I.—2a

8

156. Sir G. Grey.] I would just like to ask one question. You say that Paora Nonoi's wife brought you a paper. Was that the paper with reference to the reserve ? —The paper stated, I believe, that —': In consideration of Paora Nonoi having executed a conveyance of the Awa-o-te-Atua, I hereby agree to a reserve of 350 acres being made.—Feedeeick Sutton. 31st August, 1870." I think, to the best of my memory, that is about it. 157. The Chairman.] Have you the paper about you to which you refer ? —lt is in Wellington, I believe. It wras forwarded on. 158. Colonel Trimble.] I want to know what means the women have. Are they in poverty, or have they land or mouey. Is Eora Nonoi and her sister in indigent circumstances? —They have no means that I am aware of. 159. Have not considerable sums of money been paid to them during the last two years? —I am not aware that they have received any money during the last two years. 160. Have they not a considerable amount of land ? —I think that they have got very little land left; it all went at the time of the mortgages and sales. 161. Do you know anything about the circumstances respecting a large sum of money that was paid by Messrs. Watt and Farmer ? —I know nothing about that transaction. 162. Mr. Rees.] Are these the documents to which you referred [documents produced] ?—Yes ; the power of attorney, and Paora Nonoi's will. [Document read.] 163. Had you any reason to believe that efforts would be made to get Paora Nonoi's signature to the sale of this block about the time ? —I heard that Mr. Sutton was after it; and I asked Paora Nonoi several times, previous to Mr. Sutton coming, if he would sell, as I wished to advise him in the matter. When I asked him, he got angry with me. After this I got to hear by some means or other that Mr. Sutton was coming up; and that is what caused me to stay up so late that night he did come. It might be the same day that I sat up and got to hear that Mr. Sutton was to come up to Paora's. 164. You got that paper from Paora Nonoi and his wife ? —I got it from his wife. 165. And you got money also ? —Yes. 166. The same money that you tendered back to Mr. Sutton ? —Yes. I suppose that would be about the amount that was due to Paora for rent at the time, but the rent was not due until January. He never got any more. He was very sick at the time. He w*as never able to get about afterwards unless in a cart, up to the time of his death. 167. I suppose you would know the paper again, Mr. Davie, relating to the reserve ?—Yes ; if I saw it. 16S. AVhen Mr. Sutton stated that he knew what you had got, do you know what Mr. Sutton alluded to ? —He alluded to that power of attorney, I believe. 169. Mr. Sutton.] Do you remember the sitting of the Native Land Court at Waipawa some years ago, about 1870 or 1871 ?—I remember. 170. You attended a sitting of that Court?—l was there for a while. 171. Do you remember if you were there on the day of the opening of the Court, or tho day before ? —I am not sure now. It might have been the same day that I went up to Paora Nonoi's. I believe that you went to Waipawa. 172. Were you at Waipawa before me on that day ? —I do not think so. 173. You do not remember? —I do uot remember. Ido not think I was there before you. 174. You said that between 11 and 12 o'clock at night you saw me and Worgan pass ? —Yes. 175. No one else ?—No ; only you two. I believe it was not your own buggy, but I could not rightly swear to that. 176. You were on your verandah ?—Yes. You did not keep on the middle of the road; you turned off on to the soft part on the side of the road. 177. And you are quite certain it was between 11 and 12 o'clock ?—Yes. 178. And you were quite sober on that occasion ?—Yes. 179. You say that you followed the buggy in the direction of Paora's pa ?—I followed up the buggy in the direction of tho long bridge. There was a slight turn there, and you went on towards Maraekakaho. 180. You did not go any further ? —No; I saw you going on as far as I could from where I went to. 181. Do you know about any proceedings started in the Supreme Court in relation to this matter ? I mean with regard to criminal proceedings. Had you anything to to with it? —Eora Nonoi asked me my opinion on the matter. We talked it over. She wanted the thing settled, aud I said the best thins she could do was to bring the action. 182. That was about six months ago ? —That was the time of the trial when Worgan was to be brought to Napier. 183. Did you inform your solicitor, Mr. Eees, that Paora Nonoi had never signed the deed ?— Very likely I might. 184. You are not certain ? —Most likely I have mentioned the matter to Mr: Eees. 185. Do you know anything about the nature of that criminal action?—l believe it was brought in relation to the 350 acres. Paora Nonoi said that he had never signed ;he said that he had been defrauded ; and that was why the action was brought. 186. In reference to these documents —the power of attorney, and will —are you quite certain, on your oath, that you did not obtain powers of attorney from eight or nine other Natives the same day ? — No ; I did not. 187. Ahout that time ?—No. 188. Did you not obtain the signatures of Natives to other documents similar to those ? —No. Mr. Worgan, I believe, had a document, which he carried about with him for a long time. 189. I am speaking of a set of documents which were prepared by Mr. Lee under instructions ? — There was only that document, and one more. Mr. Martin Hamlin had none from me. 190. That is two altogether r —Yes ; there were no more.

Mr. Davie,

17th Not., 1879.