ARBITRATION COURT.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume III, Issue 6, 18 July 1863, Page 20

ARBITRATION COURT.

Present:H. Walton, Te Hemara, C. Heath, Eruena Te Horo.

Auckland, Saturday, January 17, 1863. On the third day the plan of proving a claim to the land of the ancestors of the Ngaitahuhu was abandoned, and they were made to claim only the land given by - Tauru to Tewha, which claim we knew nothing of, neither us nor our old men. Hearken. This we conrider a wonderful thing, that one man should give both the-karakas and the land to Tewha. Now, the giving of the karakas is known, while the bestowing of the land is lost (i.e. all knowledge of its having been given). This huru (dogskin mat) was first heard of in a conversation between Matiu and Hori. Hori at Kororareka. Matiu said to Hori Tahua, O friend, had my land been paid for with a huru (dogskin mat) or with a greenstone, your persistence would be right, but to take my land simply because of the karakas is wrong. Hori Tahua returned to the Wairoa and related the conversation that he had had with Matiu, whereupon Te Tohukai invented a story, and said my son (Matiu) says that Mangakahia was not acquired in consequence of having been paid for. Why it was paid for with the huru that covered Tomoaure Now hearken, this word was made up by Te Tohukai seeking for some grounds upon which to rest a claim upon Mangakahia. When Matiu heard of it he wrote to the old men of the other places, (for each lived at a different descendants of Tauru, but they kneiy,.-pptliirig. of, it; they knew about, tlie kanaka?, but they did not lcnow of the land, having Jjeen.given. This was their word in the letters' which we received. It is true that the Ur ; irorpi came back to-gather, karakas after the of the karaka berries to. because K&w'ariui was close to the Jilaice' which; was given by ;Totara to Te Kahore. The feet of the Urjrbroi. could not abide on Rawariui only i they moved about, thfey went north to Ngapuhi 'to stay with that other section of theirtribe, arid again returned! to Kawanui and:staid :there. The ; Btream : in which tbey paddled their canoes was Mangakahia. They looked up and saw the karaka berries on each sider : of the stream and probably stretched forth their hands and gathered the karakas.. In the <day.s of Mene and Te. Ngerq and of, rihpr«, the. chiefs of the Parawfaau were disturbed and were sent away by Mene and party. :;Those old chiefs knew nothing of the dogskin mat, inasmuch as they said to the

Parawhau, the land is ours ; the Parawhau a word was this. ' It was by their strength; tha| they .got Whatitiri and all Mangakahia, but they made no mention of;the dogskin mat.. At the time of the Moremuriui feud, Mfene,. Ngere, and other guardians of the land at Mangakahia died, Huna died (or was killed) at; Te Ikaaranganui and was succeeded by mere children only. Hence it was that there was no one to disturb party), , Th|ey took the 4tarakas at will andthereWas' no: one to interfev£T<itft& i tlfteiii£ TThey made clearings and planted food on Mangakahia. Teßeweti and pirty?had.fi>mly established themselves at the Rakautahi, because Maliu, the real owner of Mangakahia had become, as it were, a son of theirs. When NgSW.hIU ; wats near death, he said to ReWetijafter lam dead, yield up, the place, belonging-to our children, and you return to . Hikurangi. . Jt, . was through .ill will -on. his part towards ".his son that he got up and spoke against Nevertheless you of this meeting have seen the faultiness of what he haiff stated ; presently yjou will -kfioir the :&use Nqw hearken, my-speech noW goes W& again. After the death of the old chiefs, and after their children had grown up other tribes entered in (upon the land) ; some followed after their relatives who had married Ngatimoeroa women, when Matiu and the others appeared in these days in the time of Kukupa. Kukupa strove to gain possession of Puketotara, but it was not agreed to by Huna, by Tahai, by Whae, by Hautaewa, by Keha, or by any of the men of Mangakahia. Although Kukupa tried to tapw Buketoiara, and thus ;l>y making it tapu - to gain-possession. of it himself, ifc was not consented, to. It .was/ planted with food by Huna and others, by the peopJe who owned the place. Not' however that that was the only place cultivated, for they worked here and there qs far as Titoki. The talk about this.Huru was' heard -until the present day. \Noiw,' 0 tratore, we have four good : 'grounds' upon" which to base oiir 'claimfe to the land now .in course of First, our ancestors, our geneological table differs from that of Tipene Hari. The second is the karakas ;' they acknowledge that the karakas and the land were given, but accordiug to us, the karakas only were given, not the laud, for it is clear to them and clear to us, that the karakas were given, but we have no know-; ledge, of the land, having ;beeu given. How is it that the gift of such a great thing ; as,land should not be known to either usqr our old men ? Third, as 1 regards the dogskin, our ; remarks on that are contained in Te Hira;

