More Info →Otaki Maori Land Court Minutebook - 8 December 1900.

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Saturday 8^th December 1900

Otaki

Court opened at 10 am.

Present – the same

No. 79 MUHUNOA No. 1 continued

Hipera Eruera te Whioi sworn

I know the land but don’t understand maps.

I propose to commence with the tuku to Te Ao immediately after the tuku we all went there. Te Ao, Ko Pare, Hauti, Taimona. We settled at Little Ohau the kainga was known as Muhunoa. We went to Kauae pango to clear the land.

I don’t know whether Hamua settled with us, or whether it happened afterwards. Can’t say whether Hamua or Ngati Pare went there first. We cleared the land at Kauaepango.

I was born at Muhunoa. Do not remember the Kuititanga. Was grown up at the time we shifted from Kauepango was a tamaiti at the time that Rangihaeata went to Muhunoa. Was at Otaki when the court sat in 1874 at the time the Muhunoa block was dealt with. When we left Kauaepango we settled at Muhunoa fro the purpose of encroaching on Hukiki’s land. Rotokare is near the beach.

My mother cultivated at Te Aruhe takaka. I don’t know of the mahinga of Te Kanawa on the land.

I kaha te wadatete e tuku mother kia Hukiki i runga i te tuku o Ngati Toa ki te Ao. Ka wakatupu taonga au ki tera whenua ki Muhunoa.

My Tuakana are buried there. 3 of my tukana’s – Te Ahuarangi, remake, Te Kaka are buried there.

Te Ao lived at Otaki and afterwards went to Manawatu where he died was buried here.

Te rauti died at Otaki.

Ka whawhai te Roera kia Hare Hemi. Hei wakatete ka kia Hare Hemi kaore i riro i a te Roera. This happened after the tuku made by Te Ao to Hare Hemi. It happened at Kirikiri near Te Aruhe takaka.

Katahi ka tonoa ma ii taku whaea kia Hare Hemi raua ko te Ao. Katahi ka wehea matou ka haere ki te Kirikiri.

We separated from Hukiki when we shifted to Te Kirikiri. Ngatituhaua cleared the forest under the direction of Te Puke. Ngati Tukorehe, Te Mateawa and Te Puke directed them to clear the land. My mother cooked food for the workers.

Ngatituhaua and Te Mateawa returned to their own part of the land. Ka noho tuturu matou ki te Kirikiri ara ko

Ko Puke

Ko Hipora

Pare

Katerina te Puke

Inia and Hakaraia

Hoani Tawhiri

Tuainuku came to break down our fence. Te Puke took away his one Rumaki was another who went with Tuainuku. The whawhai i muri ko te wera o whango. Puke and others were contending with Tuainuku and others. Te Puke gained the day hei tauwanapana. Te Aruhe takaka Te Roera and Te Puke quarreled about. Koia oku wakatetetetetanga i kite e au i noho ai e au. Ka whaia au taku taepa ka mauria ki te Aruhe takaka.

The land was after wards ploughed. Roera and Tuainuku afterwards attempted to destroy the fence. The land was afterwards taken before the court.

The whawhai wakamutunga was before the court at Manawatu. The reason why we occupied was because of relationship to Te Puke and Te ao. Parakaia wanted me to go to Himatangi but I did not want to do so.

Na Te Puke te kupu kia haere atu au.

I have stated all my case and have indicated the various takes I claim from. The first attempt to adjust matters was at Ropata’s kainga. Self, Ropata, Hema and Inia were present.

I separated 100 acres for nga take kore katahi au ka taea kia whaea te taha kia mana. 200 acres were allotted by Ropata. I asked him for another 100. He gave me 60 acres. Would not consent. Ropata said Kati, let it be for our next meeting.

Click on view to see genealogy line – Page 235

About a week after we met again all the people of the block.

It was left for Hema to conduct the proceedings. Hema set apart 330 acres for us and the take kores, me uru atu au ki roto ki era.

Hema then apportioned me 100 acres and fro the others including the take kores 230 acres. Ka riri au ki tera wakaritenga ka koroeromai eia ka whiu au ka reira hei kai mo te tuna.

Afterwards it was proposed by the court that we should go outside and adjust matters, but we did not meet. I tried again to see Ropata, but did not succeed in settling anything. Afterwards Hema te Ao offered me another 100 in addition to the first offer which made up the quantity to 200 acres.

