More Info →Otaki Maori Landcourt Minutebook - 17 April 1876

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Monday 17^th April 1876

Court opened at 10am Present the same.

Raingaraki No.1 (Adjourned claims) area 25-3-4 Plan 2817.

Matene Te Whiwhi and others are claiming.

Matene Te Whiwhi sworn.

I belong to Ngati Toa and Ngati Raukawa I live at Otaki. I claim on behalf of my __ and Hemi and others, it has been surveyed I produce the plan this land formerly belonged to Te Whata and the old chief. It was given to me by his son Te Tahuwii Whatanui, he gave it to me out of affection of my wife “Pipi” who had been beaten by Tamihana.

He gave me all the land including this up as far as Ringawhati. I have cultivated upon this land, I have been interfered there was a dispute between Ngati Raukawa when we arrived at a certain point on the eastern boundary.

All Rawiri’s friends supported me I said to my daughter who was there” As you are living with Ngati Raukawa, I give this up to you”. Here was another dispute about it afterwards when the Ngati Raukawa Committee fixed the boundary where it is now.

Objectors challenged Rawiri Rota appeared.

Rawiri Rota sworn.

I belong to Ngati Raukawa I live at Otaki I claim a portion of the land adjoining the northern boundary because some of my own cultivations are shown outside the boundary (about 2 claims). When I got there the survey was done I did not see this survey. This case was called on a previous court but not gone into. After I saw the survey I said that a portion of my own land had been included. I claim through my parents. That line is an old boundary laid down by Ngati Huia at the time of the dispute with Matene.

He never cultivated on this piece we claim but we cut timber there to build the large house Raukawa. It was built by members of my hapu for the Ngati Raukawa it is a meeting house used by the whole tribe. Matene and his people disputed with us when we went to cut the timber this boundary that I claim has been laid off three times and I can prove. This boundary was laid off by Ngati Huia at the request of Matene his line was cut by Ngati Huia and it is open now.

Cross examine by Matene Te Whiwhi.

I do not know the relation between Ngati Huia and Whatanui I do not know the relation of Apuahama and manuka. It was because the Ngati Huia knew that this was the proper boundary that they laid it off there. Ngati Huia considered that the boundary they laid off between you and I was the correct one it was laid off in 1862.

Rawiri Te Wanui sworn.

I belong to the Ngati Huia Otaki hapu of Ngati Raukawa I live at Otaki the boundary laid off by Ngati Huia is comparatively of a recent date but I had been cultivating at the adjoining land this claim long ago none of the three boundaries were finally __ upon but Hape and Parakaia put in posts where they should be. We were sawing one of the trees for this house and some of the other __ threaten me with an axe, Matene’s party __ was then that I called out to abandon the house.

If they had no threatened I would __ __ used such words I did not leave __ work I went on until I got the timber that I required, subsequently I went onto the land in dispute and cut some timber for my own case after I had finished. Te Rei andHemi – wife came and objected subsequently they came and surveyed the land after this fencing had been cut. Te Rei and Hemi called a meeting of the Ngati Raukawa for the __ __ of sending me off this land. It was because I had a claim there that I went there to cut timber.

The Ngati Raukawa decided against me, because my brother left me and went over to the Ngati Raukawa side and gave evidence against me. He stated that the boundary was along the line where used to drag out their canoes the boundary. The boundary between the Whatanui and us was laid off long ago after this township had been established there people who gave the decision against me were not agreed.

Cross examine by Te Rei on behalf ofMatene.

It was the __ Committee that objected to me that had the most ‘mana’ but I considered that it was only a Maori decision and that the court would have to find it. I had considered it settled I would not have cut any more timber on it.

Hape Te Raupi te whata sworn.

I belong to Ngati Huia I live at Otaki I went on to this land to lay off the boundary at the request of Hemi Matene. Matene did not stop till this done. Matene wanted it to be laid as it is shown on the plan. A __ in a first which Matene objected to and put it in at the saw pit which forms the corner of the boundary he did nothing more we went away we do not know what he received since. We were also engaged in disputing the other boundary. The laying off of the boundary the first boundary was not gone into at the second meeting.

