I. 6a,

6

Mr. T. W. Lewis. 9th Dec. 1579.

. thing that connected Mr. Eees with it, in my mind, was his inquiring in the office whether a sum of £300, payable to Mr. Sievwright, had passed through. The Native Office had nothing whatever to do with Mr. Eees in the matter, and I only know what appears in the records. 38. Mr. McLean.] I think I understand you to say that the payment of this money was pressing when you made this minute and held that interview with the Controller-General. Would you explain how it was so pressing to pay the money at that time, if you have any knowledge ?—Of course. In the matter I acted under the instructions of the Native Minister, who in his minute "approves for immediate payment." Acting under those instructions I took steps to have it paid immediately. I had no knowledge why it was pressing. ■ 39. You had no knowledge of any negotiations between Mr. Eees and any member of the Government ?—None whatever. 40. And it never came to your knowledge that Mr. Eees was in it at all until he called at your office pressing for this money to be paid to Mr. Sievwright ?—At the time this amount was passing through, Mr. Eees came to the office. Ido not think he saw me about it, but he inquired whether this money was ready for payment to Mr. Sievwright, and when I saw this question on the Order Paper my mind reverted to this sum, but had not that occurred I should not have connected Mr. Eees with the matter at all. 41. Mr. Gisborne.] Who asked about the money ? —Mr. Eees called personally. 42. Mr. Lick] After Mr. Eees applied for this money, did you make any effort to ascertain what part Mr. Sievwright had in the matter ?—No, sir, it was no part of my duty to do so. The Native Minister had directed this sum to be p»aid to Mr. Nahe; the Audit objected, and it was arranged the money should be paid to Mr. Sievwright. I had done with the matter when the account waspassed. 43. Did you know of any negociations that-took place between Mr. Sievwright and the Native Minister in the matter ?—-No ; and I may mention that although I have had correspondence with Mr. Sievwright, I have never seen him to my knowledge, and I knew nothing of the matter, except that the sum of £300 that was proposed to be imprested to Mr. Nahe was to be paid to Mr. Sievwright. 44. Then there is a sum of 6s. Bd. for paying* the money to Mr. Eees ?—The full amount, including the sums paid to Mr. Eees, of the Bill of Particulars, is I believe £377. 45. Does that bill show that he had done anything in the matter in connection with the Maori defence ?—I forget : there is I believe in the Bill of Particulars, charges for interviews with Mr. Nahe,. and interviews with Mr. Eees. I forget whether there are any interviews with members of the Government. The Bill itself was with these papers. 46. There were interviews with Mr-. Nahe : —Yes : I am speaking to the best of my recollection. 47. Mr. Montgomery.] Was any reason given why the money was required, or should be paid before the services were rendered ?—No reason, except the direction on the voucher. It was not a reason, but an instruction by the Minister to make immediate payment. I was not aware of the reasons that moved him to give these instructions. 48. Mr. Gisborne.] Mr. Nahe is not an Imprestee at all ?—No. 49. Mr. Sievwright is the Imprestee ?—The Imprestee is the Treasury Cashier, but under the Public Eevenues Act it is in the power of the Audit to call upon any person who has public money to account for it. 50. Who told Mr. Sievwright that he was to take instructions from Hoani Nahe ?—That I suppose would be at one of the interviews between Mr. Nahe and Mr. Sievwright, because Mr. Sievwright refers to interviews he had with Mr. Nahe, and of which, up to the time I saw them noted in the bill, I wasnot aware. 51. Where is this bill ?—The bill was with the papers when they were given to the Minister for the Committee. 52. You do not know where it is now ? —No. 53. Mr. Reader Wood.] Dr. Buller is employed in the defence of these Native prisoners?—Not by the Government, sir ; it is difficult, to say by whom he is employed. 54. But he is employed ?—Yes. 55. When was he employed?—l cannot-say. The Government have nothing to do with Dr. Buller'sr employment, and I have heard the Maori prisoners themselves repudiate it. 56. I think there was a question asked in the House of Bepresentatives with regard to the payments made to Dr. Buller, and they amounted to something like £600 ?—Those payments have nothing to' do with this matter. They are in connection with land purchases. It had nothing to do with this whatever. 57. Then the Government do not know Dr. Buller in this matter at all ?—Not at all. If you will notice the terms of Dr. Buller's letter, he states that the Government could have nothing to do with it. 58. That I perceive, but knowing money was paid to him, I connected the two together, and thought it was for this business as well ?—No, sir. 59. Mr. Pallance.] Are you aware that a Committee of Chiefs was appointed for the defence of the Natives ?—Yes, sir. lam aware that a Committee has been appointed in some way. 60. Was not Hoani Nahe a member of that Committee?—l think not. Dr. Buller in his letter in connection with these papers explains. 61. I want to know from your own knowledge, not from anything you have gained from Dr. Buller's letter?—l have no knowledge of the matter. The only paper that has come before me on the subject is a manifesto, printed by Dr. Buller, in which Hoani Nahe's name does not appear. 62. Did Hoani Nahe take any interest in the defence of these prisoners?—l believe so. I believe he had conversations with the Native Minister, his colleague, upon the subject, but I was not present at any of the interviews, and I do not know the nature of the conversations that took place. 63. You do not know that he was a member of this Committee ?—No.