HEMA TE AO xd

I have told the court that the land was given to Te Ao. Nona i runga i te tuku. He was the tungane of my mother.

I tika te Ngati Pare koia te hangai tanga onga tangata. When Te Puke was on the land no runga i te mana o te tuku kia Te Ao i noho ai. Na te noho o toku whaea ki reira i mau ai tenei whenua, ka riro ia Hukiki. Te Ao did occupy. Ka noho tuturu taku whaea ki reira i raro i te mana o Te Ao. Te Ao died at Manawatu and was brought to Otaki and buried.

I did not say that Te Ao remained on the land. He returned to Otaki. He left my mother on the land and she prevented the land from being encroach led on by Roera Hukiki. Te Ao died at Manawatu and was brought back to Otaki to be buried. My mother remained on the land. After Te Ao’s death Te Puke was the kai wakahaere o te whenua me taku whaene.

I know all about matters concerning the land at that time. My mother was dead when the land came before the court. My children were grown up at that date. I heard of the Hoko by Roera Hukiki to the government of his own part only. I don’t know whether Te Roera’s hoko was objected to or not by our party. Hei mea nui take o Te Puke ki tenei whenua I have admitted that before. Roera and others let the land to Teone Kebbell. I can’t say if it was before the block came before the court.

It was outside on Roera’s own part. Did not see the stock of Teo Kapara or Teone Knocks on the land. I have stated that I don’t know about the lease to Mr Kebbell or Mr Knocks. I don’t know that my mother was at Waiwiri living at that time she did go to Waiwiri to get pipi’s but returned on to the land again.

Hei mea tuku mai no Te Paea tetahi whai ki taku whaea ki Waiwiri. My mother did not live at Waiwiri. The part on the Hills (2000 acres) was allotted to Te Puke and Ropata te Ao they were the only persons in the title but it was intended that we should get a share of the proceeds when it was sold. The land was sold and self, Tiapo and others got a share of the proceeds I got £70 I don’t know how much Hoani Taipua and Tiapo got.

I was contented with my share. I don’t know how much the land was sold for. I did not ask Te Puke to tell me how much he received to the land. If Te Puke was alive he would be the proper person to conduct the apportionment of the land. Te Puke is dead and Ropata te Ao is the person who represents him now. He is the man who has allotted me 100 acres. Te Puke would not have treated me so I can’t admit that I am only entitled to 100 acres. Te Puke had stock on the land at the time we lived at Te Kirikiri, but my mothers stock had been on the land before that time. It was after the court sat that Te Puke put sheep on the land at Te Wera a Whango. Don’t know whether it was in 1874 or not.

In 1866 Te Puke put sheep at Te Aruhe o takaka. After 1874, Te Puke put sheep on the land. I heard that you turned Nikora off the land after the death of Te Puke. If Te Puke had lived Nikora would not have been disturbed. I admit the tuku kia te Ao but my mother remained on the land to keep Roera Hukiki off. Tiapo is the nearest of kin to Te Poa. Hoani Taipua is also related.

It was I who consented to Te Puke and Ropata being put in the title. The ridge pole of Rangiatea was obtained from Ohau no Tarare. Did not hear that Te Ao had consented to the tree being out for the purpose. I heard that Te Puke gave land at Waitohu. Te Puke and Te Ao were admitted to the land given to Te Hau.

I pohehe pea ki au, i kore au e wakarerea.

I lived at Muhunoa and did not live at Waitohu that is the reason why I was not admitted to Waitohu. Hei mahinga no Te Raute at Harakeke that was the reason why a right was obtained Te Raute was a Tuakana of Te Pare.

My mother did not live at Pukehou.

Hinerau had a take at Totaranui, i uru mai maua ko te Puke. Na te wakapapa i ki kei te rite ta maua paanga ko te Roera.

My mother also protected the land from encroachment by Roera Hukiki. That is another take.

INIA HOANI xd

My mother died at Ohau and is buried there. I know of land let to Teone Kepara. Ropata, Inia and others granted the lease at Te Aruhe o takaka. It was Hema who allotted the land to us.

Ropata offered 250 acres. I got a share of the proceeds because Te Puke was a brother of mine. You and Hakaraia were born at Ohau on Hare’s block.

