31

G-.—4c

got some little distance with it, Topuni came up and objected; he told me he was going to New Plymouth the next day, and I told him he had better see Mr. Humphries, which I believe he did ; after that I had no difficulty in putting the line through. From the manner of those who were there I think that, had most of the Natives not been absent at Otorohanga, I should not have been able to make the survey. When I started from the Heads the Natives who were there objected to my making the survey, and refused to let me have canoes to go up the river. I told them that would not stop me. I have seen the plan which has been finally approved by the' Chief Surveyor. The eastern boundary has been defined on the ground. A line has been cut and pegs put in at all necessary points. The Natives would have no difficulty in finding that line. When I got to the south end of the line, I did not return to Totoro, but went up the Mohakatino. It took me two months to run the line. I cannot say for certain whether the Totoro Natives had returned from Otorohanga before I had finished. The distance from Totoro to the termination of the line is between fourteen and fifteen miles. It was only the older Natives from whom I would have expected any objection : they were the ones who were absent. I had no communication with Totoro from the time I started the line. I think it was a particularly favourable opportunity for running a line through, on account of the absence of the Natives. Had they been all present I should have expected opposition. James Russell, having been duly sworn, gave evidence as follows: — lam a barrister and solicitor residing in Auckland. I have an unascertained interest in land on the north bank of the Mokau Eiver. I have no interest whatever on the southern bank of the Mokau Eiver, nor have I ever tried, either directly or indirectly, in any manner whatever, to acquire any. I was interested with Mr. Nevil Walker in negotiations for land on the northern bank of the river. Major Brown has, I understand, acted as sub-agent for Mr. Walker in negotiating with the Natives for that land, but I never myself employed him or had any communication with him. I know nothing personally of Mr. Jones or his affairs. My attention has been called to a telegram which has been quoted by Mr. Hamlin in the House of Representatives as having been addressed to a person at Waitara. It apparently refers to some matter with which Jones is connected. ■ I know nothing whatever of that telegram ; I never saw or heard of it until it was mentioned in the House. I have heard that my name has been connected with it, but there is absolutely no foundation for the statement. I have heard that it has been stated in a Wellington paper that Major Brown, agent for Messrs. Morrin and Russell, was at Waitara during the sitting of the Commission with the Natives who are opposing Jones's interests. The suggestion that Major Brown was acting for Mr. Morrin and myself is totally untrue so far as lam concerned. I have held no communication with Major Brown, either directly or indirectly, upon the matter. Thomas Moeein, having been duly sworn, gave evidence as follows : — lam a merchant, residing in Auckland. I had an unascertained interest jointly with Messrs. Russell and Nevil Walker in land on the north bank of the Mokau Eiver. I have never had any interest in the south bank, nor have I tried to get any interest. I have never employed Major Brown to negotiate on my behalf for land on the south bank of that river, nor have I employed any other person. I have never interfered with Jones's negotiations with the Natives in any way, nor has any agent of mine by my instructions. My attention has been called to the telegram quoted by Mr. Hamlin in the House of Representatives as having been sent to a person at Waitara, referring, apparently, to some matter with which Jones is connected. I know nothing about that telegram whatever. I have had nothing to do with any telegram in the matter. I did not instruct Major Brown to attend at Waitara during the sitting of the Commission to represent any interest of mine. I am not aware that he so attended. I have no interest whatever in opposing Jones's lease, and have never done so. Nevil Septimus Walkee, duly sworn, gave evidence as follows: — lam at present residing at Onehunga. I have an interest in a lease on the north side of the Mokau River. In 1877 I was present at the meeting between Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan with the Maniapoto Natives at Waitara. My reason for being at Waitara was having arranged with Mr. George Stockman to go in for a lease of land on the north side of the Mokau Eiver, which we did. Mr. George Stockman and I were partners in the said lease. That land was, on my application, gazetted for hearing at the Native Land Court at the same time that the MokauMohakatino No. 1 Block was gazetted. After Mr. Jones had put his block through the Court he used his influence with Wetere to get the block in which I was interested withdrawn from the Court, Wetere being one of the principal Natives interested and taking a principal part in conducting the case. I applied repeatedly to get a sitting of the Court for hearing the application for the land in which I was interested. I resided at Waitara for five years, during which time the negotiations cost me £7,000. I know of no one else who was trying to negotiate for the same ground that I was in treaty for until latterly, when Mr. Owen and Mr. Eichmond turned up in connection with it, they both knowing that the land was negotiated for by me. I had no partners except Mr. Stockman until about eighteen months since, when, all my money having become expended through Murimutu and this transaction, Mr. James Russell joined me and advanced a few hundred pounds. Mr. Morrin may have some interest with Mr. Russell, but I know nothing of him in the matter. I have never in any way tried to get land on the south side of the Mokau Eiver, nor have I ever endeavoured to influence the Natives to repudiate Jones's lease. I made an express stipulation with Major Brown, who witnessed some of the signatures for my lease in his capacity of Justice of the Peace, that he should not in any way interfere with Jones's affairs. My reason was that, while he was acting in his capacity as Justice of the Peace for me, he should not mix himself up