25

G.—2

25. With regard to the alteration of the boundary, after they altered the boundary and so limited the area somewhat, what took place ; did a survey take place or not ?—Then the surveyors finished the line by Waiwiri, and they met with no opposition at all. Then J. Booth sent for me, and I came with him, and we went up to the block; and when we got there I found Te Puke was there. He belonged to the Ngatiraukawa. He is dead now. 26. Where did he belong to ?—The southern side of the Waiwiri. 27. What took place next ?—I said, " I do not know where your pole has been placed, but I am going to stick mine in here." But the post that he had put in was left outside the post I put in the ground. I said, when I put the post in, that Te Puke must not interfere with it. The survey went on from that post till it was finished, and I went back to Wanganui. 28. After you thus started the survey, was any obstruction offered by any one ?—The Government afterwards confirmed the boundaries that I had altered. I put it in a map, and brought it to the Government. A small bit was taken off the southern and a small bit off the northern side. 29. From and after that no obstruction was offered to the survey ? —After that Kawana Hunia came and burnt some houses. 80. Had that anything to do with the survey, or was it an assertion of title ?—'No ; there was no interference with the survey after that. 31. You say that Kawana Hunia te Hakeke came down; tell us about that. Had the survey been finished when he came down ?—Yes. 32. What did he do ?—He burned some houses of Watene, of the Ngatiraukawa, near the Waiwiri Stream. 33. Do you know why he burned those houses?—l did not understand what reason he had in his mind for burning them. I told the Muaupoko to create no disturbance on those lands. 34. Whose houses were set fire to ? —I do not know who they belonged to. I was not here at the time. 35. Who were they supposed to belong to ?—To Te Puke's people. 36. What happened then ?—The Ngatiraukawa then made a descent on Hunia and his people, and they retired to their own country. Kawana Hunia went by himself and fled. The Ngatiraukawa' then attacked the Muaupoko. A telegraphic message was sent to Major Edwards, E.M. 37. Mr. Bush.] I do not understand that the Ngatiraukawa attacked the Muaupoko?—They brought their guns with them to fight, and when Kawana Hunia saw that he ran away. 38. Sir W. Butter.] Were any guns discharged, or was there only a show of fighting?— They took their guns with them right up to where they were. Early in the morning Kawana Hunia fled, leaving the Muaupoko at that place, and as daylight dawned the Ngatiraukawa came on to the Muaupoko. Hunia had gone off to Bangitikei. Then Major Edwards sent for the Assessors and others to meet at Horowhenua about this trouble, but he never told me about it. After that Eichard Woon told me that Major Edwards had got the chiefs together to stop the disturbance, and that was the first I heard of it. Then I said, " I expect by this time some of the Muaupoko have been slain by the Ngatiraukawa." I was quite startled when I heard the news, and collected a number of men and said, " Let us go forward to where the disturbance is." Then I received a message that no one had been killed, and I said, " Never mind ; I had better go there at all events in consequence of what has been said." By this time Wi Parata had come to Horowhenua to try to induce them to be peaceful, and then all the trouble was smoothed away. 39. That was an end to that business ? —Yes ; that was an end to that. It was not the Ngatiraukawa who brought this disturbance about; it was in consequence of the action of Kawana Hunia. That was our fault. My idea was that if the Ngatiraukawa should come there and settle down after the place had been through the Court it was nothing to do with me. 40. What do you mean by that ?—We had won the case; the judgment was given in our favour. It was on the principle that if visitors came to us we should not send them away. 41. You would not have interfered with the Ngatiraukawa who squatted on land that was declared to be yours? —No; we would not have interfered with them, although they squatted on land already given to us by law. 42. Then, Kawana Hunia went back to his own people, and the trouble was at an end ?—Yes; but after some years another thing commenced. Kawana Hunia came back again and brought a lot of timber to make fences for Horowhenua—to fence in some land. When he came along there was some bullocks belonging to the Ngatihuia. 43. These troubles were amongst themselves?— Yes; the Ngatiraukawa had nothing to do with them. The Muaupoko opposed Kawana Hunia bringing this timber, and the consequence was the timber was left there, and rotted there. 44. Is part of it lying there to this day?—l daresay some of it is lying there now; but none of of the timber reached the land, and the carters were never paid by Hunia for bringing it. 45. Where was this fencing timber left ? —At the mouth of the Hokio Stream. 46. Is that the natural outlet of the Horowhenua Lake?— Yes. At the same time there was a woman struck by Kawana Hunia, and I sent a telegram to him to keep his hands to himself and not molest anyone ; that if he wanted any trouble he should come and have it with me, lest he be hurt by people inferior to himself. There was never any more trouble about that. Kawana Hunia was told he must not do anything more, and Sir Walter Buller did not press for any punishment for him. I thought so, too; and Sir Walter Buller also had a kindly feeling, and he was let off. 47. Were you there yourself?— No. It was due to your forbearance. 48. Was there any trouble of that kind afterwards, or was that an end?—So far as Hunia was concerned there was no more trouble. 49. When did Kawana Hunia die ?—He lived a long time after that; he died about 1885. 50. From the time of that little assault case he did not interfere any further?— No. 4—G. 2.