Thursday May 29th 1873
At the Native Hostelry – Wellington
Present – John Rogan Esquire – Judge Hemi Tautari, Hare Wirikake and Mitai Pene Pani – Assessors
Court opened at 11 am.
Ngarara
Wi Parata said – I wish to call 4 witnesses viz
Ropata Hurumutu, Nopera Te Ngiha, Rapihana Te Otetoka, Poihipi, Ihakara Ngarara.
Wi Parata – sworn
I claim the triangular piece outside of that on the large plan and shown on the tracing from Pukahue to Maingakawa and Pukemoremore where there is a try station and thence to Tararua. The boundary of the Heretaunga Block as stated in the deed produced at Waikanae.
When Ngati Toa sold the land described in the deed produced at Waikanae the boundary as stated by me to Pukemoremore was agreed upon as the land to be reserved for ourselves extending from that boundary to Kukutauaki. This boundary was clearly indicated not simply pointed out. The other boundary called at the time of this sale is Pawhakataka between Pukemoremore and Tararua Range. Mangaroa was mentioned also. It is outside the boundary. The time the adjoining land was sold, this boundary was confirmed to us and we believed it to be the boundary of our land up to the time of the survey.
Xed by crown agent
Which of the two deeds produced at Waikanae do you refer to as admitting the boundary? The big deed.
Are the boundaries described in that deed those you point out? Yes. There was land sold seaward of Pukemoremore. At the first sale, no particular boundaries were laid down. At the second sale the boundary was laid down from Pukemoremore to Pukahere (Pawhakataka – Paparaupanga and Pukemoremore)
Was there any previous sale of land north of this block? There was not a sale. The only portion is mentioned in the small deed produced by the crown agent at Waikanae. It was a survey of £140 paid on account.
You heard the deed read at Waikanae? I did. Portion of description read. This deed (the large one) was afterwards.
Is the boundary you now claim the boundary described in this (the large) deed? Yes. The inland boundary is.
Which side of the boundary line just pointes out does this deed refer to? The land outside of the inland boundary of this block, also the land outside of the boundary of the bottom portion. I do not claim the land between ------ and the boundary as indicated by me. That is crown land but the boundaries of I have stated were agreed by the chiefs.
Is this crown land? Yes.
By virtues of the sale in this deed? No. By the sale of Ngati Kahungunu.
Then this is not the line described on the deed 26th November 1858? We believe that is the boundary of what Ngati Kahungunu sold and we adopt it. The line from Pararaupanga to Weraroa was the land described in the deed of November 26th 1858.
Are you aware of a sale of land by Ngati Toa and Ngati Raukawa northward of Weraroa and Paparaupanga? Yes. That is the second sale. There were two instalments. The last deed related to the last payment.
Xed by the court
Do you know Wareroa? I do.
Is it west of road to Whanganui?
What is the distance between Whareroa and -----? 4 ½ to 5 miles. I have not seen Pawhakataka but I have heard of it. I have been to Pukemoremore. I do not know Paparaupanga. I have heard of it.
Court adjourned until 2 pm.
At 2 pm the court resumed.
Present – the same and Wi Tako.
Mr. Wardell called three times – no answer.
Court stated that in consequence of the absence of the crown agent the court would adjourn till 10 am tomorrow and that if then he (Mr. Wardell) was absent the case would go on in his absence.
Court adjourned until 10 am tomorrow.
