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An Epitome of Official Documents Relative to Native Affairs and Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand
[Evidence of Heta te Haara]
Heta te Haara: It was not my suggestion, at Mr. Tole's office, that we should go to Sir G. Grey it was Mr. Nelson's. Mr. Kemp gave me the £90. When I first went Mr. Kemp said, "Take your money." I said, "Let it be for a future time." At my second going I found Mr. Kemp alone. I said, "I had come to fetch my money." He said, "Very well." Mr. Kemp gave it to me. Mr. Preece was not present then. Mr. Vickers was there. He brought the money upstairs. I knew what the money was—the money brought by Preece from Haurangi at Kaihu. I understood that we should have no further claim upon the Government by Mr. Preece's letter of the 2nd February. I believe that the letter produced is an exact copy of it. There had been no new arrangement about this land since then. I expected to have got £600, as I was told that there was 5,775 acres in our piece. I have applied to Wharepapa for the money, but he said it was all gone from him; that it rested with Petu and others who had the money. I knew that the £90 was with Kemp. Mr. Preece had shown it to us at the Native Office on the first occasion when we declined it before. Mr. Preece said he would not take it as it was not his, and left it with Mr. Kemp. He did not tell us that we might get more afterwards. Mr. Preece and Mr. Nelson both returned to Kororareka in the same steamer with me. On board the steamer, Mr. Nelson said to me that he was afraid of letting Mr. Preece see him talking to me. He did not talk to us in Mr. Preece's presence. I was not at Kaihu when the money was paid I was ill, or should have gone.