Tuesday 13th September 1881
Place – the same Present – the same
Waerenga – continued
Rikihana Te Tarure – sworn
I am of Ngati Koroki. I live at Otaki. I am also of Ngati Tuheia of Ngati Raukawa.
I know the land before the court. In 1853, I came here from Waikato. I was born at Otaki before that.
I saw Te Rei Paehua and Hori Ngawhare on this land in 1853.
In 1855, I went to plant Ngawhare’s potatoes with a large party on this land. I saw no other people there then.
In 1857, I went to Te Rekereke and I saw Horomona there. A woman called Heni Te Rei asked me to come and plough her land at Te Rekereke. I then at that time ploughed the land of Horomona and his wife Amiria.
After 1860, I saw Ropata Hurumutu and Ngahuka working on this land – the land before the court.
After 1870, I saw Horomona working on this land. I heard that he had asked permission to go there from Ngahuka. I can’t say how long between Hori’s occupation and Ngahuka’s occupation – I heard that the land was Hori’s. I don’t know that Nepia I or Nepia II has any land in this district.
Horomona had no land in Otaki. I heard that his land was at Maringiawai.
Xed by McLean
I have heard of Nepia Taratoa I. I don’t know whether he came with Te Rauparaha. I never heard so.
I did not hear that Nopera fought at Te Kuititanga. Te Rauparaha was the principal chief of his time. It was he destroyed the people of this country. I heard of Te Rauparaha’s fame . It is lately I heard of Nepia. I did not hear that he came with Rauparaha. I did not hear that Nepia’s mana was second only to Rauparaha. I have not heard of Nepia Taratoa’s Pou.
No one has reminded me of the dates I have named since this case was called on. No one spoke to me about them. Tiemi Ranapiri knew that I could give these dates by intuition.
When Hori and co worked on this land they lived in Otaki. They had no houses on the land. I have never seen a house on the land. I have only seen a fence on it.
After 1870, I saw Horomona’s house on it. I meant that I had never seen a house before 1870. Horomona’s is the only house I ever saw on this land. According to Maori custom, he could build these by consent of owners. The other owners did not build there because they had houses in the town.
I have remained in Otaki continuously since 1853. I was away at Cambridge court for 2 months. I claim land in Waikato. All my land has been confiscated. I would have a claim to it otherwise. I would still have a claim through my parents living there. It is necessary to cultivate land to retain a claim on it.
Xed by Tame Ranapiri
This land was cut up before my arrival in 1853.
I only saw Hori and others working on it. I know Hori had other land in this locality. He had a piece adjoining this piece.
I worked on the south east boundary outside this block on Hori’s land under Riria’s mana. Ngati Huri was with Hori on this land in 1853. Ngati Huri kainga was then another Waerenga, that adjoining your place. I never heard that Hori lived on that other Waerenga near your fence. I don’t know of a sacred place of Hori’s there.
I never heard that Riria sold that Waerenga to Dr Hewson.
I heard that Horomona asked Ngahuka for leave to go on this land. It was generally known. It was by Ngahuka’s permission that he occupied it. Ngahuka gave it to Horomona to work on it only.
Since 1870, I heard the land before the court had been returned to Riria. Horomona was then working on this land. According to Maori custom it would be right to give permission to a person to cultivate land and while he was working it to give it to another person.
I can’t say when Hori and others ceased to work on this land. Horomona was the last person who worked on this land. Since 1870, no one went to disturb Horomona’s occupation of this land.
Re-exed by Tiemi Ranapiri
It was not Rauparaha cut up the land in this district for occupation nor even Nepia, Nepia, Te Whatanui, Kiharoa and others are alike in rank under Rauparaha.
This land was never worked before Hori and others worked it.
I saw part of this land in bush and part cleared, this was the first time I saw it. Horomona’s whare on this land was not a dwelling but a potato store.
By court
I was in Rauparaha’s time. I never saw his doings.
By Tiemi Ranapiri
Morgan Carkeek – sworn
I am a licensed surveyor. I heard Winiata’s statement yesterday. I never informed him that this land had been already granted.
By McLean
He applied to me to survey it. He may have done so more than once. It is sometime ago, about three years perhaps, before this survey was made.
I did not make it because he was a mere boy. I have not known boys to own land.
I can remember that he told me he was instructed by Nepia and Erenora. Wven had he, I would have acted the same. There was an application before the last court for this land. I think it was James Ranapiri’s.
