Friday 13th December 1878
Court opened at 10 am.
Present – the same
Turangarahui – continued
Wi Parata applied to have the court adjourned at 1 pm in order to meet the Native Minister who had arrived and they wished to consult him on various matters connected with the district.
Granted
Pitihera Te Kuru – sworn
I live at Manawatu and belong to Ngati Turanga.
I know this block. I know the northern boundary it is the Raukawa’s. the line running to the point of the rahui is ours it is an old boundary between Ngati Kiri, Ngati Raukawa and Ngati Turanga. Ngati rarangi is on the eastern side. The western line of the Rahui block was laid down by us the object of N. line was to separate our land from Hapeta’s he Poria and Arama Karaka represented their side in laying down the boundary the same as between us and Ngati Raukawa the line were thoroughly discussed by us beforehand.
There was a previous survey by Ngati Huia which ran from Te Maire to ------ between us and Ngati Raukawa. The present survey is a new one by Ngati Huia. Those mentioned by Pineaha and Roiri are correct.
Ngati Raukawa knew we owned this portion that is why they consented to the boundary.
We had bird snares in the middle of the block also karaka groves. I first settled on the land after Haowhenua and remained on it up to the time of Christianity my father’s cultivations were at this clearing Wharemakatea.
They remained on the land until their title was established and then went and took up fresh lands they went to Himatangi. I was grown up at the time of Kuititanga. Ngati Huia at this time had no cultivations nor had they settled on the land. I heard that Tamihana Hoia’s father had worked on the banks of the Otaki it has since been swept away. I never saw it.
The chief place of Ngati Huia was at Katihiku and Porotawhao. At the time of Haowhenua and up to Kuititanga and afterwards Ngati Raukawa held these lands excluding Ngati Huia through these fights.
I do not know whether Rauparaha and Ngati Toa had sole mana over these lands before these fights.
Whatanui belonged to Ngati Huia. Pineaha said when Rauparaha’s slaves went on to the land Whatanui opposed it.
I recollect Matene son of Rangihaeata partly belonged to Ngati Huia. I heard him say at Otaki Land Court that Otaki River was the boundary of the Ngati Huia claims (south of it). When they left this some remained to look after it. Some of the half castes Peene Arama and others ran sheep on this land my sister and brother in law objected.
Our people still remained in possession.
By Dr Buller
I was son of Te Kuru. The person was one of the original occupants, Kuru went to Himatangi we were all as descendants of Kuru and others put into the Himatangi block. We went there about 1840 to divide the land and then came back we made division of the land and left some persons to take care of it. They remained on the land one division and one on this land. Te Rautea stayed at Himatangi
Te Kuru also stayed. Apera Te Pahu also stayed. Te Kahi Pane also Rangihewea, Rangitukia remained on this land he is dead he had no issue. Ripeka Katerina Ripeka’s husband was Mahauariki father of Pineaha Mahauariki stayed. Ripeka stayed in the mana of her father Rangihewea who went to Himatangi Ripeka was married before her father went to Himatangi her settlement was outside and cultivations inside.
Katarina’s husband was Hakaraia Te Rei of Ngati Pare and principally lived in Otaki.
Mereka’s husband was Parakaia Te Pohepa he was the chief claimant in the Himatangi case he belonged to Ngati Turanga. Tuhangahanga was Parakaia’s father he died north.
I do not know that Ngati Huia have had any land awarded to them on this side of the Otaki.
Manahi belongs to Ngati Huia and is the principal man in the Tawarea block which is on this side of the river. Ngati Huia have proved their title to another block on this side called Rekereke. Paremata, also on this side, has been given to Ngati Huia. Takapuokoroheko was also awarded to Ngati Huia. Whatanui was the fighting chief he belonged to Ngati Huia, Rangihaeata was another he belonged to Ngati Huia. Rauparaha and Rangihaeata were the principal chiefs in the dispute about this land. Ngati Huia and all hapu’s of Ngati raukawa took part in the fights at Haowhenua and Kuititanga.
The northern boundary line, the line was made by Ngati Maiotaki and Ngati Kiri. The western end of the line was an ancient line, pencil line on the tracing was the one we agreed on in 1874. Ngati Huia were not present they were near and I suppose heard of it.
