11

I.—2a

177. Dr. Buller states in his evidence that he had gone back to his duty as a Eesident Magistrate before the distribution of the rents, and that the rents were distributed through other hands ? • —I would not say they were not. My knowledge was only newspaper reports. That he was present at the Native meeting at which the rents were distributed was my impression. That was what I understood; but it is not to be taken as evidence, certainly. 178. Do you know anything of the position that Mr. Alexander McDonald held in reference to the Natives at that time ?—I have never heard of any formal position which he held :he spoke as the friend of the Ngatiraukawa. Ido not think he was accredited to the Government in any way as far as I can recollect. 179. As the friend of whom —the sellers or the non-sellers ?—The non-sellers. 180. Mr. Pere.] Were you aware that that land had passed through the Court?—lt had not passed through the Court when I was acquainted with these transactions. 181. You have been made aware that it has passed through the Court since ? —I have heard so. 182. Do you know anything about a surplus area of 700 acres? —Nothing but what is in the papers—the evidence before the Committee. 183. Do you know if that 700 acres was awarded to the Natives?— No. 184. Or to how many Natives it was awarded ?—No. 185. Do you know if any Natives sold that 700 acres to the Government ?—No, I do not know. 186. Mr. Hakuene.] Were you aware that the rents were impounded on account of some dispute between the Natives?—So it was stated, but Ido not know it from my own knowledge. That was the reason assigned for it. 187. Do you think that they settled that dispute this way : that they took the money and kept it ?—I suppose that I must go back so far as to say that the whole transaction was anomalous. Dr. Featherston, who was Superintendent of Wellington at the time, had received a special commission as Land Purchase Commissioner from the Government of Mr.—now Sir William —Fox, and had been acting for some time when I came into the Native Office. The Government of the time did not interfere—it was not thought desirable to interfere with Dr. Featherston's operations—except that it reserved to itself the right of supplementing those operations, so that justice might be meted out to those who objected. 188. Mr. Te Ao.] Did you hear Dr. Buller make the proposition to forego the rents on the Himatangi? —No, I was not a party to anything of that sort. 189. But the Legislative Council recommended that Himatangi should be given back to the Natives, did it not ? —Yes. 190. Did not the Committee of the Legislative Council recommend that the back rents should be paid to the Natives ? —Yes. That is on record in their report of last session. 191. Seeing that the Government took the land from the Natives, and after a considerable time restored it, but kept the money, do you think it was right iSiat they should give back the land only, and keep the money ? —That is a matter of opinion, which the Committee is engaged in considering, and I am not entitled to offer any opinion here. 192. I wish to explain to you. The position was this : The Natives leased the land, they refused to sell the land ; they were receiving rents for the land; these rents were impounded and the land taken, but the land was afterwards given back. Should not the money have been given back also ? —I would have to go much further back before giving an opinion one way or other. The whole thing, it seemed to me, was illegal. The lease was not according to law —it was irregular : indeed, the whole thing seemed to be irregular. 193. Why did the Committee of the Legislative Council recommend that the rents should be returned to the Natives?— They were perfectly entitled to express an opinion. I expressed my opinion in the Select Committee of the Council last year and this year, but I am not entitled to express one here. 194. Colonel Trimble.] I think you said that you were Native Minister in 1869 ? —Yes, part of it. 195. In February? —Yes, in February. 196. Do you remember seeing that document? [Paper handed to the witness by Colonel Trimble.] —To answer confidently I should have to read the whole file of papers through. 197. Then you do not remember?—No, not this particular letter. There was a great deal of negotiation about the matter. [Letter put in.] That was" the general idea of the tribe. I think there were several negotiations on the subject, but that was the general idea. Hon. Mr. Mantels examined. 198. The Chairman.] Can you explain anything with respect to this £500, with interest, which the petitioner says is due to him ? —I will state what I know. I think I know nothing of it except .what transpired before the Legislative Council Committee, and also from the official papers filed in the Native Office. That is all I know about it. 199. You had nothing to do with the transaction ?—Nothing whatever, saving perhaps in the appointment of Dr. Featherston as Commissioner. But that did not involve any necessary knowledge. 200. Mr. Te Ao.] Are you acquainted with the facts about Himatangi Block—the facts brought before the Committee of the Upper House?—l believe so. 201. From what date did you become acquainted with the facts of the case?—lt would be very difficult to say, but I should think about the year 1877, or something like that. I am not quite sure. 202. Did you take part in that discussion about the Himatangi Block which took place in the Legislative Council ? —I think I took part in all the discussions upon the subject. Will you please say what particular discussion—Whether that in regard to the Bill, or to the other petitions. 203. I mean the. discussion which took place on the petitions, and also on the Himatangi Bill ?—Yes,