More Info →Otaki Maori Landcourt Minutebook - 18 March 1878.

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Monday 18^th March 1878

Present – the same

Court opened at 10 am.

Tuahiwi No. 2 – Section 21 – a51 – r1 – p 25

No opposition

Order made in favour of Peene Arama, Mohi Te Tawharu Waiata Tawharu, Karaitiana Tawharu, Keita Tawharu, Oriwia Karehana – who is to have one acre only on the eastern side adjoining No. 77.

Fees - £2.0.0

Page 150

Harakeke – Plans 42, 43, and 44

See Mangapouri and old survey plan.

Heard as Mangapouri

Plan 42 – a6 – r3 – p14 Plan 43 – a16 – r1 – p0 Plan 44 – a4 – r3 – p0

Old survey A – a7 – r1 – p 15 – read to be reserved.

Tamati Ranapiri – sworn

I appear to conduct my wife’s case in the piece marked A on the large plan.

I know the land shown thereon. It was given to my wife’s parents by Hoani Te Tihi and others. She has lived on it ever since and lives there now. There are no apportions to the survey was never interfered with.

Objectors challenged.

Himiona claimed an interest.

Himiona Ngarama – sworn

I live at Tararua and I belong to Ngati Raukawa.

I claim a small piece near the road next to the carpenter’s house. It runs from Waitohu to the house. I saw the survey being made but I said nothing.

I claim it from having it ever since we came first. I have not lived on it. I gave it to the mother of the claimant for a cultivation. I still retain the mana that is why I want to go on the order.

This was attached to page 150 Otaki Minute Book 3

I protested on Saturday against the big plan being brought before the court as it is not drawn in accordance with the surveyor.

General instructions – Mr Carkeek put it forward therefore I suppose the responsibility will rest with him. I have sent a telegram to the Deputy Inspector of surveys to ask if it can be produced before this court but have not received an answer yet.

Xed by T. Ranapiri

I worked on the land for six years. Teimi Ranapir and others saw me working there. He then put a house on it. He knows when I ceased to work there. I know you occupied the land. I can’t tell when. I have not occupied it since you have been there.

I saw that Teimi interfered with you fence. He did not say to whom the land belonged.

I never asked Katarina for any of this land. There was no fence before the one erected by Teimi Ranapiri. I cultivated without a fence before that. Rawiri was in occupation of it. He was son of Hone Te Tihi.

By the assessor

Katarina is the mother of the claimant and I gave her this land for a cultivation.

Winara Katipo – sworn

I live at Manawatu.

I know this land shown on the plan. I know Himiona made use of the land cultivated near the road. I saw him working there some time ago with the claimants. He will have no place to live on if the land is awarded to the claimants. The land he lives on now is his own.

Hemi Ranapiri – sworn

I know the land now before the court.

I believe Himiona has a small claim on it. He worked there on the piece adjoining me about 10 years ago. When he left possession of it, I put a house on it. Before that he had given the land to Katarina for a cultivation. I asked Himiona to let me put a house on it and he allowed me to do so.

Xed by T. Ranapiri

I was present when it was given to Kataringa. I worked on my wife’s land as well in Himiona’s.

You have worked on this land 7 years or more. I can’t say Himiona ever interfered with your occupation.

Hoani Taipua – sworn

I live at Otaki and belong to Ngati Raukawa tribe.

I know the land abut which we held the arguing. I only know that it was declared to belong to Taniera and others in exchange for other lands given to Teimi.

I never heard Himiona’s name mentioned in connection with this land. The other portion belonged to T. Seymour and Katarina.

I never heard of anyone else having a claim there.

Himiona raised no claim. He never came near the committee. Teimi said nothing about Himiona’s claim. He claimed it for himself.

I never heard anything about Himiona’s name.

Peene Arama – sworn

I live at Otaki and belong to Ngati Raukawa.

I know this land. We had an inquiry.

It was Teimi and his wife who made a disturbance.

We decided that the land belonged to Katarina. The only names mentioned at this committee were – Hori Ngawari and Hone Te Tihi.

Himiona’s name was not mentioned.

I heard that Katarina got the land from Honi Te Tihi. I don’t know of Himiona’s name being mentioned. It was Teimi and Honi’s daughter who pointed out the boundaries.

Katarina Seymour – sworn

I live at Otaki.

I know this land. It is where I live. It was given to me by my brothers. It was given many years ago. My house is on it. I was never interfered with. Himiona never gave me this land.

I don’t remember Himiona working there. It is only lately that Himiona has asked me for land. He wanted to put in some potatoes. He had only one kit of seed. He never cultivated there afterwards.

