More Info →Otaki Maori Land Court Minutebook - 10 September 1881.

Description

Saturday 10^th September 1881

Place – the same Present – the same

8 Waerenga – continued – 419

Court finds Perenara Te Tewe and Manahi Paora to be the owners and will make an order in their favour.

Ordered that the names of

Perenara Te Tewe and Manahi Paora

Be entered in the register as owners according to Native custom of the waerenga No. 7 Block.

Fees charged – Hearing £2.0.0 Certificate £1.0.0 Total £3.0.0

Opponent – 2 days £2.0.0

32 Waerenga No. 7 – 413 – continued from fol 343

Claim of Tiemi Ranapiri read

Mr McLean said – I appear for Erenora Maraku and Nepia Taratoa

Erenora Maraku – sworn

I live at Otaki and Rangitikei. I am of Mateawa and Ngati Parewahawaha of Ngati Raukawa.

I know the land described in the plan but I don’t understand plans. I recognize the position of it. It is mine. It was my father’s.

Te Rauparaha was my ancestor. Te Whatanui got it from Rauparaha. Nepia Taratoa was my father. He was son of Rauparaha (?). Rauparaha gave this land to Taratoa.

I have a brother Nepia Taratoa. He claims with me as counter claimants. My father lived on this land and worked it and I was born there. I have never disposed of my interest in this land neither did my father. I claim the whole of it.

I don’t know whether Riria having any part of it. I never saw her parents or herself on it since the cutting up.

Horomona lives on it now. He has been there about 15 years. He is working there. He has a claim to it. I claim the land for myself, Nepia Taratoa and Horomona and no one else.

Xed by Tiemi Ranapiri

I remember the year Nepia left this land. It was when Christianity came here (1840). He left this land unoccupied. My father told Horomona to look after the land (Kaituki). It was given to Horomona when Nepia went away. Horomona was to be the “kaitiaki”. It is more than 15 years since Nepia left it.

I heard after Nepia went away that a part of this land was given to Roka Ngahori by my mother not by Nepia . Roka Ngahori was wife of Hori Ngawhare. The bush was given to Roka. The cleared part was given to Horomona. The clearing was made by father.

The part given to Roka was for him to take care of not as an absolute gift. I don’t know what year Hori and Roka went to Patetere. I heard that Roka gave the piece in his charge to some one else on his departure to Waikato. Roka and Hori left Ngahuka in charge.

I never heard that Nepia disposed of it or the piece occupied by Roka and Hori in any way. It was my mother who gave it to Roka. First part was given to Roka and part to Horomona. Afterward, Horomona had possession of the whole.

Xed by Tiemi Ranapiri

It was the bush was given to Roka. The part given to Horomona was that cleared by my father. It was Roka cleared the bush – herself.

I have no house on the land. Horomona has. We have not occupied since we left at the introduction of Christianity. My parents know these boundaries - I don’t know. I never knew that you and Perenara laid down these boundaries. Horomona has been on this land 15 years.

I never heard that he was there 4 years only. I never heard of disputes. Horomona only claim is in virtue of the gift by Nepia.

I don’t know about the laying out of the boundaries. I have been at Rangitikei for a long time. My own child came here and you turned him off. He came to lay out the boundaries. Hori Ngawhare and Roka, after clearing this land, gave it to Ngahuka. I have not seen Wi Neera and Cootes on this land.

Re-xed by Mr McLean

My mother gave the land to Roka. My mother’s right was through her husband. My mother was of Ngati Kapu and Mateawa. My mothers’ only right to it was through her husband. Horomona had possession of the whole of this piece after Roka left.

Re-xed by Tame Ranapiri

I was at Ohau when Hori and others cleared the bush and cultivated on this land. I only heard of this clearing of bush. I did not see them clearing it.

Ngawiki Matene Te Whiwhi – sworn

I live at Otaki. I am of Ngati Parewahawaha. Tuainuku was my father.

