I.—4c.

petitioned ?—Yes; we had some of those cases, where the widow has Sent in an application on behalf of her late husband, or the children have petitioned. We have had several of those cases. 72. Your inquiry was simply confined to those who had sent in their names, and none others ? —Well, I may add a little to that. The Bth section of the commission says, " You are hereby empowered, in case no claim is made or evidence offered before you in respect to any matter which might have been made the subject of such a claim as aforesaid, on your own motion to examine into and report on such matter which might have been brought under your knowledge, although the same shall not be made or preferred before you by any claimant." In reference to that we searched up all documents and petitions that had been presented to the House, to see that applications had been received from the claimants, and we also searched all the Defence Office records. 73. What I wish to know is, whether it would be known in the department what number of claims were likely to be presented to the Commission. That is the rule, I suppose ? —No. 74. Then, there is no record ?—None whatever. 75. Then, the only record you had was by the people applying, and your own investigation of the claims?—Yes. 76. Mr. Fulton.] And the records in the Defence Department ?—Yes. 77. Mr. Brown.] Four years' residence, you say, was necessary ? —Yes; in the particular district where the land was granted. 78. The province ?—Yes. 79. Trien, if a person residing at Gisborne, in the Auckland District, removed eighty miles away —to Wairoa, say —he would forfeit ?—Yes ;he would forfeit. 80. Or if he went a mile or two away across the boundary?—Yes; you must draw the line somewhere. 81. Mr. Fulton.] And that line was drawn by the Provincial Governments themselves ?—Yes ; the boundaries of the provincial districts. 82. Mr. Brown.] These claims have extended over a long period?—Yes. 83. What time, do you think?—Some from 1845 down to the sitting of the Commission. 84. That is to say, some of these claims were made in 1845, and some in, say, 1870 ?—No; some of the claims for land to which they said they were entitled went as far back as 1845. The land was first granted in 1856, only to soldiers who served in what is called Heke's war. 85. What period of time did those men put in—what time before the applications came in ? What were the dates : was it seven, eight, or nine years?—The applications we got were sent in response to our advertisements. 86. While the Commission was in existence ?—Yes. 87. One thousand five hundred and eighty-two applications ?—Yes. The first notice was published on the 25th February, 1882, and we continued to receive applications until the date of sending our report in June. 88. So, then, I understand that these 1,582 applications were put in during the currency of the Commission ?—Yes. 89. And that, in response to these applications, the Commission simply advertised the districts where they were sitting, but never informed the claimant, otherwise ?—No. Some claimants were summoned to attend. 90. How long were you sitting?—Nearly four months. The Commission was directed to report within three months in the first instance, but they found that they could not complete their inquiries within that period, and an additional month was granted. 91. So that in each district you had applicants before you while sitting ?—Yes. 91a. And the only means they had of knowing was by the advertisements in the newspapers ? —Yes. 92. And still you know the addresses of each one ?—Each applicant was directed to give his address. 93. The Chairman.] You have not exactly stated whether there was a record kept by the Commission of the grounds upon which these claims were rejected in each case ?—They were not stated in each case. 94. You kept no record of the grounds upon which they were rejected ?—No ; but as a rule the applications would show the reason why they were rejected. 95. Hon. Mr. Bolleston.] When the soldiers took their discharges, were they supposed then to put in formal applications and state their residences ? Would you state the course which they were expected to take ? —The soldier, knowing that a grant of land was to be given—and it was very generally known throughout the regiments—it would be his duty to apply to the Waste Lands Commissioners. 96. At the time he took his discharge?—Yes, within twelve calendar months of his discharge. He would then get a land order and select his land. Land at that lime was of very little value. The prospective title of land at the end of a period of five years—sixty acres —was of very little value. Very few contemplated settling on the land, and many never made application for orders at all. They were generally indifferent. Many got land orders and neglected to use them. They did not like being bound to reside in one particular district. Soldiers, as a rule, unless they are married or have families, like to wander about from one district to another. Men who really did settle down in the province no doubt got the land to which they were entitled. Many got land and are on it now. 97. And it was fully understood among the men that if they did not avail themselves of the privilege the State would have no liability? —Thoroughly. «■ 98. You w rere an officer of the Imperial army, Colonel Haultain, and quartered with the regiment here ? What has been your connection with the Imperial army ?—I left the Imperial army in 1857, but I was acquainted with the different regiments serving in this country, and was acquainted with old soldiers.

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