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92. Mr. Ormond.] 1 should like to asic you about the £100. I understand that that money was paid to Davie on account of Eora Nonoi ? —Yes. I believe it was a debt partly owned by Paora Nonoi and Eora Nonoi. It was an order given by Eora Nonoi and her husband, which Davie brought to me. 1 submitted it to Mr. Sheehan, who acknowledged it to be correct. Mr. Sheehan gave me authority to pay the money, which I did. There was also authority from Mr. Henry Eussell as well. 93. Would you kindly say, with reference to the petition, at whose instance was it got up ?—At Eora Nonoi's. She, and her sister, and some of the Natives —I dare say Henare Tomoana would know- —came to my office after the prosecution in the Eesident Magistrate's Court. First of all, they were very angry at the civil suit not having been permitted to proceed. They wanted to know how Mr. Sutton could bo punished; they said, " What: can we do?" I said, "The only thing that you can do is, to send a petition to Parliament. Perhaps you may get redress." 94. Then why is Davie the petitioner ? —He had a power of attorney from Paora Nonoi. He also has a will, signed by Paora Nonoi, appointing him, Davie, as trustee of Paora Nonoi's lands for tho daughters Eora and her sister. 95. Am Ito understand that you drew the petition ?—I did not draw it myself, but I believe it was drawn in my office. 9G. Captain Russell.] Tou stated just now that Eora Nonoi' was " entrapped " into a solicitor's office ?—I believe that she was entrapped to go into the office. She was induced to go in there. I was her solicitor, and was in Wellington at the time. I received a telegram from Napier stating these facts. A number of Natives went up to the door of the office in which Eora Nonoi was. The Natives told me of the circumstances themselves. She was asked to go ; when, on her getting inside, the door was locked, and then money was offered to her. 97. What am Ito understand by the meaning of the word " entrapped " ? Will you inform tho Committee? —She was entrapped by being induced to go into the office, and then having the door locked on her. 98. I do not see why a person should not go into a lawyer's office and have the door shut without being entrapped. "Entrapped" is a different word to my mind from " induced." —If you induced a person to go into a trap and shut the door upon her, and then locked it, I think that is entrapping. 99. Are you aware who locked the door, and whether it was done by a professional man's consent ? —I do not know. 100. Do you know anything about it except by hearsay ? —No ; I was not there. I stated this through having been asked by Mr. Sutton whether Eora Nonoi had done certain things. To recall my authority for the reply I made, as to whether or not Eora Nonoi had signed a certain paper, I stated to the Committee what I had heard respecting Eora Nonoi being got into a solicitor's office. Captain Russell: This appears to mo to be a serious statement concerning one of the most respectable professional men in Napier—of entrapping a person into his office. Mr. Moss: I understood, Captain Eussell, that Mr. Eees was stating what he had heard respecting Eora Nonoi. Mr. Eees made no charge against any ono of entrapping a person into an office. Captain Russell: Still, Mr. Moss, the Committee has been led up to believe, by implication, that the woman was by unfair means induced to go into the office of one of the most respectable solicitors in Napier. Witness : I am perfectly prepared to implicate Mr. Cornford and others. 101. Mr. Whitaker.] As against Mr. Cornford?—l am prepared to state certain thiugs before the House against Mr. Cornford. 102. Mr. Ormond^ What did you say ? —I said I am perfectly prepared to say before the Committee certain things, both in connection with the most respectable solicitors of Napier and their clients, including some of the gentlemen on this Committee. Colonel Trimble roso to a point of order. The Chairman : I have not checked a number of questions, with a view to their throwing as much light as possible on the subject-matter of the petition. Colonel Trimble : We will not accuse you of not trying to keep to the point. I think tho Committee ought to encourage you to keep to the point, instead of their drawing away from it. 103. Mr. Acton Adams.] Who induced Eora Nonoi to go into the office ? —i do not remember. 104. Who spoke to her in the office about the money?—l believe that Mr. Cornford was there. Eora Nonoi will be here herself shortly, and can give her own evidence on that point. 105. (To the Chairman.) I want to get Mr. Eees to either state somethin_- definitely, or to ask to have that part of his evidence relating to Mr. Cornford wiped out. —According to Eora Nonoi's tale to me, Mr. Cornford and Mr. Hamlin were in the office. 106. She said that these persons were present, and that they offered her money. Up to £100 was offered ?—Yes, in different sums. 107. Yes ?—She was requested to sign some papers. 108. Yes ? —I could never get from her whether she signed the papers or not. 109. Mr. Lundon.] Are you not aware that Maoris will sign anything by offering them money and grog ? —Prom what I have heard of Hawke's Pay, I believe it to be a fact. 110. Mr. Ormond.] Mr. Lundon wants to know if that is Mr. Eces's experience of tbe Natives ?— I yield the palm to others —to certain members of this Committee. I have never offered a Native spirits or money to sign any document for me. 111. Sir G. Grey.] Have you known bribes given to the Natives to sign papers?— Yes ; I know of bribes having been given, and from members of this Committee. 112. Mr. Sutton.] Of your own knowledge? —-From the persons' own statement. Prom my own knowledge I know that the Natives have signed deeds for illegal considerations. Colonel Trimble : If Mr. Eees was not present, I submit that it is no evidence. 113. Mr. Reeves.] Has this anything to do with the celebrated " gig-lamp" case ? —No ; this stands upon its own basis.

Mr. Beet,

4th Nov., 1879.