Wednesday March 11th 1868
The court sat at 10am
Present – Thos Judges – Ity Smith, John Rogan,*William Bertram Whiti
Assessors – Ropata Ngaro Ngomate, Mitai Pene Taui
Himatangi – Parakaia Te Pouepa
Order in council referring claim – read –dated 21st November 1867 – English and Maori– boundaries read
· Mr. Williams appeared on behalf of Parakai
· Mr. Fox appeared as counsel for the crown
· Mr. Williams commenced to address the court in Maori
· Mr. Fox objected and applied to the court to order that the proceedings should be conducted in English
· Mr. Williams objected and stated that Mr. Hart on a prior occasion – assented to this come
Mr. Williams – addressed the court. Opening the case of native claimants. The land claimed is Himatangi within the block alleged to have been purchased by the crown, containing 11,800 acres. Mr. Williams hands in list of persons claiming jointly with Parakai. Not perfect. Some names omitted.
Mr. Fox – thought that complete list should be furnished.
The court ruled that the complete list should be furnished.
Court adjourned for ½ hour for preparation of list.
Court resumed sitting.
Mr. Williams – put in list of persons claiming jointly with Parakaia; List of persons in whose favor certificates of title are applied for. List ‘A’ and ‘B’. Supplementary list of persons interested who are represented by persons in list ‘A”, with 3 names of persons interested who do not appear as claimants.
Walter Sawry Buller – Sworn.
I am a resident Magistrate. I am acting under direction of Land Purchase Commissioner for purchase of Rangitikei block. I am acquainted with the deed of purchase held by you purporting to be and the deed of sale of land between Rangitikei and Manawatu.
I witnessed every signature or mark.
In other cases there were other witnesses. Deed dated, December 13th 1866, put in to court.
I wish to state on my oath, the signatures and marks here, that in every case, the persons signing were sober. It has been said that in some cases, the persons signing were drunk. This is not true.
The court adjourned at 1 pm to 2 pm.
Court resumed sitting at 2 pm.
Mr Williams – addressed the court in opening the case of claimants. History of coming of Ngatiraukawa – in 1840 treaty of Waitangi – the land was Ngatiraukawa’s. Ngatiapa were living on the other side of Rangitikei treaty. Treaty of Waitangi guarantee, lived to 1846 and 1847. Ngatiapa wished to sell so McLean bought. Ngatiraukawa wished to keep, from Rangitikei to Turakina. Te Rununga of Ngatiraukawa agreed to give Hori Te Anaua. Ngatiraukawa and Ngatiapa. ‘Ae Kahore. Money for Rangitikei. Sold by Ngatiapa. Te Ahu o turanga referred to Ngatiraukawa by the government. Given by Ngatiraukawa to Rangitane. 1858, Ahu o turanga sold to the government. Rangitane received money and gave to Ngatiraukawa. 1858, Awahoi sold by Ngatiraukawa. 1854, Ngatiapa was leasing on this side of Rangitikei. Sent back by Ngatiraukawa. At the mill at Makohai. Mohi asked for land of Nepia Taratoa, granted 3years, for £60. Leases of other lands with Ngatiapa as joint lessees – proceeds of loans. In 1863, Ngatiraukawa were suspicious at the death of Nepia. Proposed arbitration, Mr. McLean chosen but Dr. Featherstone came instead. 1862, Native Land Act, exception of Manawatu block. Featherstone proposed to buy and Ngatiraukawa knew why land was excepted. 1865, applications assembly to remove restrictions – refused. Meeting of Ngatiraukawa to hold land – a few agreed to sell. 1866, Featherstone went to Takapu, meeting of the tribes. Ngatiraukawa, Ngatiapa present. 6 tribes agreed to sell. Some of Ngatiraukawa ssented. Majority wished for prior investigation. Featherstone said N L Court had no jurisdiction. Price agreed - £25,000. Ngatiraukawa applied to government for investigation before payment of money. December 1866, meeting at Parewanui to pay £25,000. A few of Ngatiraukawa went.
Matine Te Whiwhi – Sworn.
