9

I.—2a

of all actions, suits, claims, damages, and demands whatsoever, both by law and in equity, which the said hapus or the members thereof now have against Her Majesty or the Colony in respect of or arising out of or concerning the said block "?—I have read that. 129. Does this claim arise out of anything, or in respect of or concerning this block ?—lt does, in the manner I have described—from rents accruing. 130. Then do you tell this Committee that this Act does not apply in effect to this claim ?—I am not here to interpret the Act. 131. Then you decline to say whether this Act applies or not ?—I can only offer a secondhand opinion as to the intention. 132. Will that answer apply to all you have said concerning this clause ? —I was not present when the debate took place. 133. You have stated to this Committee that the striking-out of these three lines in the clause reinstated the Natives with respect to certain claims, and placed them in a similar position to what they were in before ? —I believe that was the intention. I shall ask Mr. Mantell to be called, so that he may state his intention. 134. You stated that Captain Eobinson owed £500, and that the Natives claimed £500. I want to know how you knew that ? —That is my recollection of the affair. It is many years ago. I never had any other belief than that that was the amount. 135. That is your firm belief ?—Yes. 136. Do you entertain that belief after carefully going into the accounts, or did you pick it up as a rumour from the Natives ?—My recollection is that that amount was demanded as being due from Captain Eobinson. I was acting as Dr. Featherston's agent in this matter. 137. According to your evidence yesterday you stated' that Captain Eobinson only paid £400 ? —I explained the reason why. Some paid nothing, some only half, and Captain Eobinson thought it was unfair for him to be called upon to pay the full amount. 138. Can you point out the Himatangi Block upon this map ? —Yes. This block, shown as white is the Himatangi Block, and extends to the dotted line, being the northern boundary of the Awahou. That tinted blue is the 700 acres already referred to. 139. Did Captain Eobinson's land not go all the way to the sea? —I cannot say. He had a strip of valueless sandhills. He occupied part of the land coloured blue on the map. 140. If Captain Eobinson says that he occupied the land right to the sea, would you say he was correct ? —Certainly ; but I should not attach much value to these sandhills. 141. Then you state this, in reference to Captain Eobinson's land ; that he had the land running between the Manawatu Eiver and the sea, bounded on the north by Cook's run, on the south by the Awahou Block ?—Yes, according to this plan. As a matter of personal knowledge, I know the land running seaward is valueless. 142. But there were five thousand acres of good land-? —I would not say " good land." 143. You stated that you were justified in making these pecuniary demands because the part taken by Dr. Pollen was not entertained nor accepted?—l was informed that the question of right to the back rents was in abeyance. 144. Yoii stated, in answer to Mr. Te Ao, who asked you, after having made these arrangements, why you asked for money afterwards, and you answered that you were justified because the proposal was not entertained or accepted. Is it a fact that it was not entertained or accepted?—l cannot say myself. I have seen a copy of Dr. Pollen's official minute showing the statement he submitted to his colleagues. 145. Now, was it not both entertained and accepted by Dr. Pollen on behalf of the Government ?—The Government made no definite answer. Dr. Pollen said he would bring the matter before his colleagues. He did not definitely entertain or reject it, and he did not promise to give the land back. 146. Was not the Bill introduced into the Council the result of the negotiations with Dr. Pollen?— Certainly. 147. Were you negotiating with the Council ?—Not directly. I might have been using my influence with the Councillors. 148. Then you were not negotiating with the Council?—No, certainly not. I would not presume to make terms with the Council. 149. In your evidence before the Committee of the Council you stated that your fee would be £500 if you were successful in recovering the whole of the block ?—Yes. 150. Did that fee include the fee for the recovery of the back rents?— No. 151. Are you aware that Eenata Eopiha states this : " The owners were to pay him £300 if he received this money from the Government " ? —I heard him admit that he had made that statement in error, and would correct it. 152. Is that accurate?—No; the amount is £100. Eenata Eopiha examined. 153. The Chairman.] What is your name ? —Eopiha. 154. Will you tell this Committee shortly what you know about this petition ?—There are two matters I have to speak about. I wish to speak about something Dr. Buller has stated with regard to our relinquishing the claims. The people interested did not consent to that arrangement. The hapus claiming with me persistently asked for that money to be paid to them. That is the reason why we have continually petitioned Parliament urging that this money should be paid. After the Court-had awarded the Himatangi Block I was one who want to Captain Eobinson and demanded the back rent of the--iand from him—that is, the rent-money which had been impounded by the purchaser of the Eangitikei Block. He referred me to the Government, as they held the money. I will now 'speak about the acreage of the block. The total block contained 11,700 acres ; 2