Saturday November 30th 1872
Court opened at 10 am.
Present – His Honor Judges Rogan & Smith H. Tautari – Assessor
T Young – Interpreter W. Grey – Clerk
Ihaia Whakamairu – sworn
I live at Masterton and belong to Ngatikahungungu tribe.
I know the land described on the plan before the court.
In 1840 we commenced to come from Nukutaurua in 1837 or 1838. We commenced thinking about returning as the fighting’s had ceased. At that Tutepakeherangi and Te Were a Ngapuhi, they began to talk about coming back because they had got guns. They agreed to do so in 1841. We arrived at Waiarapa. Matiaha gave evidence as to the peace making between us and Wharepouri. I corroborate his evidence in that point. We did not ask for peace.
Tauwharerata Wairarapa was where Wharepouri was beaten. His wife, Uimairangi was allowed to escape. He himself was not captured. His children were taken by Ngatikahungungu to Nukutaiurua. When Wharepori’s wife escaped to him he began to have some thought of making peace.
After this when his daughter and her Ngatikahungungu husband went to Wellington, Wharepouri had made up his mind to make peace and he went up in a ship to Nukutaurua with his nephews. When we first thought of coming back, it was with the intention of fighting Ngatiawa. People in Ngukutaurua had embraced Christianity at the time of Wharepouri’s going there. The chief of Ngatikahungungu went down to Wellington in the ship, after this, peace was made. We found on our arrival at Wairarapa that Ngatiawa had some idiot previously sold Wellington to Colonel Wakefield.
In 1843, the land purchase commissioner went to Wairarapa. The Ngatikahungungu commenced to sell Tararua commencing from Turakina and extending to the Pukuratahi at the foot of the Rimutaka Range and thence the boundary ran to the sourcing the Tawherenikau thence along the base of the Tararua up the Wairarapa Valley to Waingaura from thence to the source of the Ruamahanga thence to Makaihuku near the source of the Ohau.
In 1854, the land opposite the northern portion of this block was sold, it was called Ruamahanga, was sold. There were no disputes with other tribes about the boundaries which I had fixed for these sales. The boundary was not fixed as a boundary between us Ngatitoa, Ngatiawa or Ngatiraukawa. The only persons we considered were the others of the five tribes who lived on this side of the range. There was only one man named Taringakuri who said anthing about the sale at Turakirai. All the chiefs of Ngatiawa did not approve of what he said. They said as Ngatikahungungu had returned to their own place to let them deal with the land. In laying off that boundary on the Tararua we thought that all the land on this side of the range should combine to sell it and by the notices which has been issued in the kahiti.
We see that Ngatiraukawa are claiming an interest in Tararua. I think they intend to claim up to the boundary I laid down. The government say that there is no land between the boundary of this block now before the court and the land on the other side of the range purchased by government.
I know the boundary of the land sold to government. In 1871, the new line is the boundary. The only land the Ngatiawa sold was Wellingtion and the Upper Hutt.
The Ngatikahungungu are not aware that the commissioner ever purchased land on the western side of the range of Tararua. We urged our claim on the government for the land sold by Ngatiawa at Wellington and the Hutt. The government agreed to our request that some money should be paid in account of the land so sold. Ngatikahungungu urged their right to this and to all the land sold by Ngatiawa from Wellingtion to the boundary of land now before the court.
All the chiefs from Wairarapa Hawkes Bay Ngatitoa, Muaupoko, and the whole of the five tribes were in Wellington at the time. The Ngatikahungungu urged their claim upon the government. They agreed to do what we wanted. A claim was then urged for land in the middle island sold by Ngatiawa and Ngatitoa. Neither of these tribes objected because the claim was made to the government. They said it was a proper application to make to them and they would give it consideration. This all about these sales now about the block before the court. I object to the map as the lines run up to the boundary of lands formerly sold by us. I object to the Ngatiraukawa’s claim from the Ruamahunga boundary over the land now before the court. The objections which I have have already been stated by other witnesses and I join with them in objecting to the mana of Raukawa.
Hoani Meihana – sworn
I live at Manawatu and belong to Rangitane.
I know the land described on the plan because the land is mine. My statement is on what we base our claim. Kemo;s evidence on that point is correct also the evidence of Hunia. The evidence given by the whole of the witnesses is correct where they show their title and their occupation up to the present time.
When land was sold outside the block, the five tribes always received money. They always shared the proceeds.
When the Ngatikahungungu sold the land on the Wairarapa they shared the money with the rest of the five tribes.
When Hapuku sold land at Heretaunga, the proceeds were shared amongst the five tribes. Through the generosity of these tribes, Ngatiraukawa were allowed to have a share of the money on account of their living quietly and as friends.
All the blocks adjacent to this block with the exception of reserves, have been sold and this block is the remaining estate of the five tribes. We have united with one and one desire to claim the whole of this land from one end to another.
The Raukawa say we have not taken their mana away by conquest. I have evidence to give on a certain point which has been over looked.
There was another tribe who occupied this land before our ancestor Kupe. They came with him but came on and were here first. Ngatiawa was the name of the tribe. I mentioned that tribe in the court at Masterton and I also mentioned them at a meeting held at Waipawa outside the court. They were exterminated by our ancestors. They were killed. On various parts of the block those who escaped to the other side were killed then our ancestors took possession of the land and the descendents of the ancestors have lived there ever since.
Xd by H Wiriku
The five tribes object to the claim Ngatiraukawa over the block.
I object by myself in the same manner as the others have done to your claim over the block.
Ngatiraukawa have objected to my former statement that we claimed along with them with respect to this block.
Ngatiraukawa have cast me off. They won’t admit me so I oppose them. If they had agreed that I should join with them I would not have come forward to oppose them and I admit the claims of certain of the Raukawa have claims over the land. There is no reason why I should not do so.
Case of counter claimants closed – 5 tribes
Court adjourned at 12.30 am.