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1893. NEW ZEALAND.

CADMAN v. REES. (COPY OF NOTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BY CHIEF JUSTICE PRENDERGAST.)

Laid upon the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

Witnesses foe the Plaintiff. 1. Haemood Aethue Banneb, examined by Mr. Sainsbury, deposed that he was a commission agent, and had resided at Napier for seventeen years. Had. read the memorandum of the 10th March, 1893. Mr. Eees admitted that the first innuendo was fair. 2. Look at paragraphs 15 to 25 of memorandum of 10th March. What impression do they convey to your mind ?—That during the session of 1891 Mr. Cadman, as Native Minister, prevented the passing of measures of reform in dealing with Native lands until he, in partnership with Mr. Smith, had completed the purchase of the Umutaoroa Block. 3. Eead paragraphs 23 to 26, and say what impression is conveyed to your mind?— That Mr. Cadman used his position as Native Minister to pass as a public Bill the Tahoraite Validation Bill in order that he and Mr. Smith might complete the purchase of the Umutaoroa Block, such completion depending upon the passing of such Validation Bill. 4. As to paragraph 30, what impression does that convey ?—That Mr. Cadman misused his position as Native Minister in order to amass a fortune by private dealings with Natives, and by trafficking in Native lands. 5. Eead paragraphs 1 to 16 of the memorandum of the 24th March, 1893. What do you gather to be the meaning of those paragraphs ? —That Mr. Cadman used his influence to obtain the appointment of Eose as Assessor in order that they might purchase the Umutaoroa Block at about an eighth of its actual value. 6. Anything else in connection with those paragraphs? —And that they might escape the payment of so much duty. 7. Paragraphs 21 and 22; what of those—what impression do they give to your mind? —That the Native Minister used his position as such for buying lands from the Natives; and when such lands were good he received them for himself and friends, and when not let the Government have them. 8. Gross-examined by Mr. Bees.] That was the impression I derived after consideration as to what you charged Mr. Cadman with. 9. You have not overstrained anything?—No; I have no cause for doing so. 10. Chaeles Bonfield Hoadley, examined by Mr. Sainsbury : I reside and carry on business in Napier as a land and estate agent. Have been here eighteen years. 11. You have seen the two memoranda?— Yes. 12. Take that of 10th March, and tell me what impression is conveyed to your mind by paragraphs 15 to 22 ? —That the Native Minister opposed reforms in Native land-laws that were proposed by the Commission appointed pending the negotiations to acquire Native Block of Dmutaoroa. 13. Paragraphs 23 to 26 in that memorandum ? —That Cadman and Smith used their political influence to pass the Tahoraite Bill to facilitate the acquisition of the Umutaoroa Block, and necessary to the title. 14. Paragraph 30?— It is an insinuation that the Native Minister and Government Whip abused their position for the purpose of acquiring wealth. 15. Take the memorandum of the of the 24th March. Look at paragraphs Ito 16. What do they convey to your mind ?—That Cadman and Smith used their influence to secure Mr. Eose as valuator of their property, and with Mr. Eose conspired to undervalue this block to defraud the Land-tax Department. 16. As to paragraphs 21 and 22 ?—That insinuation that Native Minister might abuse his powers and the public moneys to advance his own interests. I—H. 14.