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tives passing through a district as there might not be time to catch them. I think they might be prevented from inhabiting their pas within the district and from going to and from the war.

Do think they can be prevented from evading it? —I think there would be great difficulty in so doing.

Has Mr Flight stated to you any reason for refusing to receive the information officially? —He said if he received informations officially he should be obliged to act upon them and he did not wish to act upon them without further communicating with the Government. He stated also that with respect to Poharama's case, when the information was given he refused to let him be sworn as the natives would then expect immediate action to be taken on it.

Josiah Flight, Esq., Resident Magistrate, examined

Please to furnish the Committee with copies of all instructions from the General Government to yourself or to the Magistrates generally for carrying out the late proclamation on the subject of the Native warfare in this district.

I decline to do so, for as an officer of the General Government, I am not warranted in furnishing any papers, books, or documents deposited in the Resident Magistrate's office without an authority from the General Government.

Have you taken any and what opportunities of explaining the object of the proclamation to the natives in this district or any of them? —I decline to answer this question as I consider it one beyond the power of the Provincial Council to ask.

Have you received any and what information from private or official sources of the entrance of armed parties of Natives within the proclaimed district? —I decline to answer for the same reason.

Have you received information of the assembling of war parties in any pa or pas within the proclaimed district? —I decline answering that question for the same reason.

Have you given notice to any parties that their so entering or assembling within the proclaimed district is in contravention of the intent and meaning of the proclamation? —I decline to answer for the same reason.

Have you required them to obey in this particular? —I decline answering for the same reason.

Have you taken any depositions on information of disobedience? —I decline answering that question.

Have you issued any warrant in consequence? —I decline answering that question.

Have you enforced or endeavoured to enforce any warrant under the proclamation or instructions? —I decline answering the question.

Have you communicated with the Officer commanding the Troops respecting such warrant or generally respecting the state of questions connected with the Proclamation or Native war? —I decline answering the question.

Do you consider the entering of the proclaimed district by Natives in armed parties is contrary to the intent and object of the proclamation? —I decline giving an opinion on that subject.

Do you consider it your duty under your instructions to inform parties so doing that they are acting in contravention of the Proclamation and to enjoin them to desist? —I decline answering the question.

What steps do you consider yourself instructed to take in the event of disobedience to such injunction? —I cannot answer that question.

What steps have you taken under the Proclamation or instructions of Government? —The Proclamation has been issued as directed by the General Government.

By Mr Rrown.

As Resident Magistrate of this Province is it your practice to receive depositions without requiring them to be sworn to? —Sometimes with the oath, and sometimes without, the Ordinance permitting either.

Have you in particular cases where an information has been laid against Natives carrying arms since the Governor's Proclamation was issued purposely refrained from taking the deposition on oath to avoid taking action in consequence thereof? —Cannot answer.

Have you at any time instructed the Native Secretary to inform you of any infringement of the Proclamation by the Natives? —I do not feel myself at liberty to answer that.

Has the Native Secretary informed you of any infringement of the Proclamation by armed Natives? —I decline answering.

Has Mr Parris ever stated to you that the majority of the Natives were respecting the Proclamation? —I decline answering.

Do you think that Messrs. Hulke, Morrison, and Sunley were not justified in laying their several informations against the armed natives passing through the Bell and Hua district? —I decline giving an opinion.

Poharama, Native Assessor, examined.

Did you see a party of armed Natives leave the pa on Monday last? —I saw them going from the Kawau pa by way of the beach.

Who were they? —Te Waka, Paratene, Hohua, and Taniora.

Who was the first European you informed of it? —I spoke first to Halse.

What did Mr Halse say to you? —He asked which way they went and I told him by the Beach. Halse asked me to follow but I replied, they had gone on quickly.

Did you write to Mr Halse? —After I had asked More the names of the men, I did write to Halse.

Did you recognise the men yourself? —I did.

Did you inform Sergeant Dunn of the same? —No, only Halse.

Did you tell any body else before you saw Mr Watt? —No, I did not.

Relate what Mr Watt said to you respecting laying the information. —Watt told me to lay an information before the Magistrate against the four Natives.