NATIVE LANDS COURT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 257, 20 March 1875, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS COURT.

Friday, March 12, 1875. [Before Judge Rogan (presiding); Hone Peti; and Wiktriwhi Te Tuaha, Assessors .J Whatatutu Block, 6,849 Acres. Wi Pere, sworn said : This land belongs to many sub-tribes of Tetanga Mahaki. I put in a list of owners to the sub-division containing 3,187 acres called Manukawhitikitiki No. 3. The persons owning in this block are the descendants of Wahia. The Court then proceeded to hear the following sub-divisional cases. Mauukawhitikitiki. No. 1, 1,136 acres. Manukawhitikitiki, No. 2, 949 acres. Whatatutu, 1,106 acres. Whatatutu, No. 1, 230. Whatatutu, No. 2, 241 acres. Saturday’, Makch 13, 1875. Manukawhitikitiki No. 2, 949 Acres. Pera te Uatu, an objector, sworn said : lam a member of Ngariki tribe. There are 36 others who claim with me. Pera said this land is Ngarikis’ only. I have never seen any other people on. the land. The cultivation on the blocks are Ngariki’s only. Here witness detailed several in ter-tribal fights having taken place in defence of this land, his people ultimately triumphing. Wnka Mahtiika said to my father Rawiri go back and live on the land. The Wheao shall be the boundary between you and my grandchildren. We have occupied it to this time ; our homes, and fruit trees are there now. My father is buried there at a place called Hewha. Wi Pere said all the tribes fought about this land. Ngatimaru brought the remnants of my tribe back on the land. Aly strongtli brought me back, I was the strongest side. I know Po. He has a place but not 011 this land. I know nothing of Hinika’s claim. Your ancestor did not bring the remnant of my tribe back on to the land. By the Court: Wc gained the last battle. This was in my father’s time. There were two battles fought in his time. Hoera gave evidence in support of last witness. Monday’, March 15, 1875. Wai koh um ata wax Block. Application was made for ten persons to be named as trustees under Native Lands Act, 1865. Order made accordiugly-

Manukawhitikitiki Block, 3187 acres. Wi Pere sworn : This land originally belonged to Po who was the chief of the Ngariki tribe, he wanted to murder my ancestor, (the Ngariki are also sometimes called Npati Po). His conversation was overheard by Tuhuatahi of my tribe. My ancestor gathered his warriors together and sent a challenge to Po to fight. Po did not accept the challenge, but ran away to Opotiki. The land, about 100,000 acres had become mine. My ancestor, after a time invited them to come back and live on the land, which they did. They payed tribute from the fruits of the bush. On one occasion when Ngatipo had brought their tribute, my ancestor’s wife went to open the calabashes and my ancestor struck her on the hand, she was so disgusted that she went away to her own tribe Ngatamatea; I relate this incident to show that they were subject to us. They again began to have evil thoughts. In bringing tribute theyput earthunder the birds in calabashes. There was a fight at the Opotiki and they were defeated. The light about Pikai, mentioned by Pera, was mine. That fight was a quarrel between two brothers, on a fishing right. This was at or near to Bepongaere. Pikai was killed there. They dispersed and lived at other parts in the Bay and Table Cape. There were several battles and many deaths on their side. Afterour defeat at Papahikurangi we went to Opotiki. We came back to fight again. We went to Pipiwhaka and insulted a woman whom we caught. We fought with Itongowbakaatu. After many fights my section of Ngariki returned on the land ; Pera’s section did not. The Ngarikiporu Wahia were never made slaves of. My grandfather went to Nukulaurua and brought Berepo back with him. He did not come back by his own strength. Tiiis is how they are living on the land now. Had they not paid the tribute they would have been killed. My reason for putting two of the objectors on one of the pieces is not because they are descendants of Wahia,

but from my affection for them. At Pukenui, Hirini te Kani was taken, and: some of these people were given as payment, I have never given this land back to them ; they have occupied it from my affeciionfor them. The fightat. Kekeparoa was mine. Te Muhunga and all the larger battles were mine. By Pera: I have explained how you became degraded aud I became your chief. I have never been made a slave by you, my mother was, but by other tribes. Ido not know that I ever gave you any land. Whaka never said “ let the Wheao be a boundary,” all he said was, go back and light your fire there, I do not know how the land came back to you. Pita te Hu Hu sworn, confirmed Wi Pore’s statement. By the Court: It is a native custom that when a people are driven off and they are sent on again by the conqueror, that the land comes back to them, but it must be done by the whole people. Watatutu Block, No. 2 241. By the Court to Hone Kuna : my reason for putting some of the Morris’s into one block, and not in the others, is that their ancestor Waihonehualeft the land. Another piece was given to them at Waitangi. Wi Horonga said, Tutepuaki our common ancestor conquered this land, my dead are on it, I have a cultivation on the opposite side of the river, and on this land. I have lived on this land, with, my father ’and Wharekauri’s father.