I.—2a

15

350 acres had been set apart. It was not until the subsequent sale of the block, which took place some time ago, that I found that these acres had not been set aside. Not only that, I had not any money to enter into any action. 376. Did you know anything about the subsequent sale of this block to AVatt and Parmer for £17,500 ?—Tes ; I knew of that sale. 377. Did you sign the conveyance ? —I signed the conveyance for that part of the block ; not for the 350 acres, because the 350 acres had been already cut out and included in the will of my father. 375. Did not you sign the conveyance for the whole block. Are you positive ? —I applied to you before that sale—the last sale, in which Mr. Sheehan and others acted. I applied to you for these acres : the sale took place afterwards. I applied to you again ; you said you knew about the matter. 379. That is not an answer to my question. lam asking, if the document were produced showing your signature for the whole block, whether you would dispute it ?—My opinion is that the subsequent sale was a confirmation of the former one, and that the 350 acres which had been excepted in the former sale was also excepted iv the subsequent one. 380. How much were you to receive at the time of the sale out of the £17,500? —I was to receive £500. 381. Is that all ? —That is all. I have received £260. There are £210 that I have seen nothing of yet. It is with an European. 382. AVhat European ?—Mr. Henry Eussell. 383. Do you know why he is keeping it? Why does he not pay it over to you?—He told me it was to pay Court expenses for some of my lands. 384. Do you remember meeting me near the Provincial Government Buildings about twelve months ago, when I refused to shake hands with you ? —I do not remember having gone to shake hands with you. I remember you bidding me good day. I was always afraid of you at the time. It was after you had bid me the time of day that I went to shake hands with you. 385. Are you not quite certain that I said that I would not shake hands with a person who had summoned me for £7,000 in a wrong case ?—Tou did not say so. I do not remember your having said so. I did not greet you ; you greeted me first. Tou said, " Rora, how are you." 386. Do you remember where you met me first, on the day of going to the lawyer's office ? —We met near the photographer's, iv the direction of Hukarere. 387. About that time did you not also summon Mr. Kinross for a large sum of money ?—I did not about that time. 388. Did you not sign a document which was registered in the Supreme Court to the effect that the summons was wrong ? —Tes ; I stopped an action I had taken against Mr. Kinross. 389. Did you not tell me at the same time that you went to Mr. Eees to get the balance of your money from Mr. Eussell, and that that was the case ? —I do not remember having gone to you and saying so. 390. Do you not remember making a statement in Maori to Mr. Josiah Hamlin to that effect, which he took down in writing at the time ? —I do not remember saying that I went to Mr. Eees about the money from Henry Eussell 391. Tou said a large sum of money was promised you. Are you not positive that you offered to sign the document that was read out if 10s. were paid you ? —No. 392. Do you know auything about that action that was brought iv the Supreme Court against me by Mr. Eecs —a case for £7,000? —I do not know anything about Mr. Eees's action. I only know what 1 summoned you for. 393. AVhat was that? —For your concealing about the acres which you had agreed to. 391. To whom did you first mention that Paora had never signed his name to that deed ? —Prom that very time when inquiring about us. 395. Did you tell Mr. Eees at that time ?—No. 396. AVhy not ? —I informed Mr. Eees that Paora had not signed his name. 397. AVhen ? —I do not know exactly, but recently. 398. AVhen did you know anything about tho bottle of grog having been taken ? AVhen did you first speak about that ?—AVhen I knew of the matter I talked about it from the time it took place. It was the general talk among the people. 399. Do you remember the Native Lands Alienation Commission and Judge Eichmond in Hawke's Bay ? —About what time ? 100. About 1873?— Was it when I was brought to appear in that case between you and me. 401. I am referring to the time when Mr. Justice Eichmond, Judge Mauing, Te AVheoro, and Mita Hikairo took evidence. Tou did not make any complaiut to that Commission of that transaction ? —I was summoned to appear on a case in which you were taking part. Twice I was summoned to appear as a witness, but I was too late each time. 402. Did you make no complaint like what you have made to-day in reference to the bottle of grog, or to Paora not signing ? —I have never beeu before the Commission. 403. Do you know how it was that you never commenced any proceedings in the Supreme Court until the land was again sold to Messrs. Watt and Parmer ?—I had no money before that, because you kept the acres that were to be given. 404. Tou had no money before that ?—I had no money to pay for Court expenses generally. It was after the sale to AVatt that I got any. 405. There is money of yours with Mr. Henry Eussell ? —I did not receive that money. It was kept back. 406. Do you consider that Mr. Henry Eussell has got money belonging to you ? —He has money still. Some of it I expended in threshing machines, fencing-wire, _tc. 407. AVas that some of what you got, or part of the £260 ?^I mean the £260. That money I received —not the £240. That last-mentioned sum is still in the hands of Mr. Henry Eussell. 40S. AVho interpreted that deed of Watt's that you signed. I mean the deed for £17,500 ?— Mr. Grace.

Bora Poneke.

18th Nov., 1879.