Certificate of title ordered in favour of Hemi Te Rei, Te Rei Parewhanake and Riria Wirihana.

Fees charged £3:0:0.

Town Section Otaki, part of No121 area 23 __.

Manahi Taurua claiming No of plan 2855.

Manahi Taurua sworn.

I belong to Ngati Wehiwehi I live at Waikawa I claim this quarter acre it has been surveyed I produce the plan of it. It was given by the chiefs of Ngati Raukawa to my father I have lived upon the land and built upon it.

Objectors challenged.

Ihikera Te Wharewhiti appeared

Ihikera Te Wharewhiti sworn.

I belong to Ngati Moewaka I live at Otaki I claim this land through my father who is dead, it was given to my sister at the time this town was laid off __ done by the tribe, she lived upon the quarter acre with her husband, she had a house there. She died about 1851 I was in Auckland at the time, her husband married again. When I came back I found that her husband had left the property and gone to live new wife’s property my father Nuohi went to him and asked him to give that quarter acre and my father said I was to have it.

After this all the Ngati Wehiwehi went over to the king party excepting Paora the father of the claimant, he separated himself from his tribe and came to Otaki, he asked Kingi Te Ahoaho to give him some land and he agreed that he should leave the land where the hill stands he did not agree to take that. So he was offered another piece near Raukawa, he did not like it, after this Kingi Te Ahoaho died, Paora asked Hauta to give him some land and Hauta offered him this quarter acre.

I was not present at the time that this offer was made one day when going to church I saw some timber out on it I heard that the house was for Paora. I objected to him having a house there. We had a meeting about it, I objected to Paora having this place and Paora said that he was a wanderer and that the land should be left. The Ngati Raukawa came to no decisions I left Paora in occupation, I remembered the words of the old chiefs. I objected to Manahi, Manahi said let us take it before the court.

Cross examine by Manahi.

It was over at the hotel when I told you that I objected to the survey there was no one present but ourselves.

Rawiri Te Wanui sworn.

I know this section I remember the allotment of the Township, this section was given to Te Reweti and Riria the sister of Ihikera they did not live upon the section themselves but then several lived there. There was a store on it the store belonged to Mr Hadfield his woman died afterwards I remembered Paora coming from Waikawa.

We offered him a quarter acre section when it was decided that he should stop here not in the same place that this is in. It was consented to he was then offered a place for cultivation at the mill and at Te Manuao which he accepted, but he had no sooner began to work than he was interfered with by the children of Kingi. He then went to Totaranui and cultivated there, he then made friends with Tamihana Te Rauparaha and asked for this land to build a house __ part of it is included in Tamihana’s land, Hauta agreed to it.

It belonged to Mohi the father of the claimant, I did not hear of any objection __ by the claimant Paora I was not present the claimant objected to Paora when Hauta handed it to Paora, I did not hear of any objection made by the claimant at the time. Ihikera was in Otaki at the time, we had a meeting about this section I do not remember that Paora was present the claimant objected to Paroa. They wanted to put him on the section given to him at first. I do not remember that any such objection was __ to Paora because he had no right to occupy this section.

Keepa Kerikeri sworn.

I belong to Ngati Maiotaki and live at Otaki I remember a meeting held in the house of Peneharu, Ihikera was there Paora was not, he wanted to find out the reason of Paora occupying this section because he had no business there. We decided that we were wrong, it was a private meeting of the persons interested the young ones wanted to drive him off. Paora said the he was only occupying there and that was why he ever left there.

Rawiri Rota sworn.

I remember this section being leased by Major Edwards by father and the claimants this was while Paora was living there and it was stipulated that the land belonged Ihikera and Wiremu Hopi-hona. I do not know how they settled their title.

Counter claimants case closed.

Tamihana Te Rauparaha sworn.

I belong to Ngati Toa I know this section it was given to Paora by all the Ngati Raukawa in the year 1869 or 1850, it did not belong anyone else before. I know Mohi Te Wharewhiti, I do not know whether Mohi had anything to do with it.

Cross examine by Ihikera.

Hemi’s house was not on this section I did not see any house of Riria’s or Te Reweti’s on this section, I was not present at the meeting of Ngati Raukawa when they gave Paora until he died he was buried there.