Awa'spaper. Fourth, the lands -which were fairly given are fairly acknowledged by us as having Tjeen give*! to them from the time of ojiraincestors to the present day, namely, Kawanui and Hauauru. . Noyr, 0 arbitratprs, on these four grounds we know for certain that the land is Matiu's own. It. does not belong to. Hori Kingi or to Te Tirarau, but to Matiu himself. Heinherite4 it from his ancestors, and it should descend to his heiirs after him as is shown in; the paper containing our genealogies. Enough* this r is all we have to say on the subject of the disputed land. From all the. tribes of Te Hira Awa on the side of Matiu.

Monday, January 19th, 1863. Taurau handed in his paper to be read. Enclosure No. 1. Hearken now, O arbitrators, I am Taurau, and speak to you now with reference to the statements of Te Hira Te Awa, and Te Hailtakiri, that is to say, I shall make remarks upon' the speeches of the v:hole party. Te Hira says that we are the descendants of Te Warkeri, are a people without landed possessions, the descendants of Te Waikere and. Te Ponaharakeke. Now hearken, all meti and you arbitrators. I say that Te Hira is sneaking falsely before the law lawful tribunal), and I say let the statements of this man Te Hira be taken back to Kaikohe, the land' of his ancestors and fathers, coming' doMfc to his own times. This is the boundary line here. Now hearken, O arbitrators. This is a word in reply to Te'Mari, who stated th»t the karaka berries of Mangakahia were gathered by Pahara and 'Rori. Now hearken, O arbitrators. This man speaks falsely before the lawful tribunal. Hear also this ; the karftka berries spoken of by Mari, and said to havb'been at Mangakahia, were beyond the boundary line, on the land belonging to Matiuj Kaitaru also and the inheritance of Te Keha and Pehi ; these are beyond the boundaries of the disputed land. You heard formerly, and even to the presient time it is known, that Oue was the boundary of the land upon which our ancestors resided. Now listen again'; before the Europeans had come to this island, our ancestors had lived long upon the lands, Mangakahia, Whatitiri, Tangihua, Maungatapere, and Whangarei,andup to our own time there have been five genera- j tions of men. This ends here. And now I hearken, these are grounds upon which claim the occupation of the soil and right lo it. Now as to this man Te Hira, we have no knowledge of bis ancestors ever living with ourancestora at Mangakahia; 1 say, there*

fore, that this man. ia making erroneous state*, merits before the law? of the Queen. And now, O. let the false speeches of this man Te Awa: come to an end. These : statements are mere fiction. (Signed) Taura.u Kukupa vr , Te Puku spoke as follows: The.. Ngapuhi ; are claiming my ancestor as theirs, andthe Ngapuhis suggest: that I (.i e, the: whole of the claimants on my aide) be. carried tothe dark side (be removed from off the land); No! no! I williiot allow myself to be,carried' away from, the.;land by.them, for I knowhow to trace my genealogy from my ancestor Ta* hinganui, a chief who: was killed by 'the > ancestor.of Te Hira TeAwa,; he had- the loins of. that ancestor and I had the breast;They are calling in question my right' and'saying," Where will be his place of residence for his land will be now taken from him2" herefore, I say, now that the Ngapuhis are wrong in settling down upon my lands ; or heritage (kainga), from the times of my - ancestors even to my own time. We should have the whole of the one side separated. It was negatived and afterwards the post (wis put up) and then (the claim) was moved on to the Ngaitahuhus. Now, all our hands will firmly grasp the land and retain itj for the Ngapuhi 8, Te Hira Awa and Matiu rose up (against) ,the Ngatimoeroa, strengthening themselves in their lying, words about the inheritance of Hori and Te Tirarau. This is all I have to say. Pita Hawaiki said : My claim is this, the former boundary; line down to the ,present - day. The southern boundary is the old one at Oue, and is tbe side we claim. I did not hear that that land was given at Kaitaru to Te Keha. All that land belonged solely to Hapaua; the lower side or portion belonged to us, given for my dogskin mat. Thi» it all I have to state. Tito handed in a document to be read. Hearken, 0 arbitrators, this is my statement, the statement of Tito. These men TeHira Awa and Hikairo would do well t? return to their place at Kaikohe, together with the ancestral tracings which they have made, leaving us to live quietly on our lands, where, our ancestors are lying, for our right to them dates from that time even until our own times. I say to you arbitrators, both Europeans and Natives, I will hold my land for ever and ever. Amen. Sufficient. (Signed) Tito. Te Tirarau said he would now allow his paper to be read. Hearken, Oye sitting in Court here, this is my speech, the speech, of Tirarau. I will speak it agnin althoughyou have heard it before; 1 wiH tell it again now,

