R. PUAHA.]

11

Or.—6.

If the wish I now express cannot be given us, then I would ask that the Porirua land be given back to the descendants of the donors.pjlffthe land is to be used properly for the building of a school in the midst of our people, I would suggestfthat it be cut up into building small-farm'sections, so as to increase its producing-capacity. 1. Mr. Quick.] You live at Porirua ?—Yes. 2. Is there apa there ?—Yes, a Ngatitoa pa. All the Natives there are of the same hapu. 3. Do you think a college ought to be erected at Porirua ?—Yes ; I should like it at Whitireia. 4. You think that is what was intended by your father and uncle ?—Yes, that was my parents' wish. 5. Would you consider it right to have a college erected at Otaki ? —There is a school at Otaki already. 6. But would you consider it right to have this college erected at Otaki ? —No ; I wish it to be at Whitireia. 7. You would object to the money coming from Whitireia going to a school at Otaki ? — What I wish is that the income arising from Whitireia should be spent on Whitireia. 8. You decidedly object to its being spent at Otaki ?—I will not consent to having it spent at Otaki, because they have a school there already. 9. Mr. Wardell.] Do you consent to its being spent in Wairarapa ?—I will never consent to that either. 10. Mr. Quick.] Do you speak for the Porirua Natives ?—Yes. 11. They would not consent ?—They would support me in what I say — that is why they have not attended here. I am their representative. 12. Mr. Wardell.] How many children are there at the Porirua Pa ? —About thirty, perhaps there may be more ; there are others at Pukerua, Waikanae, and other places. 13. Mr. Quick.] Do the Pukerua and Waikanae Natives belong to Porirua ?—Yes. 14. We have been told that when the Bishop was here at one time he consented to having the two trusts amalgamated, and the money expended on a school at Otaki : were your people at Porirua consulted at that time ? —-No, I was not here ; I was not asked to come, and I was not consulted, nor were my people. 15. Does Wi Parata belong to your people ?—Yes. 16. Does he represent the Waikanae Natives ? —He is partly Ngatiawa and partly Ngatitoa. 17. What are the Natives at Waikanae ?—Some are Ngatitoa, and some are Ngatihaumia, a hapu of Ngatitoa. 18. If the Commission were to report that the money should go to Otaki, would the Porirua people petition against it ?—Yes, I would petition. 19. Even if the Bishop consented to it ? —lf the Bishop consents what can Ido ? But I would send my petition. 20. Perhaps the Bishop would be as strong as you ?—Perhaps he would be stronger ; but he would not be right. I should petition at any rate. 21. The Chairman.] Supposing the question was only as between whether the children should no longer go to Wairarapa but should go to Otaki, would you prefer that ? Supposing you cannot have a school at Porirua, would you prefer the funds to go to a school at Otaki and not to Wairarapa ? —I prefer neither one nor the other ; I would like the land given back to me. 22. But supposing it must be one of the two, what then ? —I would not consent to either. 23. Mr. Stafford.] Supposing the Commission said, "We cannot advise a school at Porirua, but there must be a school" : would you prefer the school to be at Otaki rather than in Wairarapa ?—Well. I have said I will not consent to either 24 Mr Wardell.] If we say further that we cannot hold out any hope of the return of the land, which would you choose, if you had to choose Wairarapa or Otaki % —Well, I will not consent to either ; if I cannot have it I will have nothing. ;li M.r. Stafford.] Tell us what you really mean ? — I will not consent to Wairarapa, I will not consent to Otaki; leave it at Whitireia. 26. But supposing the Commission says it is not to be there, but it must be somewhere ? —Then I am helpless, and can do nothing ; I cannot get my wish gratified. 27. Would you not prefer Otaki to Wairarapa ? —No, there is not much difference ; it amounts to the same thing. ijjji;2B. Mr. Hutana.] Have you and your people, Ngatitoa, met Ngatiraukawa and discussed the matter as to where the school is to stand if it is shifted from Wairarapa ?—No, we have not had any meeting to discuss the matter. The Ngatiraukawa paid no heed to our request that they should come to Porirua to discuss the matter. 29. Supposing you discussed the matter and it was arranged to have the school, where would you consent to have it—here ? —No, I would not consent to that, and my people would not consent. 30. Mr. Quick.] Is it a matter of family pride, that you think Ngatiraukawa ought to come to Porirua to consult with you ?—No, it is not a matter of unfriendly or jealous feeling ;it is simply that they did not come when requested. : j 31. You think they ought to come to Porirua ?—Yes ; it would have been well if they had come, because Whitireia belonged there, and the thing should be discussed on the spot. 32. Mr. Hutana.] If Ngatiraukawa will consent to have the school at Whitireia, that would settle the matter as far as you are concerned ? —Yes. 33. Mr. Stafford.] If you cannot get the school at Porirua you want the money or the land ? — Yes ; I want the land and the money.