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other people, I was right in going against him as well. He kept an outpost —a sort of a bush publichouse —'at Pukaliu, and had immense transactions with the Natives. 132. Mr. Lundon.] Will not Maoris sign any document if they can get a little money or grog ?—I would not say that. I know cases where they have signed under such circumstances. 133. Captain Russell.] Do you know how long after the signing of the conveyance Paora Nonoi died ? —No. His death took place somewhere about April, 1873. The Hawke's Bay Commission sat in 1873. He was so ill in 1873 that we had to send out to get his evidence. 134. When was the conveyance signed? —■ About 1869, I think. 135. There was plenty of time for him to dispute it, or make an effort to establish a case of forgery ? —Yes. There would be about a year and a half between the time of signing and his death. 136. Do you know if Nikera is interested in the land? —I do not think that he is a grantee. 137. I think you said that there were only twenty-five acres of a reserve ?—Yes. 138. At the time the deed was made, there were not many shares sold ? —I do not think there were. I think, when the land was transferred to Coleman by Messrs. Watt and Parmer, there were only twenty-five acres reserved. 139. At the time of Watt's conclusion of the purchase, were there not some large shares still unsold ? —1 think that there was only one, which was in Te Awa-o-te-Atua. 140. I understood that there was a large reserve ? —You are confounding two blocks, Kakiraawa and Te Awa-o-te-Atua. In Kakiraawa there are about three hundred and fifty acres of reserve ;in Te Awa-o-te-Atua there are about twenty-five acres. 141. Mr. Ormond.] In reference to the £100,1 understand that you sanctioned the order : When ? —That would be somewhere about the middle of 1877. 142. What was that money out of? Did it belong to Eora Nonoi ? —Yes. 143. Then Mr. Eees was simply the means ? —Yes. 144. And the money was paid through his office ?—Yes. 145. On an order to Davie ? —Yes. 146. Mr. Rees.] I would ask Mr. Sheehan if he remembers hearing of this woman being got iuto an office in Napier, and money offered to her. Did you hear anything of it from Mr. Knight, who was in Napier ? —Personal knowledge I have none.

Mr. Sheehan,

4th Nov., 1879.

Monday, 17th Notembee, 1879. Mr. Q-eoege Davie sworn and examined. 147. The Chairman.] Greorge Davie, I believe you sent this petition in to Parliament ?—Yes. 148. Do you wish to make a statement to the Committee with reference to the petition, or do you prefer that questions be put to you ? —I should prefer to be examined by the Committee. 149. You would prefer that, I understand, to making a statement ? You are at liberty to make a statement if you like; if not, the Committee will put questions to you. —I will make a statement. On or about the 31st of August, 1870, between 11 and 12 o'clock at night, I was sitting on my verandah at Paokahu. I saw Mr. Sutton and Mr. Worgan passing in a buggy, and I followed them up for a bit of the road to see which direction they would take. After crossing the bridge, they took the direction to Paora Nonoi's pa; and I then came back and went to bed. The next morning I went to the pa and saw Paora Nonoi. I asked him it' Mr. Sutton and Worgan had been there, and Paora said that they had been there. I asked him what they wanted, and he said they came to see him. Having told me this, he asked his wife to go and get the money; and she brought mo a £5 note and a cheque for £5. The cheque was drawn by Mr. Sutton. I asked Paora what Mr. Sutton had given him this money for, and he said it was for rent. I asked him what Mr. Sutton had to do with paying Mr. Coleman's rent, as it was not then due. He said Mr. Sutton was a friend of Mr. Coleman's ; and he asked his wife to give me the paper. She gave me the paper, and I looked over it and read it, and told him that he had sold his share in the Awa-o-tc-Atua Block. Ho said he had not sold, and got very angry. There was no more said at that time. I left the pa, and went away home. About eight or ten days or a fortnight afterwards I saw him again, and he said that he had not sold his share. After this I met Mr. Sutton in Napier, and I offered him tho money back. I asked him what he meant with Paora Nonoi, and he said No —I asked him what he had been doing. I said, "If you want to do the thing in a right way why don't you do it, and not swindle the man ?" I said to Mr. Sutton that I believed that there was a document of mine, signed by Paora Nonoi, that would upset anything that he might have done. He said, " I know what you have got, and I know what I'm about." Mr. Sutton said, " I know what you have got;" and I believe that he knew better thau I did myself. After I left him, I believe I went over to the registry office to see if there was anything mentioned about the 350-acre reserve in the deed. There was nothing of the kind mentioned. When I went home I went up and saw Paora Nonoi, and told him what I had done; and he said that he was robbed. That is about all that I can say. He denied always to me having sold his share. He said that he had never signed. 150. Mr. Whitaker.] That is, Paora Nonoi ?—Yes; Paora Nonoi. My firm belief is that he never did sell. 151. Captain Russell.] I should like to ask Mr. Davie if he is executor to any other Natives ?—■ Yes ; for one more, I think. 152. Was Paora Nonoi in your debt at the time he drew up this will in your favour, making you his executor ?■—Yes ; I believe that he was in my debt. 153. Who is the other Native ? —lhaka Kapo. 154. Was he in your debt ? —No ; he was not in my debt, only for a trifling amount at the time the will was drawn up. 155. You are sure that you are not executor for any other Natives ?—-Yes ; I am sure.

Mr. Davie.

17th Nov., 1879.