because it is the sammirrg up of all our ancestors, in virtue of which we live on the land; on Wfratitiri, on Tangihua, on Marigakahio, on Wairua. O assembly, do you pay attention, Waikoraha was the oldest, after him came Te Waikeri, after him came Tawhiro, afterhimj Te Pona-harakeke and Houtakere, ourancestors were descended from Ng*itahuhu. .Hearken, 0 ye councillors, the Ngapuhi.krelike the toetoe that blows over the ground?'in summer. lam the root of the land jifaimWaikorahacome all the Parawhau who coiccupy Whangarei, from the brpther from Waikeri came Kiri Mango and Tewha; Pouri wag. the mother- of those men, Te Ata* kura was the younger sister of Pouri; she waa married to the Ponaharakehe, and their issue was Te Kahore, Te Pouaharakehe also had: Whari for his wife and the issue was Tataia. i\Atakura hadTawhiro for a husband and-'.the'issue was Tei; Tei had for a wife Kama,'the second sister of Ruahine, their issue-was Te Whitu; from Te Whitu came Te Paku ; Hautakere married Whitiao, this woman was of Ngaitahuhu, from Whitiao cam 6 'Tuwhakatere j Tuwhakatere married Tohe Kainga, their issue was the second Whitiao ; this woman, Tohe Kainga was from Ngatirepia; lam the issue of W hitiao living on the land ; from Ngaiwi came Whakakati; froip Whakakati came Hori Tahua; from Kiri. Mangeo came Te Ahu ; from Te Ahu came Hata ; from Hata came Turau; Hata also had Waiata and Rako; Waiata married Ngaha, the daughter of Kawa, whose descendant is Maraia Te Hoiaj from Tewha cameNgawhau ; from Ngawhau came Hare OriOri and Haro ; from Haro came Mai hi luhi ; from Tewha came Hone Paraone; from Te Pona-harakeke descended Te Kahore and' Tataia; Tataia married Taromainuku, and their issue was Haumu, Tuha, Hiti, Rua, Te Awha and Waiariki; Haumu had by his wifeTe i'okaitawhia, Wakakahu and Kukupa; from' Wakakahu came Paikea; from Paikea came Te Tirarau and Taurau, here present, and living on the land ; from Tuha came Hopa TeTiki; from Whitirua came Wheinga; from Te Awha came Parore ; from Waiariki came Pirika Te Herehere. In lormer days there was a man who wooed a woman ; the man and the woman both belonged to the tribe of- Ngaitahuhu, but they were not marxied ; the name of this man was Miripokai, he sought her but she would not consent, (or she .did not like him), Miripokai then went to theNgapuhi country, the Ngapu hi arose, Tewha was their chief. They encountered each other and Ngaitahuhu were defeated; then Te Kahore arose and gathered together the remnants and saved them. Kahore mar-

