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16

Friday, 30th Septembbb, 1898. Mr. Frederick Henry Haselden sworn and examined. 1 Mr. Hutchison.] —What is your name in full ?—Frederick Henry Haselden. 2. You are a sheep-farmer, residing near Hunterville ? —Yes. 3. You are also a Justice of the Peace ?— Yen. 4. In 1867 were you at Opotiki ?—Yes. 5. Did you serve in any of the military forces ?—I joined the Ist Waikato Eegiment in 1867 —or 1866, I think. Yes, I joined the First Waikato Regiment in 1866. 6. Were you at Opotiki in July, 1867 ?—Yes. 7. I think your rank was that of corporal then ?—I think I was a full private then, and promoted afterwards. 8. Do you remember the news of the murder of Bennett White coming in to Opotiki ?—Yes, I remember the news coming in in the afternoon. Shortly afterwards the bugle was sounded, and we fell in on the parade-ground. 9. You were a military settler? —Yes. 10. Did any cavalry turn out ?—I am not sure. 11. Did an expedition go out of Opotiki?—Yes, we marched down the beach to Ohiwa to where Bennett White was killed. I think we marched to this side of Ohiwa [witness indicating position on the map]. 12. You marched out of Opotiki along to Ohiwa ?—Yes. 13. What occurred?— The men found the head. 1 was put on guard there all night. We camped there that night. 14. Well, next morning ? —Next morning we marched back to Opotiki. The Natives were dispersed. 15. The Natives had come down evidently from the interior? —They were supposed to have come down and met Bennett White on the beach and killed him there. 16. And you could not find any hostile Natives there ?-^-No, 17. That was in the morning you started back to Opotiki?—Yes. 18. Do you remember any parade of cavalry when volunteers were called for to carry despatches to Tauranga?—No.l do not know. It is thirty years ago. There might have been a parade. 19. We assume that despatches were sent ?—I believe I heard at the time two men were sent with despatches. 20. Was there any talk in the settlement as to any particular act of heroism as to carrying despatches?—l heard nothing whatever about that. 21. You knew Mr. Wrigg to be a resident at Opotiki ?—I hardly knew him personally. He was with Mr. Gwynneth on the survey, and I was on the survey. 22. Did you ever hear his name at that time mentioned in connection with any particular act of bravery ?—No. 23. Would you be likely to remember any report in connection with any conspicuous act of bravery ? —I think. I should have heard of it. 24. Did you know Captain Gwynneth? —Yes. 25. He was captain, we are told, of a Volunteer cavalry corps ?—Yes. 26. You knew Major St. John?— Yes. I was under him. 27. Is this testimonial of the 28th December, 1867, in His handwriting?— Yea, written thirtyone years ago, and it has never seen daylight until within the last week. 28. Did you know Captain Simpson at that time in Opotiki?—Yes. 29. Was he in Opotiki in June, 1867? —I am not sure. 30. Do you remember him in Opotiki about the time ttf this occurrence of Bennett White's murder? —No; I fancy Simpson was then in the Waimana Plains, 31. Did you know Captain Percival? —Yes. 32. Was he in Opotiki about the time of the murder of Bennett White?—No; I do not rejnember his being there. 33. Did you know a person named G. H. Leaning in Opotiki ?—No ; I do not remember the name. Of course there were hundreds there I did not know, 34. Mr. Wil/ord.] You were in a foot corps, Mr. Haselden ?—Yes. 35. Mr. Wrigg, as far as you know, was in a mounted corps ?—Yes. 36. Would the issuing of an order to a trooper by the oflicer commanding that troop be sufficient authority for the person to whom it was addressed to proceed to carry despatches without any countersigning, or without authority by the adjutant? —I should think not. 37. Would you be surprised to hear that the adjutant tells us that an order signed by the captain to the particular trooper would be quite sufficient authority for the carrying of despatches for the party whose name was set out in the authority?—l am not aware of it, although it might be so. 38. You are aware of the fact that two men did proceed to Tauranga on a ride ?—I believe so : I did hear it at the time. 39. Although it was thirty years ago you remember that circumstance ?—Yes. 40. Do you remember everything that occurred in that particular month, or any other circumstances that occurred in that particular month—in June ?— Yes ; I think that the bodies of Moore and Beggs were found. 41. Anything else?—No, I am not sure. 12. Then, the events of the month of .June photographed in your memory are the finding of the bodies and the ride to Tauranga?—You can put it that way.