I know the land shown on the map when I was a child and until now. I have always heard it belonged to Nepia Taratoa. I know Erenora. She is daughter of Nepia Taratoa I.

I know Horomona. I am his relative. Horomona is dead. He died about 2 years ago or longer. While alive, he always lived and cultivated on this land. Since his death, the house has been broken down. Horomona’s claim was from Nepia. Nepia placed him on this land. I heard this. The reason was because Horomona and Nepia were relatives. Horomona did not say this was his own land because it belonged to Nepia. Horomona was simply the kaitiaki and nothing else over the whole of the piece. He only cultivated on the cleared part. I think he was guardian over the whole block.

Xed by Tame Ranapiri

I don’t remember when Nepia I ceased to occupy this land. It was after Te Kuititanga (1839) he ceased to live here in Otaki. I don’t know the year he gave this land to Horomona. It was when I was married to Matene I saw Horomona in occupation. I don’t remember any ritenga’s before this.

I have heard that Taratoa’s wife gave it to Roka. Near the town was worked by Roka – the part to the south by Horomona. I don’t know when Roka ceased to work there but I have seen cultivations towards the south part.

I heard of one gift only went Hori Ngawhare’s to Oriwia. This was the first gift. Afterwards, Te Rei gave the same piece – Ngahuka. Hori’s gift to Oriwia was objected by Horomona. Te Rei’s gift was also objected to by Erenora’s mother. Hori and Roka were at Waikato when Te Rei gave it to Ngawhare.

I only heard that Roka worked on this land. I don’t know the year of my marriage to Matene.

Xed by Tiemi Ranapiri

I heard of Roka cultivating on this land. I did not see her.

I don’t know who cleared the timber. I never heard who cleared the timber. Horomona lived there under his relatives only. When this piece was given to Roka, Horomona went to Rangitikei to see Nepia Taratoa and tell Atareti the mother of Nepia to come back and live on this piece.

That was the time Ngahuka gave a horse to Te Rei – payment for the land. Te Rei and Hipirini took the horse to Nepia Taratoa. I never knew that you gave that horse. I heard that Winara worked there for a year or two. I have seen him there with Tiapu (Coote). I don’t know who authorized them to cultivate or occupy. It may have been you or Ngahuka.

I don’t understand the boundaries of this plan.

Re-exed by Mr McLean

Te Rei Paehua gave the horse to Nepia’s mother. This horse was not accepted. It was returned. I don’t know if this horse went to Waikato after , perhaps Te Rei used that horse. I know it was not accepted by Nepia.

Horomona’s is the only house I have seen on that land.

Exed by Tame Ranapiri

I don’t know how long Wi Neera occupied - One year or two. Horomona lived there at the time on his own part.

By court

I was at Rangitikei when Nepia gave this land Horomona. I was married then to Nepia’s son. I did not see the gift.

I afterwards married Matene and came back to Otaki. My first husband died. I don’t know how many years since I married Matene – about 20 years. I don’t know the year the horse was to Rangitikei. I only heard of it.

By McLean

Kipa Te Whatanui – sworn

I live at Otaki. I belong to Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Pare and Ngati Huia.

I know this land. I know whose it is. It is Nepia Taratoa’s.

Erenora has a claim. She is Nepia’s daughter. I knew Horomona. I live 2 chains from Horomona’s place of residence. Horomona worked on that part. I have seen him working there. I am about 30 years old – nearly. I heard why Horomona occupied this land. He asked Nepia’s permission to do so.

I never heard of a horse given by Te Rei. Horomona’s occupation was only as a squatted and lasted perhaps 20 years.

Xed by Tame Ranapiri

I did not see Hori and others on this land during 20 years of Horomona’s occupation.

I heard Parania Whawha say that this land was given by Nepia to Horomona for the purpose of cultivating only – for 18 years. I have seen Horomona working on this land. It is about 20 years since he asked permission to work on it.