Matine Te Whiwhi. Otaki. Ngatiraukawa. I recollect the coming of Te Rauparaha and Rangihaeata. There were 30 Ngatitoa and 100 Ngapuhi. They came to Waitara. Ngapuhi killed people there and at Taranaki, same at Ngatiruanui, Waitotara same, Ihupuku ‘pa horo’, Whanganui, took Purua, came here doing the same, on to Pukerua ‘pa horo’, went on to Orongorongo and then stopped, attacked by Ngati Kahungungu – killed 20 of Ngapuhi and the chief Kauhata, went on to Wairarapa – better with Kahungungu, ‘parekura’ ‘pa horo’, got canoes and returned by sea. Landed outside Port Nicholson, saw a ship, signalled by a fire. Tamati Waka then said to Rauparaha, “take the land as a possession for yourself”. Rauparaha and Ngatitoa agreed. They came on to Ohau and placed Taheke and Toherini of Muaupoko there, saying “this shall be our settlement, went to Rangitikei, placed Arapata Hirea and Rewangauma of Ngatiapa there. Others of Ngatiapa and Muaupoko, they took on with them. On returning to Kawhia and went to see Waikato chief – Potatau. Tukorehu Te Hiakau and others said to them “remain here, I go to Te Urunga tapu”. Then they came, 100 Ngatitoa, unaccompanied by Ngapuhi. On reaching Taranaki they were joined by Ngatiawa making up number to 500 or 600. They came to Waitotara, 5 of the party were murdered, there was fighting for a year and the land there was taken by them. Came on to Whanganui, Rangitikei, Manawatu, to Ohau. Waiaki – chief of Muaupoko came to Rauparaha to go to fetch a canoe up the Ohau river. 30 went and in the night were attacked and Mauaupoko and Pangitane attacked and slaughted the party. Rauparaha and 2 others only escaped. This was the beginning of the fighting, fighting for 3 years. The ‘pa horo’ Muaupoko and Horowhenua went to Kapiti. Ngatiawa returned leaving 10. All the tribes of the south collected to attack Ngatitoa at Kapiti, were worsted. Rauparaha thought as there were no more enemies to conquer, he would make peace. News reached Ngatiawa at Taranaki that Rauparaha had conquered the country and defeated the tribes occupying it. In the 4th year, came Ngatiawa and Ngatitama. Next, (5th year), a large party of Ngatiawa came down. Ngati Hinetuhi, Ngati Mutunga, Ngati Whakatere came and fought Ngatiapa and Muaupoko. Rangihiwinui and Te Taheke of Muaupoko were killed. 6th year, 200 of Ngatiraukawa came from Maungatautari and Taupo. Te Whatanui, Taratoa and others came to get powder and guns from the ‘pakeha’. They returned, 7th year, another party of Ngatiraukawa, 60 in number. Te Ahu Karamu and Tuai Nuku – chiefs, went to Kapiti. Ngatitoa thought to give the land as far as Whangaehu to Ngatiraukawa because of the murder of Te Poa by Muaupoko at Ohau. Ngatitoa chiefs assented and gave Te Ahu Karamu the land. The land on which Te Poa was killed, Te Ahu returned. Te Rauparaha then told Ngatiawa to go to Waikanae and leave the land for Ngatiraukawa. At this time, Ngatiapa, Rangitane, Muaupoko left districtand went to Wairarapa. Wairarapa people fought with them and besieged their settlements. After a year’s absence they returned. Some of them went to Waitotara, some to Whanganui, some to Rangitikei and thence to their ‘hunaonga’ (Te Rangehaeata) (at Kapiti) who had taken Pikianga, a Ngatiapa woman as his wife. 8th year, Ngatiraukawa, came in a whole body brought by Te Ahu Karamu. They went to Kapiti to be near the ‘pakeha’s’. On obtaining guns and ammunition they came to Otaki. A Ngatiapa chief had been killed at Waitotara and then commenced fighting between Whanganui and Ngatiapa. Ngatiraukawa were then living on the other side of Rangitikei. Ngatiraukawa and Agatiapa’s war party went to Whanganui. They met enemy at Turakina. Whanganui were beaten. Takarangi- father of Mete Kingi’s wife was killed. Ngatiapa ran away. Ngatiraukawa retrieved the day and beat Whanganui. This was the end of the fighting between Ngatiapa and Whanganui. The ‘mana’ of Ngatiraukawa was then established up to Turakina. The greater part of Ngatiapa were with Rangihaeata at Kapiti. As dependents of Rangihaeata. The land, I know the land shown in the sketch. The ‘mana’ of this land was with Ngatiraukawa at the time of the treaty of Waitangi. Ngatituranga was the ‘hapu’ who were living on this land at the time of the treaty of Waitangi. That is the ‘hapu’ of Parakaia.
Tesed by Mr. Fox.
It was in 1840, don’t know the boundaries but know that Ngatituranga were living there. I have heard that they occupied this land, a large ‘hapu’, 100 men. I cannot state the boundaries. I have heard that Ngati Kauwhata were occupying alone.
By court.
Do not know Whitirea. Know Omaru papako. Have heard it spoken of by Ngatituranga as a boundary.
Court adjourned at 5 pm till tomorrow.
