I.—2a

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Buller and every one of them said the arrangement was a most liberal one on my part; they expressed entire contentment with it. If they had not done so I would not have moved in the business. 262. Do you mean by that that you would not have brought in the Bill ?—Certainly not. 263. The petitioner, Benata, says that ho was not a party to that arrangement with Dr. Buller: do you think it would be binding on the other Natives—that is, other than those who went to your office ? —There are always some individual.Natives who stand out on the chance of something turning up in their favour, as wo all know. I was dealing with the proper representatives of these hapus ; and, to show that I was so dealing with them, there was no question raised in the Native Land Court as to the distribution and settlement of their interests in this block. That fact showed that I was acting with representatives. There were no dissentients. No Native came before the Court to say that he was kept out of his share. The only question is this £500: that is no longer a Native question, but outside their claim, and derivative from it. 264. Are you aware that the Legislative Council Committee did not accept Dr. Buller's proposition—that the Natives did not accept that proposition that the Natives should forego the back rents ? —The Legislative Council accepted the proposition that the settlement of the Himatangi Block then made was a final settlement of all claims whatever. Colonel Trimble : There is the Act to show it. 265. Mr. Te Ao.] Did not the Native Affairs Committee of the Upper House report as follows : "Your Committee therefore recommend that the claim for accrued rents and interest," &c. [Beads] ? —lt is very probable. 266. Mr. Pere.] The award of the Court was not a final one ; it was only an interlocutory order ?—lt was a final order with one condition—namely, that the survey should be made within a specified time. 267. Was it not because the Maoris would not accept the award as a final one that they would not make the survey? —I only know facts. With us, when a Court makes an award, we usually accept it; if we do not we ask for a rehearing. Nothing was done here except that the survey was not made. 268. Was the whole area before the Court? —I believe so. 269. Eleven thousand seven hundred acres ?—I believe so. 270. Do you know how the Government got possession of that 700 acres marked on the map ? —I cannot say. 271. Are you not aware that the Government has sold part of that marked blue to Europeans? ■ —I cannot say. Ido not know. 272. Was it a part of .your agreement with Dr. Buller that the Natives were to give that 700 acres of land ? —The Natives forget that the whole of this estate was in the hands of the Government ; that it was included in the Eangitikei-Manawatu purchase from our point of view; that none of the land then belonged to the Natives at all. The gift of 11,000 acres was a pure concession on the part of the Government : that is shown by the conveying it to the Natives by this very Bill. 273. Who gave that land to the Government. Which of the Native owners sold to the Government ?—I cannot tell you, except that this was included in the Eangitikei-Manawatu purchase, that was held to be complete ; and that the land belonged, not to the Natives, but to the Government. 274. Do you not know that the Natives had entered into a lease for that particular block with certain Europeans?— That is no evidence that the Natives had a right to anything of it. 275. Do you know whether the Natives leased the land to Europeans, or whether they gave the land to the Government or sold it to the Government?—l cannot go into these particulars. Ido not recollect. I only know that I endeavoured to do justice to the Natives in this business, and I have been so persecuted and worried about it that I will take very good care how I enter upon a thing of that kind again. 276. Are you aware that Dr. Featherston acknowledged that this land was improperly taken from the Natives ? Ido not mean to impute anything to you, but are you not aware of that ?—I think I have already said that I am not here to defend the Eangitikei-Manawatu purchase ; Jyut the purchase was made. It appeared to me that some injustice had been done to certain Natives. I endeavoured to remedy that. This claim is not a Native's claim, but is a lawyer's claim. 277. Then your reason for giving the land back was because you believed that Featherston or the- Government took the land wrongfully ?—I do not say that at all. It was thought there might have been some injustice —that there was some ground for the complaint of the Natives—and I endeavoured to remedy it. 278. You must have known that the Natives had been unjustly treated ?—I do not think there was any wilful injustice. There was a mistake, probably ; there was an error of some kind. I am quite sure that Dr. Featherston would not wilfully do an injury to any Native. 279. How can you uphold Featherston ? —lf any injustice was done, the responsibility for it would not rest solely on Dr. Featherston's shoulders. If there was an injustice done in this instance, the fault would be Dr. Buller's as much as that of his principal, Dr. Featherston. Dr. IFfeatherston was Superintendent of Wellington, and his personal interference in the business was not very direct or constant. 280. lam only speaking of this Himatangi 700 acres now?—l agreed that the Natives should have 11,000 acres of land, and they have got it. 281. Do you refuse to give them that piece marked blue ?—I could not give it to them. I gave them twice th«--quantrty of land that the Court awarded to them. 282. Can you explain whygjihis 700 acres was not given ? —I could not give more than the law allowed me to give them. 283. I want te-'-get information about this 700 acres? — [Colonel Trimble: The 700 acres has