9th April 1868 - part 5
Continued from part 4
page 590
land was Hopenui's in virtue of her having cultivated it when Ngati Toa came here before Haowhenua as was related by the Witness Oriwia Hurumutu. I don't know when the clearing was made but I know that Te Hopenui was the person who cultivated that land. I judge from that that the land was hers. I don't know that the land was Tungias. I have seen her cultivating at the time we were living at Rangiuru. She was living there with my mother Te Akau.
After Haowhenua Te Matata a son of Te Hopenui's by Rauparaha died and left Amiria Te Ruatahua (Oriwia's sister) a widow. Te Matata did not cultivate he and I used to accompany my father to Kapiti, left Te Hopenui and my mother at Rangiuru, Te Hopenui continued to cultivate this land up to the time of her death which I think was about the time of 'Te Kuititanga'.
Piripi and Te Horohau were the 'Kai tiaki' of that land after the death of Te Hopenui, they lived at a small 'pa' called 'Hurihangataitoko' near this land. I nver saw ururoa cultivating there, it was not cultivated after Te Hopenui's death.
after the township at Otaki was laid out Miriona Motuhei came here from Porirua and if she had lived the place would have been hers. She died about 6 years ago. She lived with me and died. She left an adopted child Miriona Waipiro of a Ngaitahu mother by Tuarea a relative of Rauparaha's of Ngatihangai.
This is my claim. In the year 1866 Ururoa sold that land to Dr. Hewson and then I knew that he claimed it.
Told by Te Uruoa
I never saw you cultivating. I don't know of any house called 'Hurihangataitoko'.
Matene Te WhiWhi - sworn
Otaki Ngati Huia, Ngati Kikopiri of Ngati Raukawa.
I know the land on the plan - in the year 1833 before Haowhenua the land was cultivated, Te Hopenui and Ngati Toa, in a year and a half she left it and Ngati Toa abandoned all the cultivations in that locality. Hopenui and Ururoa were of the same tribe, Ururoa built a house called 'Hurihangataitoko' by Ururoa himself, and fenced in a piece of land. On the north side of this piece of land between the watercourse and Rangiuru, this was when Tamihana was a little boy.
Rauparaha and Te Huehue and other Chiefs used to go to that house it was a 'whare hui hui noa'. This place was called 'Maringiawai' on account of its being often flooded after rain, it was so called by Ngati Raukawa. This place was left when we all moved from Rangiuru by the advice of the Bishop 'Katahi Ka Mahue'
When I and Thompson came back from St. John's College. I did not see Ururoa's cultivation on the land claimed by him but that was his place 'Hurihangataitoko'
I know that Te Hopenui and Ngati Toa did not cultivate more than a year and a half. Ururoa lived there before Hopenui died. Don't know the year Te Hopenui died, it might be before or after 'Te Kuititanga'
Te Moroati Kiharoa - sworn
Otaki - of Ngati Pare - Ngati Raukawa
I recognise the land on the plan, was not present at the survey.
I saw ururoa and Horohau and the Ngati Kikopiri living at Hurihangataitoko which was the name of the place and of ururoa's house. The house stood between the watercourse and Rangiuru, the land on both sides of theat watercourse were cultivated by this party they continued to cultivate up to the time of the coming to the town here. They were cultivating there at the time of Kuititanga,. I saw them cultivating every year up to the time of the town.
It was ordered that a certificateof the title of
Ururoa Ripia
to a parcel of land at Otaki containing 3A [1]IR OP known by the name of Hurihangataitoko No2 be made and issued to the Governor.
Court to recommend no restriction on alienability.
Mr. Swainson applied to the Court to assist him in securing his charges.
Court to notify to Secretary for Crown Lands that the charges of G.J. Swainson amounting to £2.10.6 are due and unpaid.
Fees to be paid by claimant
Invest £1
Cert. £1 = £3
C [est] £1
Court adjourned at 9.30pm till Saturday April 11th.
end of part 5.