ried the daughter of Hikurangi, Pai was her, name, Rangiauraarie was their issue ; frorfi Rangiaumane came Kopaki ; from Kopaki came Hemi. Now, hearken, ye judges,'oh this account the chieftainship ovei tbe land . fell to T" e Kahore. First, one side of Whangarei was given to the Kahore, then Whatitiri was given. Whatu showed them round' the land. It was Te Kahore and the Hautakero who went. Te;Kahore went by way of Puketutu ; Hautakere went by Oawhi; when Te Hautakere arrived, the huru of Te Kahore was spread on Whatitiri. Hautakere then took the Kotuku's feather from his head and stuck it in the ground; thus is named the place, houkotuku, Whatitiri, Kawanui, and Wairua was given up. When Tomoaure lived on his own land at Tangihua he made a journey to Te Rawhiri to take his wife Takiroto there. This, woman belonged to the Ngareraumate tribe. On his return home, he went to Orauto to visit the Waikeri and Te Punaharakeke. When Ngatitu heard that Tomoaure was there, they laid in ambush for him at the Kiripaka. After I omoaure left he was murdered by the Ngatitu. After he had left, Te Ponharakeke heard of it, and went after him; when he got to the place he was dead, and they were cutting him up; he was covered with the huru (or d gskin mat), and became sacred. The body was not eaten, but was placed up on a tree. Hearken, oye judges, this was the first instance of his love. The second was the saving of Ngaitahuliu. This is another story ; Pongia went to Whangarei to dry mackerel; on his return at Tautewau- : anga he saw the dogs of W ananga, Te Mararaakaiahua, and Nukutaurua; he stole them;. Wananga searched for his dogs light away to Maukahia, when he asked, " Are my dogs here?" Pongia said, " here ai;e your dogs." He, Wananga, was then seized and killed. His entrails were used as bait Jor eels. This was the karakia " Food for Pakirikiri and Fakar»kara, Open the door of Wananga's house ; . The Gels are biting, also the Kokopu And the Aua ; these lips are red When brought to land." This man Wananga that was eaten was the younger brother of Tahinganui, the elder brother was the ancestor of Te Hira. This is another narrative. Hari married a wife of Ng .timoeroa, Hari cried for the Karalras and viangakahia, Hari arose and went to the Ngapuhi's country the N gap uhi a aroee, the war party of Uari and fell upon Mangakahia, the Ngatimoeroa were slain. Tarai, chiet of the N-atimoeroa was killed, andTauru was saved or remained alive* Te-wha on account of his haying no-land at

Whatitiri, went to ask for a piece of Jland for himself. When he arrived at Kai' tari nga, Ttuiru asked him, what he had come for ? Te-wba said he had come for a Karaka grove for himself. Tauru then remembered the huru (dogskin mat) of Te Ponaharakeke with which Tomoaure had been covered, when he made use of the words to his young men, Friends your land, lam going to giveaway your land because I shall- be destroyed in JVlarigakahiaby treachery (i. e. I want protection) then the young men consented, and the Ngatimoeroa and Tauru showed- Tewha Horahora and said this is to be the boundary of your land. Te Mai, Teßipo, Otamateanui Tepawera, Ohuripopo, Kokirinui,Titoki,Waitomotomo, Hapairua. Tewlia and Tauru jumped on land, bur Tekirimangeo the sister of Tewha went by canoe to Te Rotokauae, Ngatoka Terakautahi, till they landed at Oue. Tauru said to Teuha friend this is to be the boundary ofyour land. Thereason why Tewha and Tauru Went by land was a place of red ochre. Otaroa was the name, he smeared Tewha over with it. The much valued article of the Maori is this Kokowai, therefore I say the land belongs to me and to us all, as well as to the Grove ot Karakas. Hearken O ye judges! this is the inland boundary at Hora Hora, Ngakiripapauni, Te Apu,Tewharerama, Tehoutou, Pekipekarau, Rauhuia, turning at Alaungatipa going down to the water at Oue, there crossing the main river of Maungakahia Ngaruahine, Tarakiekie, Hopetakahio Ran#ikarokia, Nukutawhiti, where it ends. This land Mangakahia was given to Tewha,son of the Waikeri and to his sister Kirimangeo ; . Whatitiri, was given to the Kahore, the son of the Ponaharakeke. Waikeri was the elder brother of Te Pon harakeke, Hear then 0 Council, to our ancestors who lived on the land at Mangakahia, Wairua, Whatitiri, WhangareiTangihuathere they are buried on these lands. Theseare the sacred places, TeAngiangi, Te Rotokauae,Pukeatua.Te Ngawha,le Waehaupapa, Tohanui, Pukanakana, Ruarangi, Pararhirahi, Haukapua,Oroarae,Te Motuinotu, Rangikapokia, Ilaruru, Qruwhao, Hikurangi this is the sacred place where the remains of Kukupa were laid with those of former generations. Our Ancestors never saw the Ancestors' of Te Hira, or of Jlatiu Te Aranui, placed ia those sacred places; even dowu to ourselves we, have never seen, known, or heard of such a thing. Therefore we hold fast to the land, no man can move us off, what, though the winds blow and all there fury is expended on it. This house shall not b>, destroyed, for ever and ever, Amen. * Netana Taramauroa: The point that I shhU remark upon, is the mention of my name

