10

G.—4

Patea, and after some discussion Mr Williams managed to induce Uru, who had great confidence in Mr Williams, to give him the cheque, Mr Williams having promised to take it to Patea, cash it, and bring the money down to Waitotara on the following day The meeting then broke up. Mr Gill left by the afternoon train for Wellington, and Mr Williams and his son went by road to Patea, taking the cheque with them. Before leaving Waitotara Mr Gill sent the manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Patea the following telegram :— "Waitotara, 28th December, 1880. "To 11. T Christie, Esq , Bank of New Zealand, Carlyle, Patea. "I have this day paid cheque to Uru te Angina five thousand four hundred and eleven pounds. Pleaso make all necessary inquiries when presented for payment. " Eichaed John Gill." On the morning of the 29th December, as soon as the banks opened, Mr Williams went to the Bank of New Zealand with the cheque to cash it. At the request of the manager, he wrcte his signature across the back, and then obtained the cash. He then went to the Bank of New South Wales—where he had opened an account in his own name in November, 1880—and paid in £5.410 of the money to the credit of his account. (See copy Bank of New South Wales account.) Mr Williams did not inform the Natives of what he had done, nor did he communicate with them in any way, or explain why he did not intend to fulfil the promise made by him to them at Waitotara on 28th December—viz., to cash the cheque, and bring the money down to them on 29th December When Mr Williams did not put in an appearance at Waitotara on 29th December, the Natives became anxious, and Kauika wired to Mr Williams to know why he had not come down. Mr Williams did not reply to this telegram. Kauika then telegraphed to the manager of the Bank of New Zealand as follows :— " Waitotara, 29th December, 1880. "The Manager Bank of New Zealand, Patea. " Has Mr Williams cashed our cheque ? Me and my people are waiting for him. Beply if started, at once. Eeply paid. " Wiebmu Kauika." (See Mr Fisher's diary, 29th December, 1880, exhibit.) The manager (Mr Christie) replied to the effect that Mr Williams had cashed the cheque that morning. On 29th December Mr Williams sent the following telegram to Major Brown :— " Major Brown, New Plymouth. " Patea, 29th December, 1880. " I have all the Kaitangiwhenua money in the bank—safe at last. They passed all the first vouchers without objecting to any of the amounts, and praised you and self to the highest. My mind is now at rest. Will send a letter. " William Williams." The letter referred to in this telegram was not produced by Major Brown, who stated that he must have destroyed it some time ago with other papers nor was Mr Williams able to supply a copy or give the purport of the letter On the 30th December, 1880, Mr "Williams sent the following telegram to Mr Duncan, solicitor, Wanganui. I may mention that Mr Duncan had been acting for the Natives in the Native Land Court, and had a claim against them for £232 odd,' and the correspondence between Mr Williams and Mr Duncan shows that Mr Williams had promised to see Mr. Duncan paid out of the purchase-money. (See copy of correspondence amongst exhibits) ;— " A. Duncan, Solicitor, Wanganui. " Patea, 30th December, 1880. "I have been successful in Kaitangiwhenua, and shall be with you next week. " Wμ. Williams. On the 31st December, the manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Patea sent Mr Gill the following telegram:— " E. Gill, Native Department, Wellington. " Patea, 31st December, 1880. " Confidential. Williams, on behalf of Maoris, cashed your cheque Wednesday morning. Maoris very uneasy, and anxiously inquiring after money, which Williams declines to pay at present to Maoris or Europeans. Would recommend that you wire him to account for money forthwith. "H. F Cheistie." To this telegram Mr Gill wired the folowing reply :— " H. F Christie, Patea. " Wellington, 31st December, 1880. " No. 1013. I cannot interfere in the matter Mr Williams is not an officer of the Government. The cheque was paid by me to the whole of the grantees, and, until receipt of your telegram, I was not aware it had been handed to him "E. J Gill."