There was a plan but an adjournment was asked for.
Re-exed by Tiemi Ranapiri
I don’t know that you applied, when Capt Heale was Judge, to have your title to this land investigated.
Mr McLean addressed on behalf of Nepia Taratoa.
Tamati Ranapiri addressed on behalf of Hana Hunia.
Tiemi Ranapiri addressed as claimant.
Morgan Carkeek applied for £4.4.0 cost of survey – admitted.
Court said it would give judgment on Thursday.
Ohau No. 1
Winiata Pataka asked to have Newira Nikitini h.c to be appointed trustee for Akuhata HHemini.
Ordered
Also
Ohau No. 3
That Newira Nikitini be appointed trustee for the same infant.
Ordered
Opaekete
Do do
Ordered
Tuahiwi No. 7
Heare Roera asked to have Mere Tamati Roti appointed trustee for Riria Wirihana (9 years).
Ordered
Ngakaroro No. 7A
Kipa Whatanui asked to be appointed trustee for Wiremu Kipa (m, 11 years), Moroati Kiap (m, 8 years) and Riria Mere Kipa (f, 9 years).
Ordered
Kaingaraki No. 7
Henare Roera asked to have Mere Tamati Roti to be appointed trustee for Riria Wirihana (f, 9 years).
26 Whakahokiatapango No. 4 (40) – continued from page 334 of Book 4
Mohi Heremia - sworn
I live at Otaki. I am of Ngati Tukorehe and Ngati Kapu of Ngati raukawa.
I know the land described in the map. I did not go to see the boundaries. It belongs to my tupuna Hone Te Tihi.
I don’t claim the whole but a part of this block. The part my ancestor cultivated was not a chain broad and perhaps 3 chains long. My father worked on this piece. I was then quite a child. My grandfather seized this land when Ngati Raukawa came here. He told me this. It was then all bush and fern. My grandfather cleared the bush from this piece.
Te Kanawa alone disturbed him. I can’t say whether Karanama’s statement that he had always lived and worked on this piece is true or false.
I was as high as the table when my grandfather worked on this land. His cultivation was on the north side of this piece. It is about 18 years since my father ceased to work on this piece. He went to Oroua with two children named Makarita and Rawiri.
Karanama worked on the south part then. After my grandfather left, Karanama took possession of the wholepiece for cultivation. My friends did not disturb Karanama because he was related to us.
Hone Te Tihi is our grandfather. Hone Te Tihi, Rawiri Te Tihi and Heremia Te Tihi died. The last of these died in 1871. After their death Karanama leased this piece to Tiemi Ranapiri.
I came and objected. I prevented part of the payment. The lease ended. Rapata Ranapiri came to me then.
Xed by Karanama Whakaheke
I don’t remember the cutting up of this land. My grandfather told me it had been done. Te Kanawa’s land was on the southern boundary. I don’t remember of Roera Hukiki coming to lay out the southern boundary line. I did not see the boundary laid down.
I know I objected to your lease of this land. My marks on this land are the cultivations of my parents. I cannot now find my parents mark because the whole piece has been ploughed up. I did not know you were going to survey it or I would have opposed you. Tiemi Ranapiri told me that you had leased this land to him.
I objected to your younger brother leasing this land to a pakeha named Harper and that if the pakeha gave me no money I said I would make trouble. Harper’s horses are there still.
Makarita Te Tihe – sworn
I live at Oroua. I am of Ngati Kapu and Ngati Tukorehe.
I know the land before the court. My father seized this piece when this country was cut up. He and Te Kanawa had a fight over it that same day. My father continued to hold it. He cleared it and planted it. I assisted him.
In the second year, my father gave a part of it to Karanama’s father Te Whakaeke so that he might grow food for himself. They occupied for many years until the king movement. Then we went to Oroua. My father retained the larger portion.
Te Whakaheke did not seize any land here near Otaki. Tauaki was the piece he caught. I was present when this land was cut up and seized by my father. Whakaheke was not there then. Te Wano, Hakaria Henewia, Te Ra Hakopa and Te Kanawa and I were all there then. Karania never disputed my occupation of this land.
Xed by Karanama Whakaheke
This piece was cut up in the time of the second migration. I came with the first migration. You have only just lately laid down those boundaries. You came to fence the piece given to you.
Re-exed by Mohi
Karama would be grandchild to my father. Had the Native Land Act been in force, my father would have objected to Karanama.
Court adjourned until 10 am tomorrow.