Erua Tahutangata sworn.

I belong to Ngati Kapu I live at Pukekaraka, I know this section according to old custom I belong to Mohi after the church was established the township was formed and Paora was got this quarter,Hauta gave it to him.I do not know by what authority it was done under the sanction of the church. The old Maori customs was done away with when the church was established

Cross examine by Ihikera.

I do not know the year Paora occupied this section I do not the year the town was cut up, I saw the house with Riria on the land long ago before it was handed over to Paora.

Hema Te Ao sworn.

I belong to Ngati Pare in occupation of this section I do not know whose it was when the town was laid off. Afterwards I saw the claimant interfering with Paora’s occupation I saw no interfere with him during Hauta’s lifetime. Major Edward’s lease does not include this section.

Teine Ranapiri sworn.

I belong to Ngati Kapu I live at Otaki, I remember this section being given to Paora Poho Tiraha by the chiefs of Ngati Raukawa, I remember a man named Hemi living on the adjoining section he had a store there. Subsequently I lived on Hemi’s land as a milk boy I never saw any house on it up to the time that Paora built on it, they gave it to him that be __ close to the church. Paora Poho Tiraha died there also his wife and his son in-law.

Cross examine by Ihikera.

I did not see Riria and Te Reweti’s house, I saw it on the other side of the stream when Paora died I was at Waikawa, but when I came his body was in his house on the section and it was about the time of the commencement of the King movement. It was then that Ngati Raukawa gave him this piece I do not say that it was laid off for him at first it was given to him that we might be near the church.

Court adjourned till 2pm court opened 2pm.

Part of Town Section 121 Otaki

Certificate of order in favour of Manahi Paora Taura.

Fees charged £3:0:0

Mangahanene No1 No of plan 2819 A5:R1:P2

Tauteka Tuainuku sworn.

I belong to Ngati Raukawa I live at Otaki, I claim this land for myself it has been surveyed I produce the plan. I claim it through Te Kanawa my sister cultivated upon it we have been long in occupation.

Objectors challenged.

Hare Wirikake, Mihipeka Tatana, Pipi Kutia , Hutana, Rakapa Topeora and Tamihana Te Rauparaha appeared.

Hare Wirikake and Waretini Tuainuku were admitted.

Mihipeka Tatana sworn.

I belong to Ngati Huia I live at Porotawhao and Otaki. Adjourned for the present.

Pukerarauhe No.1 A6:R3:P21

Number of plan 2850. Iwi Makitonore claiming. Claimant dead Claim dismissed.

Kaingaraki No.3 A423:R3:P3

Number of plan 2818. Paranihia Whawha claiming appears by Hone Taipua.

Puieaha Mahauariki asked for an adjournment to enable Maori’s from Manawatu to be present. Adjourned.

Pa Te Rauparaha – 68 acres

Number of plan 2813. Mr Booth and __ officer stated that this land had already passed through the court being a portion of “Manawatu Kukutauaki No.4D “, Watene claiming. Dismissed.

Haru Uumui A7:R3:P0

Number of plan 2831, Perenara Te Tewe and others claiming, case called already disposed of in a former court. Dismissed.

Katihiku A26:R2:P0

Number of plan 2829, Hare Wirikake claiming.

Hare Wirikake sworn.

I belong to Ngati Kikopiri and Ngati Huia I live at Katihiku in Otaki, I claim this land on behalf of myself and others it has been surveyed I produce the plan. I claim through Aperahama Te Rewa my Uncle I have lived opon this land and cultivated upon it, I have been here five years.

Objectors challenged.

Hapi Te Rangitewhata and others applied to have names inserted in order to allow parties to come to an arrangement the court adjourned the case tomorrow.

Te Tawaroa No.3 A5:R1:P32

Number of plan 3363, Kereona Whamaro claiming, claims called, no appearance adjourned for the present.

Te Tawaroa No.3 continued.

Kereona Whamaro sworn.

I belong to Ngati Huia I live at Porotawhao, I claim this land on behalf of myself and my family, plan is certified. Adjourned for the present.

Court adjourned until 10am tomorrow.

Identification