Page image

G.—2

54

181. You asked the people if they were getting any share of the rent that Kemp was receiving from me?— Yes; they said, " Who knows about that; we know nothing about what you and Kemp are doing." 182. Who, on behalf of the people, gave this reply ?—Hoani Puihi. 183. He is Ngatipariri ?—Yes ; he was the only one. The others were silent. 184. That is all you said ?—Yes. 185. What month was that?—l think it was in July last. 186. Was that the last funeral function you attended ?—Yes. 187. Who were present and heard what Hoani Puihi said ?—Makere, and others; Ido not remember who. 188. Then, I understand you to say that Hoani Puihi and Makere were the only two you can remember who heard ?—No; there was a number of others there, but I only recollect those two now, 189. Was this on the first day of the funeral function, or later on ? —lt was one or two days later. 190. Who called the meeting at which you gave expression to this?—l did not say it was a meeting; it was a funeral gathering. 191. Was not this it: you went to this funeral gathering and found Hoani Puihi there, and you asked him this question, in the presence of several others : " Are you getting any share of Kemp's rents " ? —Yes ; some of them were playing cards. 192. It was no formal meeting, simply a casual meeting, where they were playing cards and you were talking? —Yes; it was a funeral lament. 193. By your own showing it was ten years, nearly, since this land was awarded to Kemp by the Court for the purpose of being given to Whatanui, and nearly eight years since the Crown grant was issued. You told us that, because your relations were not friendly with Kemp, you never spoke to him about not giving up the land ?—That was my answer. 194. You told us what you said at Noa's funeral; it was simply a question, "Have you received any of the rents paid by Bartholomew to Kemp" ? to which Hoani Puihi replied, " Who knows.what you and Kemp are doing." Did you ever mention the subject at any other funeral gathering or meeting of any kind ?—No; but I spoke about other matters connected with Horowhenua at other meetings. 195. You say you lodged caveats against some of the blocks?— Yes; the land belonging to the rerewaho. 196. You know the object of a caveat —to prevent any dealing being registered—transfer lease or mortgage ? —Yes. 197. And that you prevented Kemp from selling, or leasing, or mortgaging land belonging to the rerewaho ?—Yes. 198. You say you did not lodge any caveat during the last ten years against Kemp in respect of No. 14 ?—No. 199. Why did you not, if this was land belonging to the tribe, and you were not friendly with Kemp—why did you not lodge a caveat against leasing to me or any one ?—I thought that Kemp was trustee for this Block No. 14, and, that after the matter had been settled with regard to 11, I would set to work about 14. 200. But you kept this shut up in your heart all the time?— Yes; that was my inward thought. 201. You did not tell any member of the tribe about it?—No; I kept it to myself because I felt, according to Native custom, this land was mine; it belonged to my ancestors. 202. But you never told Kemp so all those years ?—Warena did, but I did not. 203. Did you hear him do so ?—Yes ; I sent him to tell Kemp. 204. What did you say to Warena?—l said, " You go to Kemp, and tell him to give up the land, so that I can lease it to some European." 205. You wanted to lease it ?—Yes. 206. When was it you spoke to Warena?—About seven years ago. 207. Who was the Pakeha to whom you wanted to lease it ?—When Kemp gave back the land I would seek out some European to lease it. 208. That is what you said to Warena?—Yes; and that was what he said to Kemp, and he assented to it. 209. Where you present when he said it ?—That is what Warena said to me; Ido not wish to thrust on one side the words of my brother. 210. That was all you said to Warena, " Ask Kemp to give me the land that I may lease it " ? —Yes. 211. You heard of Kemp granting a lease over No. 14 to Mr. Bartholomew and myself. Did you offer any objection or protest to me or Kemp or anybody else ?—No; I knew that the Crown grant was wrong, and I was willing to wait; there was plenty of time for me to work. 212. You kept all this in your heart? —Yes; those were my thoughts. 213. You have seen me hundreds of times since, and talked in a friendly way with me ?—I knew it was no use speaking to you ; you would not listen. 214. You never did speak to me about it ? —No; but I knew where to go for redress. 215. Where was that you were to go to for redress ?—To the law; I wished to have all the trouble finished about No. 11, and then I intended to go to law. 216. But you have not invoked the law all these years ?—No; I have not, because I know Kemp is still holding the land as trustee. 217. With regard to the township sold to the Government through Kemp: he received £6,000, and you never asked him for any portion of that; why did you not ask him ?—I thought he is an older man, and he will know best what to do.