. Mr. Brown, please make it particularly clear when you come to the point wdiere he says that not only did ho not sign himself, but that he did not give any person any authority to sign for him ? — That letter was written by Pera Hakena, with my consent. 624. [Application to bo placed on roll shown to witness.] Did you sign that document ? —I did not. The Commissioner : Show him the document, and ask him if that is not his signature. —[Document shown to witness.] - 625. Did you sign that document ? —I never signed it. There were five of us present —namely, myself, Arama Patara, Hone Heremaia, Paapu, Pumipi AVhaitua; aud several women were in the house.

Heremaia te Ara

March 12,1879,