More Info →Otaki Maori Land Court Minutebook - 29 January 1880.

Description

Thursday 29^th January 1880

Court opened at 10 am.

Present – the same

Case resumed

John Davis – sworn

I have a lease of all 7D from the owners. It is for the part outside the bush and swamp.

I never saw Namana on the land. He died at Otaki 10 or 12 years ago. The line 274ð 18’ was pointed out to me by Kiriona Hirama in 1871.

I paid no money to Te Karaha for Tangimate. I have not seen the yellow line on the ground. There is a line in some manuka. I paid Karaha for Waimakariri (516 acres) for Metera Hape and Karaha.

Te Manea are not letting any land to be.

Menehira’s land has not been defined. I saw no houses of Namana and Karaha at Tangimate. I never saw Pene on the land.

I rent Wawa (275 acres) from Hutana alone. I can’t define part of Hohua, Tamihana and Te Oti Kerei for which I pay rent.

In 1867, Tamihana had to get Karanama’s consent for me to build his house at □. Parawaewae was let by Hutana to McDonald.

Kiriona draws rent for the part near Konganui. Hohaia moved my fence out to blue line at the gate. I saw no dwelling houses at Mapau. Angaanga had a house on the south of fence C. I do not know the claims of the 3 hapu’s. I pay the 10 grantees and know nothing of any further subdivision. The 10 lease the whole block.

By Hape

Tamihana did not complete the lease. Hape, Metera and others completed it. Tamihana objected to fulfil his agreement. He tried to let it to Jackson. You objected. You received the money. Tamihana tried to let it because he got no money. I paid Namana a years rent in 1857 for a small house in the pa close to Weriti’s house.

Menehira’s name is in the lease as one of the 10. I paid him no money. When Kiriona gives me an order I pay a part to him but I do not know his part of the land. I kept back some money of Kiriona’s at Menehira’s request.

Karanama gave Tamihana leave to build a house at Te Kongonui. Karanama stopped my paying Hohaia’s share for what land I do not know until his successor was appointed – from gate to Kahukura.

I do not know it is Hutana’s. I saw Karaha and his people inside the fence B. There was some flax scraping at Karaha some years ago. I do not lease Parawaewae.

Tatana

We are subdividing the land according to Davis’s lease.

Hutana Rangiorehua – sworn

I am one of the owners. I owned all 7D. We worked for eels at ## and Maramahoe for eels and Takiri and my claim extends to the gate=. Karanama’s claim extends to yellow line. My father was always known as owner from Te Konganui to yellow line. Tuturu – my father’s slave was the biggest chief. Others had slaves who pointed out places for them. He gave it to us for sparing his life. He was taken at Haowhenua. After the battle, Ngati Huia came on the land and each set came to the places pointed out by their slaves. Tamihana got his title through three slaves. Mkao was the name of the slave who gave him his title.

Karanama is a Ngati Hupehapae.

My father cultivated at Porotawhao. Karanama’s land goes from gate to Karaka and from Kaikai to east end of 7D. The three hapu’s had land from “v to v” in sketch. They got eels at Mapau. They had cultivated at Karaka eel workings at Te Wharawara.

Karanama Te Kapukai – sworn

I am son of Tumumahoe.

I never objected to Ngati Huia living on this land. Through my ancestors I came to 7D. I came just after the battle at Kaiapoi. 4 hapu’s including Ngati Huia came with me. I settled at Parawaewae. We had an eel weir at Ngakawaniti at Makomako.

Tangimate belonged to Tamihana and Ngati Huia. The yellow line is my ancient boundary. It runs to the mountains. The 3 hapu’s should have this boundary as theirs.

The blue line was only laid off in 1878. I objected. Tonganui is mine. I allowed Pita to come within the fence C. The three tribes hold it permanently. The middle portion has been bitterly contested. Blood was spilt at the yellow line. Kapa was struck there by Tamihana.

By court

Kapa has no land only a house at □. He put the house there to set up a claim. He has no right. There are no cultivations outside the fence C. B. Whatanui’s mana never came on to this land.

By Tamihana

Te Mapau is the boundary. We cut Kuku for eel baskets at 8. You never disturbed our eel baskets at Mapau. I gave it to the 3 hapu’s. Ngamanea have a right having cultivations and houses on it. My father gave it to them – Whakahewa - I did not put there. Mahi, Matau Tauaki lived on this land after I went to Otaki. These hapu would have to go if I objected. The mana of this land was Ngati Huia’s.

You are descended from him. I have no house in Te Manea’s place. I gave you permission to build a house but told you not to take my land. I allowed your house to stand there but not to take land. It was Rakapa my wife who answered you when you asked to build a house. Hohua had no title on that contested part. He takes money from Davis on account of being my cousin he brings it to me.

Tamihana Te Hoia

There was a middle line between the yellow and blue line cut by Hape for a boundary.

Hape

I admit there was but it was cut to prevent bloodshed.

Court was asked to go and determine boundaries as given by evidence.

Bush portion east of blue line and X

Tatana

People, get a right in the bush from their cultivations outside of it. They carry their right into the bush fom their right outside respectively. The road ran thus (where pencilled on plan R). It was to enable us to get birds, pigs etc. We got birds at whana Tipene and Te Koru got birds there.

Mata and Hoani got them south of the line. They found a Muaupoko house there. Ngati Manea took birds at Waituhe and Waiahere. Pita, child of Arihia, died there. She was related to Hutana. Te Pahao was lost there. Then all bird snaring ceased also pig hunting for 2 years. We then reopened it. Arihia had tapued it. Manea is the principal hapu who took birds along here. There are no cultivations. The tutu’s a re still on the land and gave us a title.

By Assessor

There were no Tutumana’s (bird snaring houses) north east of Kouranui Stream. No eel weirs in the forest.

Hapi Rangitewhata

I support Tatana’s statement.

Te Whanga was mine and Pene’s. Killed pigs there. I was only there once.

The bush is Ngati Huia’s. 4 hapu’s laid off the yellow line in the bush as I was at the touble of taking land through the court in 1874. £25 was paid by us all for new survey. I wish all 4 hapu’s to be put into all this block of bush. Hakaraia has no cultivations at X. He has on the outside of the bush.

Ponaha Ngarepo

I wish all 4 hapu’s to go into this block. We want to talk outside.

Court adjourned at 5.30 pm.

Identification