G.— 4c

20

■went to get the deed signed; there were other Maoris with us. After we had all arrived at Mokau, Captain Messenger was sent for. Messenger did nothing on the day of his arrival, which was the day on which Heremia was explaining to the people what was to be done. Messenger talked with Heremia and the other chief men. I remember the day when most of the Maoris signed the deed ; I was cook on that day, and did not go near the signing. I saw many of the Maoris drinking beer that day. I drank a great deal myself. I helped to put the beer on board the steamer at Waitara. Jones and Wetere asked me to help. There were two large casks; they stood as high as my chest. I helped to take the casks off the steamer at Mokau ; they were lifted on poles by about ten of us on to the wharf, and then rolled on to the bank near the houses; a less number could not have lifted them. They were left there until the talk commenced; they were then opened. Heremia told us to open them. The beer was then drawn out in buckets. The beer was got in honour of Heremia. Jones, himself, told us to take it down to the steamer at Waitara from the hotel there. Wetere came to me on the day of the signing, and asked me to go and sign the deed. I refused to go, because I was not satisfied with what had been done about Poutama Block. I never made the mark on the deed which is shown me. It must have been made by some one else. I know the whare in which the signing took place. I did not go near it that day. Te Ohu Eima Eata, and Mr. Butlee, the Interpreter, having been duly sworn, Te Ohu gave evidence as follows :— I am one of the Natives now living at Mokau Heads, and am one of the owners of the land there. I claim as far inland as Mangaruahine. I remember that I touched the pen when the mark on the deed now shown me, which is said to be my mark, was made. No explanation of the deed was given to me. Grace, Messenger, Dalton, and Wetere were present in the whare when I signed. I was ignorant of leases and sales, and did what I was told, not knowing what the result would be, or that any harm would come to me. It was Heremia who told me to sign. I had been drinking beer before I signed. It was about midday when I signed. I had been drinking a great deal. Heremia gave me no explanation at the time he asked me to sign. I was present when Heremia explained to the people what was to be done. Heremia said, "I will give the coal to pay for what was owing on Poutama, but I will keep the timber except what is necessary for working the'coal." ' Heremia said nothing about giving the land for fifty-six years, or for any fixed term. Pace Huakieua, and Mr. Butlee, the Interpreter, having been duly sworn, Pake gave evidence as follows :— lam the wife of Pukatea Pupurutu. Ido not remember putting the mark on the deed which is said to be my mark. I was at Mokau when the Maoris were signing the deed. Dalton asked me to go and sign my name. While the talk was going on inside the whare we were outside drinking the beer. My thoughts were all confused. I knew what Dalton said to me. He said, "You had better go and sign the deed, as it will not be good unless you hold the pen." I said, " What will I gain if I sign the deed?" He went back into the house. I did not go with him. I was lying helpless. My legs would not carry me through drinking the beer. Some one else must have made the mark. lam sure I did not. Did not go near to touch the pen. Hinehoea, and Mr. Butlee, the Interpreter, having been sworn, Hinehoea gave evidence as follows:— lam the wife of Te Oro. I did not make the mark on the deed now shown me, which is said to be my mark. I was at Mokau the day the Maoris were signing the deed. 1 was drinking the drink provided by that pakeha. I mean Jones. Ido not know whether any one asked me to sign the deed. I drank so much beer that Ido not know what was clone. Jones gave me beer himself. As soon as I began to get drunk I went and helped myself. I dipped it out of the buckets with a pannikin. Kau, and Mr. Butlee, the Interpreter, having been duly sworn, Kau gave evidence as follows : —■ lam the wife of Hare Piripi. I live at Mokau, and claim to be one of the owners of land there. I have never signed the deed produced. I remember the day when the deed was signed by the Maoris. I was drinking beer that day. I drank a good deal. I drank until my head went round. I do not know that any one asked me to sign the deed. Ngawhakaheke and Mr. Butlee having been duly sworn, Ngawhakaheke gave evidence as follows :— I am the wife of Heta Tokiriki. I did not make the mark on the deed now shown me, which is said to be my mark. I was at Mokau on the day the Maoris signed the deed. I was one of those preparing food that day. Grace came to me and asked me to sign my name. I said lam very busy baking bread. He then went away. I suppose they signed my name in the house, as both Grace and Jones knew me. Owing to my being busy and the beer I had drunk, I did not go to the house where the signing was going on, or touch the pen. I drank a great deal of beer that day. I could get as much beer as I liked as long as it lasted. You know what Maoris are ; they never stop until it is all gone. They drank at day and at night until the whole of the beer in the casks was gone.

Satueday, 21st July, and Monday, 23ed July, 1888. Weteee te Eeeenga and Mr. Wilkinson, sworn : Weteee gave evidence as follows: —■ lam one of the principal owners of the Mokau-Mohakatino No. 1 Block. I know that part of the block was leased to Jones. I have a copy of the lease; it is at my settlement at Mokau. I was one of those who signed the lease.