I.—2a

11

252. Mr. Moss.] Were these land transactions your own?—l never got any land from the Maoris. 253. AVho were you acting for ?—Mr. Kinross got all the lands; I had nothing to do with that. 254. Mr. Sutton.] Did you ever have anything to do with land for Mr. Kinross, or any one else? What do you mean by saying that you never got any land for yourself ? —lt was arranged between Mr. Kinross and me that I should take a mortgage over a certain block; that was on Coleman's run. It was only a small block, and he did not wish to have anything to do with Mr. Coleman, as he was not one of his constituents ; so I took the mortgage over that part of the block, and Mr. Kinross took the mortgage over the other portion of the block. This piece that I got was only a small portion. The name of the block is Mangaroa. It was leased to three people. 255. You deny altogether that these words you " had immense transactions with the Natives " apply to yourself ? —I had transactions with the Natives. I sold them goods. I have just stated that I took a mortgage. 256. Had you transactions with the Natives ? —I have just made the statement. 257. Had you any equitable interest in the land transaction ? —The mortgage was drawn up in my name. 258. On behalf of Mr. Kinross ? —His name was not mentioned in the deed. I held the mortgage. 259. Did you get anything for transferring it ? —I got credit in Mr. Kinross's books. 260. For what amount ?—For £530. 261. Mr. Moss.] For the amount of the mortgage ?—Yes ; for the amount of the mortgage. 262. Did you make any money out of the transaction ? —No ; I did not make anything out of the transaction. 263. Then you did not get tho mortgage for yourself at all ?—There were goods and other things from which I would have the profits. 264. Colonel Trimble.] How much did Paora Nonoi owe you at the date of the power of attorney ? —About £100. 265. How was the debt contracted ?—Contracted by himself for goods out of the store—for sugar and clothes and other things. 266. AVas there any cash in it ? —There might have been a little, which I might have given him at times when he wanted money. 267. Did any part of the debt arise from the sale of spirits, and how much ?—He had a little spirits. He was not a Native who went in for spirits. I could not say what amount was for spirits.

Mr. Davie,

17th Nov., 1879.

Tuesday, 18th November, 1879. Eoea Poneke sworn and examined. 268. The Chairman^ What is your name ? —My name is Eora Poneke. 269. Are you aware that Mr. Davie has petitioned Parliament ?—Yes. 270. Are you familiar with the contents of the petition ? —Yes. 271. Would you like to make a statement upon the subject-matter of the petition, or would you prefer being asked questions by members of the Committee ? —lf questions are put, I will answer them. 272. Then, is the Committee to understand that you decline to make a statement? —If the Committee will put questions to me I will answer them, starting from the very first occasion of this petition. I can make my own statement from tho commencement. I will begin at the time Mr. Sutton, in company with Mr. AVorgan, went out there in the night. When they arrived there we had lain down to sleep. AVorgan came and sat down on one side of me. They had liquor with them, which was in the custody of George AVorgan. I was the first to commence drinking from the bottle. After I had drunk of the contents of the bottle, George AVorgan addressed himself to Paora. He said, " Paora, Mr. Sutton and I have come out to see you, that you may agree to the sale of the Mangarau-Te Awa-o-te-Atua Block ; because all the other grantees have sold their shares, and yours is the only one remaining unsold." To this Paora said, "I'll not agree." Then George AVorgan said to Paora, " You must agree to the sale. If you will agree to the sale, Mr. Sutton will give you 350 acres, and £15 in money." Paora said, " I will not agree." George Worgan poured out a glass of rum for Paora, and took it to him. Paora was ill at the time, and lying down. Paora turned George AVorgan away from him, and AVorgan came over to the side where we were. George AVorgan again told Paora that, if he would agree to the sale, Mr. Sutton would give him 350 acres of land and £15 of money. Paora said, " I will not do so." I then took upon myself to say to Mr. AVorgan, " Yes ; I'm quite agreeable to the sale." My younger sister also said, " Yes; we both agree to sell." Paora got angry with us for agreeing to the sale. He said, "I am not keeping my share for myself; I am keeping it for you, the children." I asked for the money to be given to me—tho money mentioned, £15 —and I got it. George Worgan gave me a document agreeing about the acres of land. It was handed to Paora, but he threw it away from him. The document was handed to Paora for him to sign his name thereto. He would not sign, nor would he take the money. It was I who took the money. They tried to get Paora to sign; but he got very vexed, and told them to clear out from his premises. I went outside with them. 1 conducted them as far as the gate, and they went. They were going to AVaipawa, to the Court. That is all that I have got to say about that visit of Mr. Sutton to our place. On oue occasion, when I was going to Turanga, I said to Mr. Sutton, " AVhere are the acres you promised to give Paora at the bridge?" He said, "Yes, I know about that." Afterwards, when the sale of the Awa-o-te-Atua Block was beiug negotiated for on behalf of Mr. AVatt, Mr. and Mrs. Sutton came out to Hastings. I said to him, " Where are the acres I spoke to you about, that were to be given for Paora?" He said, "I do not know." I said, " AVait; you'll see, I'll summons you." He was dis-

Bora Boneke,

18th Nov., 1879.