in the papers submitted by the Ngapuhi in reference to the lineal descent, for they have named my father Ripa among th§ir ancesfbva. I have understanding in this matter, for l a m aged, when my father died I heard his woVdig, I did not known the sayings of the Ngapuhi, the words they have just spoken. Who would suppose that the Ngapuhi wou}d undertake to trace my genealogy ? lam acquainted with the history of my own anc&toVs. It is not right that I should be dragged. (liy them) into evil, that is to say be mixed up with untruthful words. I say that this kind of counting up of ancestors is wrong. I did not hear of it formerly. If I had heard that, I should be living with Taupuhi at the present time (I should not.be so much surprised) ;' I say that these genealogical summaries &re most untruthful. The tracing of my father upon his own lands in reference to the line of ancestors, which lands were, Kiriopa, 'fe Whakatipi, Kaikohe, Te Tuhuna. Let the genealogy be ser up in reference to these lands, for my father was the only man who thorough' ly understood the enumeration of these ancestors, my father Ripa. In his days, and during the time of his keeping an account of the ancestors no evil befell men (the parties concerned in this matter) even up to his death. When his descendants grew up they sought to obtain knowledge in their own way; evil, therefore, has [befallen men. I am the only Ngajjuhi man residing among this people (i e. the people of Te Tirarau) at the time I came (to Kaipara) it was not by friendship, but I came to the Europeans, and so I then Saw these lands on the Wairoa. On my arrival there, I saw Te Tirarau only, in possession, .of his lands. There was no evil then among them, for there were no men at that time to disturb them. After I left (the North) they (the Ngapuhi) sought to create evil, tbit is to say, a plan was formed to take possession of the lands of these persons (i. e. Tirarau and party) of Te Tirarau and Hori Kingi. According to the best of my knowledge, they are living by right upon their own lands, and ihey both are speaking truth as are also all their pa ty, or tribe. But the Ngapuhi are false enough to attempt to take their, land. This is wrong, Ido not understand it. Let me eud here. Hori Kingi Tahua: This is the cause of ray getting possession of Mangakahia, namely my dog skin mat. The cause of my obtaining Whatitiri was this, the rescue of the Ngaitahuhu by Te Kahore. These are the grounds u P° n , w^ J retain possession of this land. This is all I have to say; my paper which is I now handed in will supplement what I have said.

. TitleofHori Kingi Tahua. These words are intended, as a reply to the statements of Te.Hjrai Te Awa, when Hori and Matiu disputed fogether at Kprorareka, Matiu then said, Son, if a Jasper stone, battle axe, or a dog skjn tnat (had been given) it. would be right [tjka] thjat my land, should go (as payment) to you." Hori then returned to his place and mentioned the matter, and Te Tohukai then stated that the ground upon M angakahia is claimed (by Hori's party) is this, —it was given in exchange for a dog skin mat, Te Hira says "no, it was not heard of in former tinges, this is quite a new thing." This is my word to Te Hira, in reply, the | word of Hori Kingi. That man, Te Hira, speaks falsely; also the whole of the Ngapuhi. Let their knowledge be spent on Kaikohe, the land upon, which their own feet tread (i. ,e, their own land) and let their ancestral tracings be fixed there ; but if they bring the know, ledge, they possess (ot ancestors, traditions, &C.) on to inv land it is wrong that this man Te Hira should do so. . Hear, O arbitrators, be cautious as respects false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly .they are ravening wolves ; by their fruits ye shall know them. , I will no longer, 0 Ngapuhi, foolishly give way to you. Formerly you took land of mine, and I did not resist it, and again you took land of mine, and I relinquished my clwn to.it ; but now as to this land, Mangakqhia, the payment of my dogskin mat, my ,h£»n<l grasps firmly this ray land. I shall cease to be ignorant or to disregard your yp° r genealogies, and your thoughts, O Ngapuhi. Give heed, O Arbitrators, this people, the Ngapuhi, , are a P®°P^ e w ho have no land at Mangakahia and Whatitiri. Now this land is my own, and belonged to my ancestors and my fathers, and the proprietorship extends to ug who are now sitting before you. This i» a " Hari" respecting my land Mangakahia: Ifithere be fissures in the land, Whither shall the peoplego? Q Ruaimokoi (thegodiof the earth, who is •, supposed to make the fissures), Hold it! Grasp if firmly, .. Firmly! firmly! firmly! (Signed) Horx Kingi Tahua. Parore said : O Hira and party, hearken . now;, all I wish is, peace. It is an' evil thing '9 destroy our bodies to get possession of land.. 1 his was my sentence when 1 went in ainpngst them, and I am still of the-same , mind, and say to you all what I said to 1?' Z' 1 h * ve . corae to you all, not to the land, (i. ,e, life is of more value than the

