G.—2

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342. And no notice was taken of his objection?—l believe Kawana Hunia objected to the lease during Whatanui's lifetime. 343. Was it not immediately after the death of the last Whatanui that Watene te Waewae and Nicholson, the husband of Caroline, began to appear on the scene ?—I do not not know. 344. Was it not the right of Watene, and Tauteka, and Caroline, that Kawana objected to?— I do not know about that. 345. But it was in 1870, was it not, that the first burning of the houses took place ?—Yes. 346. It was Watene's house that was burned ?—Yes; and his wives' and children's. 347. There was a large meeting, was there not, in 1870 or 1871, between the Ngatiraukawa and the Muaupoko in connection with this trouble ?—Yes. 348. It was the very urgent request of Kawana Hunia and Kemp that, before anything could be settled, Watene was to be removed from Horowhenua as having no claim ? —I did not hear of it. 349. Was not this large meeting adjourned to ask Wi Pomare and his wife, Hene Matiora, both of whom were lineal descendants of Te Whatanui, to come down and settle the dispute ?—I do not know anything about that. 350. At the time of this meeting were you there ?—I was not there. 351. Was the other burning you spoke of the burning also of a house of Te Watene's?—Yes. 352. The Muaupoko never burned anybody else's houses on the land?—No; I only heard that the house belonged to one. 353. Have you not heard that there was a particular personal enmity between Kawana and Watene? —I only know the houses belonged to Watene, and Kawana burned them. 354. Did your father have a settling of the dispute by giving the 1,300 acres ? —No; the Government did it. 355. Who was acting for the persons who had been judged to be owners of Horowhenua ?—I heard that Kemp was. 356. The whole thing was left to him, was it not ?—I heard it was left to Kemp to settle the trouble. 357. Mr. Morison.] Have you heard that chiefs from the Wairarapa were asked to come and settle this dispute ? —I only know that some of the chiefs of Ngatikahungungu came here when Kupe was built. 358. Mr. McDonald.] I heard you say you were thirty-seven years old ?—Yes. 359. You were then fourteen in the year 1873, when the Court was held at Foxton ?—Yes. 360. Were you not one of the people employed to get food at the meeting at Foxton ?—Yes ; I was one of those who carted food. 361. You did come to that Court?— Yes. 362. Who were the parties in that Court, on the one side and the other?—Hunia and Kemp on one side, and the Ngatiraukawa on the other. 363. Who was conducting the case for the Ngatiraukawa?—Mr. Buckley—now Sir Patrick. 364. You and these gentlemen here—Mr. Baldwin and others—have been trying to throw more light on this case then than Mr. Buckley was able to do ? Do you know more about it, then, than the great chiefs that assembled at that Court ?—No; the older men would know more about it. 365. Were the Ngatiraukawa defeated there as to this block?— Yes; they were. 366. If so, was not all said that could be said for Ngatiraukawa?—Everything was said; they were defeated by what was said in the Court. All was said that could be. 367. Have you anything more to say on behalf of Ngatiraukawa than was said then?—l have nothing to say, because the Court sat in 1886. I have only to say, in addition to what was said then, that 1,300 acres was given to the descendants of Whatanui. 368. What award did the Court of 1873 make for Ngatiraukawa, within the block?—l heard they had a piece of land at Eaumatangi—a burial-place. 369. How much ?—lOO acres. 370. The combined Ngatiraukawa, Ngatitoa, and Ngatiawa, under the leadership of Mr. Buckley, and supported by all the great chiefs then alive, could not establish a right to a single acre in this block ?—No. 371. What are you trying to do now ?—The Government know about it; Ido not. 372. After the Court of 1873, and after these three hapus had been defeated, certain persons of Ngatiraukawa still clung to the block and endeavoured to hold possession of it ?- -Yes ; Watene and others. 373. And your father came and set fire to their whares to turn them off?— Yes. 374. You did not attend the Court at Palmerston in 1886?— No. 374 a. Do you remember the Court of 1890, when Judge Trimble divided Block 11 between you and Kemp ?—Yes ; I recollect it. 375. Had you any representative or agent at the Court of 1886 ?—Yes ; my brother, Wirihana. 376. And you consider yourself bound by what Wirihana did at that Court?— Yes. 377. Had you any agent or representative at the Court of 1890 ?— Yes ; Mr Barnicoat. 378. But, apart from your solicitor, had any person a power of attorney for you at that time? Yes; Donald Fraser. 379. Have you ever rescinded that power of attorney?— No. 380. Do you hold yourself bound by what Donald Fraser has done in your name ?—Yes. 381. You yourself took no part in either of those Courts, otherwise than through Wirihana, and through your attorney, Donald Fraser, and your solicitor, Mr. Barnicoat ?—No; I abide by what they did. 382. And anything Fraser did in your name is binding on you?— Yes. 383. Your hapus are Muaupoko and Ngatipariri ?—Yes.