It was a meeting of the hapu’s concerned we did not invite Ngati Huia. On the east of the line – Ngati Maiotaki, Ngati Kiri and Ngati Rarangi are entitled.
I don’t know if they have sold to government. The west boundary of Rahui was laid down at the same time. Ngati Huia did not attend. I heard Pineaha say that there were two men of Ngati Huia on the south side of the stream. I don’t know if it is correct. I heard that Ngati Huia laid off the boundary from Te Maire. I never heard if it was disputed. I never worked myself on this land but my sister did.
Te Whare Makatea belonged to Ngati Rakau and died at Manawatu during my visit to my sister extending at times to a month. I never saw Ngati Huia there besides the women I mentioned there was one man Rangitukia who died childless. It was very recently sheep were put on the land.
Xed by Rawiri
The object of the line shown in pencil was to separate Ngati Raukawa and -----. I have never heard of Ngati Huia having any land on the eastern portion of this block. Ngati Maiotaki, Ngati Kiri and Ngati Rarangi belonged to the eastern side.
Ngati Huia did not consult Ngati Kiri, Ngati Maiotaki or Ngati Rarangi as to survey of this block. I heard of the adjudication in 1874 of the eastern portion of this block.
I have always seen these three hapu’s as owners of Waihoanga and Ringawhati. I heard they claimed the Wairingauroroa in 1874 in order to give them a claim to Waiohanga.
Manahi had no cultivations or houses on Ringawhati.
Parakaia lived at Otaki as his permanent abode not Manawatu he has a claim on Himatangi.
By the court for Hema Te Ao
Hapeta Te Rangakatakua – sworn
I live at Otaki and belong to Ngati Kikopiri.
I know this land the western boundary of the rahui block is ours. It is ours we claim. On the west side is Ngati Turanga’s land. Our hapu is a section of Ngati Huia our common ancestor is Huia. I don’t consider Ngati Huia have any right on the western land (Rahui). Ngati Huia in 1874 bought up this question about the land failed. This line was laid down after Ngati Huia had been defeated.
Xed by dr Buller
I knew Kaiawakura was awarded to Ngati Huia this side of Otaki.
By Rawiri
I heard that Ngati Maiotaki were concerned in laying down this boundary.
I know of no place in the eastern side of this block belonging to Tamihana. Ringawhati is included in the survey of this block.
Ngati Huia’s principal pa’s were Katihiku and Porotawhao if Ngati Huia had known that the line between them and Ngati Maiotaki they would have consulted them.
Rawiri Wanui – sworn
I live at Otaki and belong to Ngati Maiotaki.
I know part of the northern boundary it is between us and Ngati Turanga they joined us in this line because they were interested in Turangarahui. I have seen them living and working there. Their cultivations are near ours and I could see them. I have seen them there from the coming of Raukawa.
I could not speak about Ngati Huia cultivations there for I have never seen any Ngati Maiotaki and other hapu’s have cultivated kumara in the clearing.
We cultivated two years at the time Christianity we arranged with Ngati Turanga to cultivate there. We applied to Ripeka. Ngati Huia did not come and object. When the mill race was cut Ngati Turanga was the hapu who had to do with it.
Xed by Dr Buller
We do not claim where we cultivated. I know Ramari. She belonged to Ngati Huia. She married my nephew. I do not know it was through her we cultivated.
Wi Perahama husband of Ripeka he belonged to Ngati Pare and lived on the land. Hanara Rangitukia died childless.
Waharahi belonged to other tribes he came as a slave Pineaha and Kiharoa’s. Kiharoa is dead.
By Rawiri Rota
Ngati Huia did not join us in laying down this northern boundary. Ngati Huia has no land inside the northern boundary. My hapu, Ngati Kiri and Ngati Ngarongo are the hapu’s on the east side of the line.
Ngati Huia have no works on the land what there are, are ours.
Ururoa owns the Rahui and the eastern part belongs to Hape. Ngati Huia do not claim there.
(Case of Ngati Turanga and others)
Rawiri Roto stated that his case rested entirely on the evidence given.
Court adjourned at 1 pm.