land.") : My younger brother Matiu said, " No, but my feet shall ,tread upon the aoil of Puketutu, of Whatitiri." ; And then my sentence to him was this—" Your feet .will not ;reach the soil of Puketutu and Whatitiri to tread on it. If you persist, then your grave will be there, and youfr people, routed." And if your friend who sits there (Te Hira ?) persists in the same thing, then he//a)so will have to fly, though he be urgent that his feet tread upon the soil of Puketutu. The, pit beneath will open its mouth widely (there will le war).. On some occasions when ! visited them (Matiu's people), they grumbled and found words to answer me. They said, "Go back ; it is you who: are a barrier in our way, of each party who are now sitting here, (waiting to attack each other). These days only are to be youre." Your friendly cautions will presently be unheeded by us. . Then said I, "Are you speaking to me thus ? O, Matiu, do you hearken now, to-morrow I shall return (to my own settlement). If. you hear the report of guns in the morning,, know than that it is I, (and my friends) who are going hence." Arama Karaka was informed of my visits (to Matiu ?), and when.Arama Karaka came I went thither. On my anival (one) stood up and said, " Welcome hither, O Son; it is thus that you should ever, come to us—come to us who are not near the disputed territory." He also said, that I was ;inast ignorant of him (i. e. his character), or igntir* ant as respects the claims, &c. He then seud that he should instruct me. I replied, that were I an old man well acquainted with figures, that I would give an account to hira, so that lie might be informed thereon. My correct dealing with them will be seen in the matter of the big gun. Hori said, " Let the gun be taken." Its name was " Ngengere," and that gun belonged to Hiri and Kiwi.Kiwi Kopako. Te Tirarau had guns also. . Now, 0 Europeans, do not suppose that I have no claim to. that land. I claim it by conquest (he pa nena). [Here a sentence was lost, so says the secretary, Mr. Johnson.] Hori says that the land belongs solely to them. If their ancestor Kiriwehi had been reared in that place, then what has been asserted would be just—a portion of it would seem to be fair. Why do they ask us to become <ihe with Taupuhi ? I have the keel (principal ancestral line) from which Paikea came. MHtitikuha and his father (Paikea) both came from Taupuhi, and were encircled or taken care of by me in former days, and we are oiie, (are relatives). What will they do now ? they have leaned against Taupuhi and Paikea (they claim in