I am very old and have always lived there.

Before this, the land belonged to Honi Te Tihi who was my uncle. My children were born there and are all grown up.

Xed by Himiona

You were only there one year. I saw no wheat there.

Himiona’s claim disallowed.

Order made in favour of

Makere Ranapiri, Tamati Tima, Ema Tamati Tima, Taniera Rehua and Katarina Tima.

Fees - £2.0.0

Mangapouri – Plans No.s 42 –a6 – r3 – p14, No. 43 – a16 – r1 – p0, No. 44 – a4 – r3 – p0

Adjourned for the present

Aratangata – succession

Neville Nicholson – sworn

I live at Otaki and claim to succeed Kararaina Whawha who was my mother.

I want the succession order issued in favour of myself and others. She is dead and left no will. The persons named are her children.

Objectors challenged – No objectors.

Order to be made in favour of

Neville Nicholson, Kararaina Pera, Ema Winiata, Edward Nicholson (9 years) and Howard Nicholson (12 years) for Kararaina’s land in equal shares.

Mr James Booth and Neville Nicholson to be appointed as trustees for Edward and Howard.

Oturoa – succession

Tauteka Tuainuku – sworn

I claim on behalf of Heni Kepa to succeed Rahera Ngapaki or Waiatere.

She is dead and she left a document signed in presence of a number of chiefs stating that if she died her land was to go to Heni Kepa.

Adjourned until the document can be produced.

Porokaiaia (or Oturoa) – succession

Neville Nicholson – sworn

I live at Otaki and claim to succeed to Kararaina who is dead.

The same evidence as in Aratangata claim. I claim to succeed alone. I have brothers and sisters.

Objectors challenged – No opposition.

Order in favour of

Neville Nicholso, Kararaina Pera, Ema Winiata, Edward Nicholson (9 years) and Howard Nicholson (12 years) in equal shares

Mr Booth and Neville Nicholson to act as trustees fro Edward and Howard.

Fees - £1.0.0

Porokaiaia – succession

Neville Nicholson

Same as Aratangata

Dismissed

Manawakeikei – succession

Same as Aratangata

Dismissed

Hinekakeao – succession

Adjourned for present

Pukekaraka – area – a7 – r2 – p0

3 chain plan Otaki claimed by T. Seymour.

Tami Seymour – sworn

I live at Otaki and am a Ngati Raukawa.

I claim this land. Part of the land I inherit from Hone Te Tihi. Part I purchased and part belongs to my wife which she got from her brothers. I live on this land and never have had any interruption. I had the survey made my wife’s brother helped me to ---- it.

Objectors challenged.

Riria Ranapiri appeared.

Teimi Ranapiri appeared for his wife and asked that the claim be adjourned to a future court.

The claimant stated that he would not claim any of the pieces contiguous to his own in which Ranapiri is a claimant.

My wife is the principal claimant.

The applicant then stated that his principal witnesses were away and if there was an opposition he would have to ask for an adjournment.

Adjourned to future court

Pukekaraka – continued – Plan 41 – Area a1 – r0 – p18

Piripi Te Ra

One of my parents lived on the land. My father had an interest in the land. He was a chief. I claim through Te Mourere. I have not lived on the land.

Objectors challenged.

Te Raiti Tonihi

I live at Pukekaraka.

I object to Piripi’s claim.

My grandfather Te Uhi was the principal man and I am his heir. He lived on this land. My father lived on it and I am living there. I submitted this affair to the native committee and they declared that I was the owner.

Hoani Taipua – sworn

Our decision was about the whole of Pukekaraka. This piece was included at least I think so.

Penenara Te Tewe – sworn

I live at Waitohu and am a Ngati Raukawa.

The land belonged to Honehihi who was Te Raiti’s father. We lived (Tonihi) lived there where the catholic chapel stands. Some of our cultivations were on the land now before court.

Page 157

Morere had no right there of his own. He used to depend on Tonihi and lived with him. The claimant has no right whatever.

Tonihi’s sister is still living. Te Raiti is the only one who has any right.

Ani Kanara – sworn

I know the land which has been surveyed. It belonged to Te Uhi. He was my father. Tonihi was his son who had one child Te Raiti. I and Te Raiti are the nearest of kin.

Xed by claimant

Your father had an interest in the -----. Morere had a house on the land.

Court stated that the claimant had failed to make out his claim and awarded the land to no one. After this the claim was dismissed.

Dismissed

Court adjourned from Otaki to Foxton to hear Aorangi middle, lower and upper.

Identification