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65. You would not have taken much notice of his petition or declaration—it would not have had much weight with you?—lt would have no weight with me. 66. Did you know Bewi ? —Yes. 67. Was he also that way inclined?—He was all right when I knew him. 68. In your opinion Wahanui, when you saw him, was not answerable for what he said or did? —Oh, no ;he was " looney." He started prophesying. 69. It has been stated that Wahanui, before he died, declared that he had changed his opinion ?—I have never heard about that. Ido not know if it was true. I know that his brother, Kahu, went in for some sly-grog selling. 70. The Chairman.] You knew Hetet well?— Yes. 71. He is generally supposed to be a man of means ?—I do not know that he has got much money. He is too good-natured to keep it. 72. Do you know anything of the reason for Wahanui wishing to raise this prohibition : was there not something about an advance of money?—l cannot say anything as to Wahanui's reasons, but I should doubt the fact of there having been an advance of money.

Tuesday, 9th October, 1900. Evidence of Taingakawa te Wahaeoa. 1. The Chairman.] The Committee wants to get evidence concerning the liquor question in the King-country. Do you live in the King-country ? — [Interpreted by Mr. Monk, M.H.E.] No. I do not live in what is known as the prohibited district. 2. Then I suppose you can only speak generally on the matters concerning which the Committee wants information ? —I can only say that I have words to say upon this matter of intoxicating liquors. [At this stage Mr. Monk had to leave, and the interpreting was taken up by Mr. Graham.] 3. I may say, Mr. Graham, we are taking evidence as to the liquor question in the Kingcountry. The Committee wishes the witness to understand that we are not taking generalities concerning the Native character and customs outside the King-country. We are only taking evidence of the witness's own knowledge. We cannot accept any mere hearsay evidence. tWe have members in the House of Eepresentatives who can tell us of the Native customs. We want actual facts, so that whenever the Committee presents its report and evidence, the Government will say that this is a document of some service either for the protection, or suppression, or otherwise. If this man (the witness) does not know anything about the King-country beyond generalities, the Committee cannot bother taking his evidence. Will you ask the witness now if he lives within the prohibited area of the King-country ; and, if so, to give the Committee all the information he can from his own knowledge ?— [Interpreted by Mr. Graham, the witness answered] Ido not live within the prohibited area. I am Taingakawa te Waharoa, the son of William Thomson, and I am the Premier in the Maori Parliament, and one of the most representative chiefs. I live at Matamata, which is not within the prohibited area. 4. You live in the prohibited part of the King-country occasionally, do you not?—l pass through there, of course. 5. Can you speak of the liquor traffic there of your own knowledge ?—All that I can say from v what I have seen myself is that grog is sold there. I have seen the state of affairs. 6. In that case you can speak from your own knowledge ? —I have never been a permanent resident in that part of the country. I have only been a visitor to it, but with my own eyes I have seen the Natives there drinking grog. I heard that some of them were summoned by the Court for selling grog. 7. Did you see more drinking there than where licensed hotels exist ?—No. I have never seen anything to be compared to the drinking that goes on where there are licensed hotels. There are hotels at Cambridge and at Alexandra; but I may say that I was not in the prohibited district long, but while I was there I certainly did not see more drinking than goes on where there are hotels. 8. Do you think that the people in the prohibited area are more sober than those outside ? —I noticed a difference in the part of the King-country where licenses exist. 9. Are the Natives living within the prohibited area better or worse off than those living outside ? Have they more money inside the area ?—I could not say there is much difference. They both do the same thing to get money —that is, they both sell their land. 10. But they cannot sell their land in the King-country : I understand that is also prohibited ? ■ —They sell to the Government in order to raise money with which to buy the grog. 11. Mr. Lawry.] They sell their cattle? —There are very few Natives there who are cattle- or sheep-owners. Mr. Lawry : That is not my experience, at any rate. 12. The Chairman.] Are there any hotels near to where you live ?—No; I object to anything of the sort coming into my settlement. There is no hotel in my district. I object to the grog. 13. Well, how far is the nearest hotel from your kainga ?—lt is about seven miles—at Cambridge and at Morrinsville. 14. Mr. Lawry.] How far off is the Oxford Hotel from your place ?—lt is a long way off. The Cambridge is the nearest. The railway runs right through my settlement. 15. Have you ever been to Te Kuiti?—No. 16. How far up in the King-country have you been ?—Not further than this side of Otorohanga, at Puniu. Mr. Lawry : Well, it appears to me that this witness does not know anything about the Kingcountry proper. I have no further questions to ask him. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given ; printing (1,375 copies), £13 4s.

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