conjohctton with them).. Let that sort of pntit>ca be adaotedby Ngatiwhakaeke (i. e., invader*) to take sway land for themselves. This/i is ; intended for the Ngatitautahi.— ; Hearken* O Spnß,and hearken, O Europeans! Th?« is the ; ground, upon which I made ray statement, namely, that :the ground.belongs, to me olaim is derived from) Taramainuku aiid ;Tutangoitepuku .; Let the proprietorship T^itamw—-Toetoer-Ngaungau, of my n 4npe/rtor Taramainuku, who belonged to the' iNgotiwh atua tribe and the proprietor Ngauv; Sufficient are my • Maori expressions, thepaper 1 hand, in will conclude that: I have J to s&y. The paper was then handed in, and read. . . ..Hearken, Q arbitrators, this is a word respecting Wairoa. Listen, theNgapuhis Bay'/lhat this lind,. Te Wairoa, belongs to them. I do not know' this. Their statement is^fatee; fdr I am acquainted with the fact tbaV'tife land in question belongs to me. Now 0 arbitrators, ! never heard that tfheitf tyl* a head man—the head of a tribe; bat 1 from my father that Tiheru was • sister to Tftramanuku, and this wtnuan; belonged to the Ngatirangi tribe. Listen, now, O arbitrators! This woman ca'fltef¥bm Tamba to Kaihu, and taking with het' TkVamaihuka, on board a canoe, they paddleflto the mouth of the Kaihu stream, and then Tiheru said to Taramainuku ''This ir'the boundary —this is your , boundary." TfaenTaramainuku rose,-and taking his axe, chopped a* tree. The name' of his axe was ""Te- Bangikatowhn." Now,do you hearken, the time that Te Wairoa was taken possession of by my ancestor Taramainuku, bdtti'lricifes- of the 1 Wairoa river. And now I from - Te Hira Te Awa, that it was a p)ic* where nets were letdown (to catch fish). Hi 'makes a false statement, O arbitrators. Hearken now, when Taramanuku died, his childfen,; Haumu, W hitirua, Taurere, Taha, and- TeAwha, lived. Haumu's children were»—Mira, Te Whakak&hu, and Kukupa; Te Whakakahu's child is Paikea. Her brother Kukupa's son is Te Tirarau. Whitiruawas brother to Haumu; his son was Te Wheinga. ?uha his ; sister gave birth to Hopa, and the brother Te Awha's son is Parore. Mira had iw .issue.- sister VVaiariki gave birth to ~,These are the people who resided in the Wairoa, Unuwhao, Tutamoi, Kaihu, Waikara, Waipoua. Now, hearken, this was the proverb : -;.Whaiputuputu is lying down, and the agioe is at anchor at Kawerua. He was the person who looked after Waipoua and MaungaatjiL These took charge (qfthe lands), Pinea, Tutamoi; and these took charge, Te Enga.

naia, Unuwhao; and these took charge, Taramainuku and party. These are the tribes who were within the boundaries of these landsTe Taou, Ngatiwhatua, Ngatirango, Te Rorcia, Ngatikawa, Ngatikorokoro, Ngatirohiu. This is the proverb of these tribes. Let the basket of Toheroas be crossed above, &c. The end of my speech. (Signed) Parore Te Awha. Tirarau Kukupa. This is another sentence, hearken to it, O the European side, and the Maori side. The boundaries of the lands of my ancestors and fathers extending down to me, that is to say, according to the right of my male auCestor, commence at Niiihaka, going thencequite through to Mangakirikiri. thence in thestrt&m of Hakikr on to Takapuera, thence itgdeson till it reaches Te Punga, thence to Takahoka. The boundaries end here on these pieces. Now hearken, O Ngapuhi, these are the permanent boundaries of the land for ever and ever. Amen. Questions of Te Hemara to Te Tirarau and Parore, Q. Now, is the ownership of the land with you two only ? A. With us two only. Q. Did the laud belong to your ancestors, and have you both a full knowledge that this land belongs to you both ? A. Yes. Q. Now, 0 Patu, is your heart fully en* lightened on this subject; is this land yours % : A. Yes, I am fully enlightened on thiit point. Te Hemara to the Ngapuhi, to Te Hira, and his party Q. How is it that you have a full knowledge that this land is yours ? A. The why we have this knowledge is, our £ - -itor honestly (tika) resided thereon. Q. Why did your ancestors in former times lay claim to that land ? A. In ancient times, Morenganui left it (to his descendants). Q. And now, have you all a knowledge this inheritance is yours,—-yours from that time to the present ? A. Yes, from that time reaching down to us. Q. You all state that it was the property 1 of your ancestor; but who belonging to you is now residing on that land ? A.Paora and others; all our aged men are dead. Q. Do you wish your land to be given up to you by means of this arbitration? v :A. Yes, we wish our land to be given up to us.

r ! e H> mara to Te Tirorau and ITori:— -Q. :0 i i and Ilori, IV Hira say? that.hewants his land to be given up to them. .You; have heard this-sentence j -io you agree to it?.- ' A. We will not agree. '.Te Hemara : Now, in reference to this arbitration, i the. Governor and Mr. Bel I decided th it (the claims of each ; party) should be investigated, so that the right and the \vrong ot each party might W made manifest. My opinion is this, —that the Governor'aiid Mr. Bel! lie the jiidges.