I never saw Nepia on this land. I heard my mother say this land was his. I have never seen Hori working on this land. I only saw Horomona and Wi Neera. They had separate cultivations on it. Wi Neera worked there for 2 years about. It is 4 years since he ceased to work there. Wi Neera has no fence there now. The fences there are Horomona’s.

Xed by Tiemi Ranapiri

I am certain that I never saw Hori and co on this land. I was perhaps too young. I never saw them on it when Ngati Awa came here to thrash wheat.

I came to you to purchase this land because you surveyed it and because you said you had given a horse for it.

Horomona gave permission to Wi Neera and others to occupy. Horomona told me he had received this piece to cultivate it.

Horomona and his wife Amiria lived at Te Rekereke also. I don’t know that Horomona came out to this land at Hurumutu’s coming.

It was when Horomona lived in Otaki that he asked permission to work here. I don’t know whether Horomona objected to your survey. I did not see the survey. I never heard that Horomona had asked you to have the site of his house returned to him after the survey.

Re-exed by Tame ranapiri

Manahi Te Humu – sworn

I live at Otaki. I am of Ngati Huia.

I know this land. I recognize the plan. It is Nepia’s land. The first Nepia. His son has the right to it now with Erenora.

I knew Horomona. He lived and worked on this land by consent of Nepia. Horomona was there as a squatter only. I heard that a horse had been offered by Te Rei and that Horomona objected to it. I never heard that the horse was sent back. I have forgotten the year. I remember the purchase of Rangitikei. It was about the time of that purchase the horse was given. I cannot be certain.

I think Nepia Erenora and Horomona are the owners of this land now. Riria has no interest in it.

Xed by Tame Ranapiri

I did not quite hear Erenora’s evidence. I was too far away.

I remember when Nepia ceased to work on this land. It was when Christianity came here. Afterwards, he ceased to work on it. When Nepia went away to Rangitikei, I heard Horomona say that he had received a portion for cultivating on. It was the part nearest the river.

I heard that Erenora’s mother had given to Roka a piece for cultivation. The part near the town was ---- near the town. The gift to Amiria and Ngahuka was the one I heard objected to by Horomona.

Horomona objected because he was on the ground and Nepia was at Rangitikei. It is a long time since I saw the land. I don’t know how many years. The last time I saw it, Horomona had a fence on it.

Xed by Tiemi Ranapiri

I saw Hori and others clearing the bush on this land. Before this was cleared, Nepia and others had their cultivations at Harurunui (outside). It was Hori and others who cleared the bush more recently.

It is not because Horomona married Ngahuka’s sister that he has any claim to this land. I said Horomona was the person who objected to the horse. This is Nepia’s land. Horomona was “kaitiaki” and for that reason objected to the horse.

I never saw Wi Neera and others on this land working. I don’t know that Wi Neera has a fence there. The fences there are Horomona’s.

I don’t know who laid out the boundaries on this land. I only know that this is Nepia’s land. I never heard of an objection to your survey. I was not present. Had I been there, I should certainly have objected to your survey.

Te Rei was at Otaki when Rangitikei was sold. Horomona was living at Rangitikei after that sale. I don’t know whether any one disputed the occupation by Te Rei and others. I was not here.

Re-xed by McLean

Nepia was at Te Kuititanga. I did not hear of the survey of this land.

My grandchild lives there. Had I heard of the survey, I would have objected.

Horomona had occupied about 15 years. He died on the land. He died in the town. Rangitikei was the permanent residence of Horomona and Nepia. He came here to kaitiaki the land because Rangitikei had been sold.

Re-xed by Tame Ranapiri

It was after the last sale of Rangitikei that he (Horomona) came here. I don’t remember Horomona having a house here and going back to Rangitikei to sell Rangitikei.

This is Nepia’s land. All Ngati Raukawa knew this land to be Nepia’s. He caught it. Rauparaha gave it to him. Horomona’s was the last cultivation I saw on this land.

Court adjourned until 10 am on Monday.

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