I.—6a,

10

Mr. Sievwright 10th Dec, 1879

t. 147. You got £300 of public money from Hoani Nahe?—l did not know it was public money at all, but Hoani Nahe told me there was £300 payable to me. I understood he was a client, and though it may be public money, I applied it in the way he wished. 148. And Mr. Eees got all the money, while you got none ?—No-j Yes ; I told Mr. Eees that I would not advance money at all. I knew it would cost a large sum of money, and I gave him to understand that he was not to look to me for fees. 149. But you were prepared to advance all you got?—-I expected it would open up a field of business, and I did not mind going into it and taking some trouble, though L should not get immediate payment for my own services. 150. Did Hoani Nahe tell you there would be more after that £300 was gone ?—That other funds would be got; that he was taking means to raise other funds. 151. Mr. Gisborne.] Did he say "more means "or '• other means?"—Other means. He was trying to raise funds. While I did-aet-wtsh to be was not particular about being paid at once for my own services, I did not desire wish to be out of pocket by it. Heaee I wished to-be-paid? 152. Mr. McLean.] You say the first you knew of this transaction was from Mr. Eees himself 2— He called upon me and asked me whether I would be willing to act as solicitor in connection with these West Coast claims. He had suggested to Hoani Nahe to call upon me, and Mr. Eees called upon me to see whether I would be willing to act. Then this question of fees came up. I told him I was not going to advance funds, and he said he had stipulated for the payment of a large fee before he would act. 153. Stipulated with whom?—With Hoani Nahe. 154. Were there any meetings before this?—There were several meetings with Mr Eees. 155. Before you met Hoani Nahe at all?—-Yes, before. 156. Was Mr. Bees pressing you much for this £300 before yon got it ?—Certainly not. 157. Did you kirow of his pressing the officers of the Native Department and going to the Treasury ? —I never heard of such a thing until this moment. 158. You say that you are employed by Hoani Nahe, and that it is to him you look for payment of costs ? —He is my client. 159. You put in a bill of £377. I suppose you have no claim upon the Government for anything further than you have got ?—I never expected the Government to pay me anything. 160. And you do not mean to apply to the Government for anything more than the £300. You have quite done with the Government?—Certainly: I did not know the Government had anything to do with the £300 until after it had been paid over, and the Auditor-General made a demand upon me for an account, when I understood that as an Impvesstee I was-heldiag had got public money, but I have had no communication with the Government, nor did do I look to them Government for payment. 161. Could you name an instance in which a commission is not in existence, and it is doubtful whether it will be in existence, in which it is usual to pay any lawyer or barrister such a sum of £300 in anticipation that a case will come on ?—I should think so. 162. Is it not usual when you retain a legal gentlemen to pay him a fee of ten guineas ?—Yes, in ordinary cases before a Court, but this was a special case where it was necessary that a great deal of preliminary investigation must be made. It was not like an ordinary case that would come before a Court. I would then pay a small retaining fee, and, when the brief was delivered, another. But in this case I required Mr. Bees' assistance before a brief could be prepared. 163. How many days were you in consultation before you paid this £300?—I cannot say from memory, you will find it in my Bill of Costs. We had begun about the middle of July, and it was the i§th in the beginning of August before Mr. Eees got anything. . 164. And can you say how many days you were employed with him. I ask you this because £300 is such a large sum to be paid down as fees. I should like you to recollect what you did before paying tbis £300. Will you give us some particulars of the services rendered before you paid that £300 ?—Of -course, he got the £300 for services to be rendered, not for services rendered. 165. You said he did work with you before you paid him this £300 : —No ; I never said that so. J efi lyr S aid he was engaged with me after taking up the business. 166. Then he was simply negotiating with you when this money from the Government was paid over to Mr. Bees, and it was after the £300 was paid that he did any work for you ?—Yes ; that he did any work in connection with the business in hand. He negotiated with me previous to the payment as to whether I would take ever up the business previeus-te-tfao payment, and after the payment we had long meetings. 167. Suppose this Commission is never appointed, and he is not instructed to proceed any further, would you think he was entitled to pay back the £300 ?—I do not know ; when a counsel gets a fee I do not think you are entitled to ask it back from him. 168. Mr. Ballance.] Perhaps a fee is in the nature of a honorarium? —Yes, certainly ; nobody can claim it back. 169. How many meetings had you with Hoani Nahe before you paid this fee?—He was twice in my office. 170. And you knew nothing of any negotiations going on between him and Mr. Eees?—Except from what Mr. Eees told me. 171. You were in no way taken into their confidence?—No. 172. And you did not know what the arrangement was between them?—l could not say what the arrangement was. I had no communication with them except what I have stated first, I did not know what their private relations were to each other might be. 173. Were you awaro of what this £300 was given by the Government for when you got it?—l read the Imprest warrant at the time, and I retained Mr. Eees in accordance with it. 174. You did not know whether the Government, when they granted this, granted it specially for the defence of the Natives ?—I did not know they granted it for the defence of the Native prisoners. I think I have told the committee, as clearly as I could, what I understood the grant of £300 was for.