Case adjourned till the 10^th instant.

No. 599 ERANA WANUI deceased

Application for Probate

Alfred J. Knocks Applicant

Mr Harper appealed for Riria Knocks one of the deceased’s daughters. Did not intend to raise any question against the validity of the Will. Was merely present to watch the interest of the members of the family who were not named in the Will.

THE COURT pointed out that if the Will was likely to be questioned it would be advisable that the points should be raised now as Mr Franklin one of the attesting witnesses was present and could be examined as to the capacity of the Testratrix at the time the Will was made. Mr Harper stated that it was not intended to raise any question as to the validity of the Will. The main objection was the exclusion of the majority of the deceased’s children from the Will.

2/

A.KNOCKS sworn.

I knew the late Erana Wanui. She left a Will. Will produced and identified by the witness. Will read out.

I am the Alfred Knocks named in the will as trustee and executor I desire to obtain probate – the land owned by the deceased at the time of her death were Sections 134, 135 Otaki.

Section 12E Haruatai

Section 9C Waiorongomai

Section 1 Waiorongomai

Interest in Moutere Otaki also in certain lands at Taranaki and in the Waikato District. The deceased had issue eight children

Maria Carment (f), Annie Patihona (f), Karoraina Knocks (f), Mere Ruiha Hakaraia (f), Heneti Pahika (f), Riria Knocks (f), Manihera te Rau (m), Harawira te Rau

The two last are the only members of the family who are included in the will. Mere, Ruiha Hakaraia and Heneti Pahika are the only members of the family who have any land.

THE COURT pointed out that some of the lands are restricted and would not pass by the will. Irrespective of that the court was required under Section 46 to enquire in cases where a deceased native left a Will to a person other than successor whether the successor had other land in this particular case the Will was only in favour of two of the rightful successors out of eight (8) persons who would have been entitled to succeed had there been no Will. It will be necessary therefore to ascertain whether the six persons who do not participate under the Will have other land and for the purpose of distributing the real estate in the manner intended should it prove on inquiry to be necessary it is advisable that a full list of the area and value of the real estate be prepared and submitted to enable a satisfactory apportionment to be made. Application postponed for that purpose.

No. 689 HIMATANGI No. 2

Application to succeed to Katarina te Hana

Rangiutaina Utiku applicant. Deceased died 13^th October 1900 had two children Rangiutaina Utiku (f) and Mere Hira Waka (f).

Ordered in favour of above equally

5/ paid

No. 691 MAN KUK No. 3 Section 1A No. 30

Application to succeed to KATARINA TE HANA

Rangiutaina Utiku applicant. Same evidence as before. Mere Hiria and Rangiutaina Utiku asked the court to leave out their names in the order for the deceased’s interest in ManKuk No. 3 Section 1A No. 30 and make an order in favour of Hemaima Tangiiho Utiku (5 years in February next) an adopted child of the deceased.

Both parties having expressed themselves in favour of this proposal the court ordered that Hemaima Tangiiho Utiku (f aged 5 years and nine months) be appointed to succeed her late grandmother in the a foresaid Section.

TRUSTEES appointed for minor rangiutaina Utiku and Utiku Hapeta Rangikatuakina.

5/ paid

No. 700 MAN KUK No. 3 Sec 1A

Application to succeed to Katarina te Hana

Dismissed

No. 674 AORERE SECTION 15 Block A

Application to succeed to INIA TE HUNAHUNA

Te Teira applicant. Deceased died 28^th March 1898 left one son Teira Inia Uenuku. Ordered in favour of

5/ paid

No. 675 AORERE G SECTION 2

Application to succeed to INIA TE HUNAHUNA

Same evidence – Same order

Order 5/ paid

No. 676 AORERE F SECTION 1 part

Application to succeed to INIA TE HUNAHUNA

Same evidence – Same order

5/ paid

No. 677 AORERE SECTION 13

Application to succeed to INIA TE HUNAHUNA

Same evidence – Same order

5/ paid

No. 701 N Z COS TENTHS NELSON

Application to succeed to INIA TE HUNAHUNA

Duplicate dismissed

No. 678 AORERE SECTION 9 Reserve J Block 14

Application to succeed to INIA TE HUNAHUNA

Same evidence, same order.

Order 5/ paid

Court adjourned till the 10^th instant

Identification