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rangiora, that was settled by Mr. Parris, who gave you an allocation of about 500 acres at Materikoriko. 384. Tanira: I have another word to say about the land at Materikoriko. It is let, but some have not agreed to the letting. 385. The Commissioners ;We have nothing to do with that. If you are foolish enough to let vour land without agreeing among yourselves, we are not to interfere. 386. Hori Tukimana te Mahota (George Stockman), of the Ngatirahiri Tribe, said : I wish to know whether you can individualize the block at Materikoriko referred to by the last claimant, for there are about twelve who have signed the lease, but the greater number of us, about 97, have not agreed. 387. The Commissioners: That is not our business. It is quite true, however, that there are difficulties about it, and we think there ought to be a regulation that a lease should only be given when all the Natives agree. We shall propose that that should be done; but it will not be our own work ; it will afterwards be the work of the law. 388. Hori: I wish to ask a question about the land referred to by Mr. Parris yesterday as set apart for Ihaia and Te Teira. Mr. Parris said that 500 acres had been reserved for Te Teira and his people by the Government. That land is part of the town belt, and has never been through the Court. At the time when Materikoriko was allotted and went through the Court, we knew the other piece had not been through tho Court, and it was when it was given to Te Teira that we found out it had been taken. The name of the place is Paipaiowairaka. When we returned from Waikato in 1848, some of lhaia's people offered this to Sir Donald McLean for sale. We assembled at Tahuna, and my mother asked which portion it was they offered, and what right they had to offer it for sale. She repeated her question three times, but received no answer. My mother then told Sir Donald McLean that this land belonged to her, and that no one else was entitled to deal with it. Sir Donald McLean then asked all the Natives who were present if her statement was true, and they all agreed that it was. I have remained loyal all along: but I have since seen that our land has been taken from us and given to others. 389. Mr. Parris said: In 1866, when the Compensation Court sat at New Plymouth, there were special agreements entered into by several tribes whose claims dovetailed in the locality referred to by Hori. Hori is a member of the Ngatirahiri Tribe; they got the Materikoriko. The Pukerangiora got the Euaiwi reserve, only a line dividing the two. The Otaraoa got another piece situated more near to the township. Te Teira's hapu got the last piece, 500 acres, next the township. All this was explained, and agreements were signed by the different people. Copies of those agreements are, I believe, in the Native Office. Hori Tukimana's name was attached to the agreement signed by the members of the Ngatirahiri. Those agreements have existed for a great number of years, and this is the first time that Hori Tukimana has brought a claim forward. 390. The Commissioners: We think that settles the matter, and that Hori cannot raise the question any more. It was foolish of him, when he was in the employment of the Government, not to have mentioned the matter. 39f. Hori: There were claims sent in, but they were outside of this one. 392. Mr. Parris asked leave to put this question: Did you not act as interpreter to Leedham when he was negotiating for the lease of the whole of this land?—l did. 393. Did you mention your claim then ? —I told Leedham that, although I was assisting him to negotiate a lease, yet I was going to test this point about the ownership. 394. Did you tell Teira and the others so ? —I do not know that I did, but I told Leedham. 395. The Commissioners: You have made an error, and cannot now make any claim. 396. Mrs. Ngaere: I put in a list of the awards held by us, aud we wish to have the land included in the scrip awards surveyed with as little delay as possible. The names are of those who are remaining quietly here, and the list does not contain the names of any of those who are away at Parihaka or elsewhere. There is another request I have to make respecting land at Onaero belonging to Epiha, which he left by will to my qhildren. I want to know the position of this land. 397. Mr. Pan-is: Epiha bad nothing to will away. He simply lived upon the land. 398. Mrs. JS'gaere : I admit that Epiha took up arms against the Europeans; but, at the same time, this land was given to him by Mr. Parris on Epiha's return after the rebellion. 399. Harerota Hinemura said: My mother's name was Pete Hinemura. I had a conversation some time ago with the Hen. Mr. Sheehan in relation to my claims. In a correspondence I had with the Government I made mention of my mother going to Sydney and getting married to a mastermariner named Johnson. 400. The Commissioners.] Were you born in Sydney?—No ; I was born at Nelson. 401. Your mother was married at Korareka (Eussell) ?—Yes. 402. Was not your father drowned at Sydney ? —Yes. 403. You say a piece of land (16 acres) was awarded to you at Waitotara, and afterwards sold to the Government ? —Yes. 404. Have you not had any land given you instead ?—No. 405. Where are you living now? —On the other side of Opunake. 406. Is it within the Urenui district you want to have your land given to you ? —Yes. 407. Have you any children ? —No. I should say that it was Mr. Smith, Judge of the Compensation Court, who awarded the land to me. 408. Is there not another Harerota, who was wife to Pumipi ?—Yes; but it was to me the land was awarded, not to her. She was a Ngatiruanui, and I belong to the Ngatimutunga. 409. Who brought 3^our claim before the Compensation Court?—Ahipane Marangai. 410. Is he alive ?—Yes ; he is living at Parihaka. 411. Major Brown: With regard to Marangai, the Native referred to in the correspondence, and who is said to be living at Parihaka, if Mr. Wellington Carrington, who frequently goes to Parihaka, and who is an officer of the Government, is desired to ask Marangai which Harerota the land was awarded to, he will no doubt furnish the information desired. 412. The Commissioners.] If it turns out that your statement, Harerota, is correct, and that the land intended for you was sold by the Government by mistake, then we will recommend that a piece
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