Mr. Henry Bunny, M.H.R., examined.

* * * * *

Q. Then you think if the Provincial Council was now in existence they would vote the money?

A. I think so.

Q. Was not Dr. Buller paid for the work he performed?

A. He never received a penny piece as far as I know. He received nothing from the Province. I do not suppose Dr. Buller, when taken from his duties and placed at the disposal of the Superintendent, was likely to agree to that at a less salary than he got from the General Government. No doubt there was a great deal of labor, and it was not measured as work usually done by going into an office at nine and coming away at five. There was a great deal of night work in Maori whares, holding meetings with natives, &c.

Q. From your knowledge of Provincial matters, you think he is entitled to the money?

A. If I were in the Provincial Council, I would support the claim.

Q. Now, all old claims such as these, have come upon the Colony for settlement. Do you consider the Colony is justified in taking into consideration this claim. Leave of absence was granted Dr. Buller, and page 14 he was kept at home, besides all the other et-ceteras he received from the Government. Should they not be taken into account?

A. Certainly not. There was a liability that should be met by the Provincial Council. If that liability still existed, I do not see why it should not be liquidated now. * * * *

Q. Was it not found necessary for the sake of preserving peace, to give back some of the land?

A. Yes; I believe the sale of the Manawatu-Rangitikei block was completed as fully as one man could complete it. Except for the reason that the peace of the country might be endangered, we could have established our title in the Supreme Court.

Q. What I wanted to know was—Dr. Buller was employed to extinguish the native title to the satisfaction of the Natives and Europeans. Did he do so?

A. Dr. Featherston was employed for the purpose of acquiring the Manawatu-Rangitikei Block. He had Dr. Buller's services assigned to him. I am not prepared to go into the particulars of the title to the land in any shape or form. I am right in saying that the native title was fairly extinguished over the whole block, reserves excepted, and the certificate of title was published in the Gazette. After that, certain claims were put forward. Sir Donald McLean thought it wise in order to preserve the peace of the country to give some of the land back. * *

Q. Mr. Tole.—He claims £500?

A. Yes.

Q. Do you think he has any case?

A. I think he has in liquidation of his services.

Q. Would you state on what grounds?

A. We could be only guided in the matter by Dr. Featherston. * *