24

G.—2a,

the people here assisted to take this land. The taking of these lands was the cause of Ngatiraukawa, Ngatikauwhata, and Ngatiwhakatcre leaving for Kapiti. I will not conceal the truth. Examined by Mr. McDonald : What battles did you fight? What pas did you take? —We took some pas on the Puniu River : Whakarekehone, Piriata, and Hangahanga ; these are all I know The remains are still there. Did you ever hear of Huiterangiora Pa ? —I believe it is the same as Hangahanga. Hangahanga is at Puniu. Did all these pas fall in one day ? No ; they were taken on different days. Give the names of some of the chiefs who took these pas. —Te Wherowhero, Te Eauangaanga (father of Te AVherowhero and Te Waharoa. Did you (Ngatiapakura) fight with Ngatihaua? I did not fight. Ngatiapakura did fight with Ngatihaua. Ngatihikairo have never had any quarrels with Ngatihaua. Did you hear of a piece of land being given to Ngatiapakura to make peace ? No. AVas Te Wherowhero a Ngatihikairo ? Yes. Was AVaharoa a Ngatihikairo ? Yes. Is Te Raihi a Ngatihikairo ? Yes. Was Raukawa a Ngatihikairo? Yes, formerly Was Rauparaha a Ngatihikairo ? Yes. — Is.Ngatikauwhata a Ngatihikairo ? Yes. This closed the case for the Crown. Tapa Te Whata said : I would like to explain Hone te One's evidence. The Court said he could do so in the morning. Court adjourned.

Ekiday, 11th Febbuaey, 1881.

Mr. McDonald asked leave to produce evidence to show that the pas through which the last witness desired to prove conquest had no connection with the case of his clients. The Court intimated that such evidence is quite immaterial. Tapa Te Whata said : I would like to explain re the pas spoken of by Hone te One's. [Matter explained to him as quite irrelevant.] Puahoe closed.

Ngamoko No. 2. Mr. McDonald said : The evidence relating to Pukekura and Puahoe relates to the whole country claimed by my clients. I am not aware that I have anything new to offer. The divisions into the blocks known to the Court are not recognised or known to my clients. Our claim is that shown on the map forwarded by me to the Government and by the Government transmitted to the Commissioners. I will call —■ Tapa Te Whata sworn :I am the claimant, and gave evidence in the Pukekura claim. I know the land called Ngamako No. 2. [Map (Chapman's map of Waikato) with ink line showing our claim to laud in Waikato.] Ngamako No. 2is within the lines traced. That land Ngamako No. 2is mine—Ngatikauwhata. I heard that the title to this land had been found by the Native Land Court, in 1868. I did not come to that Court here because we were engaged in land matters at Rangitikei, and were assured by the Native Minister, Mr. Richmond, that our land would be protected if we remained at Rangitikei. We gave notice to Mr. Richmond, and he told us to remain where we were. Had we been able to have come I would have put in a claim to it. The promise of the Native Minister is the only reason for our absence from here in 1868, and I think I should have established my right had I been here. What I have said about Pukekura applies to the whole district delineated on the plan by me. By Major Mair: I occupied Ngamako No. 2 at the same time as I occupied Pukekura. Had you cultivations there ? —My parents had cultivations there. When did they cease to occupy it ? When they went to Kapiti; that is, those of them who did go. Those who did not go remained and cultivated. Were any other hapus occupying or living there ? —No hapus other than Kauwhata or those related to us occupied it. Te Ngakau said I would like the Court to know that the persons who would be able to prove or upset the statements of Tapa are not here. I can say something about it myself [He was told that if he has anything to say he should say it now-, or if he has any questions to ask he should do so now The Court desires to hear what Manga and AVi te Wheoro have to say relative to this land, and for that purpose will adjourn to Te Awamutu. If he chooses to wait he is welcome to do so. —He elected to wait.] Mr. McDonald said that he was unable to produce any more information here —that the evidence adduced in the former cases be taken as read, and would ask permission to produce further matter at another time. Major Mair said: I would like to ask Tapa another question. Tapa recalled. By the Court: You said your parents cultivated Ngamako No. 2 ?—Yes. What sort of a place is it ?—A mixture of swamp and dry land. Hote Tamihana said: I object to the intention of the Court removing to Te Awamutu. AVe were told the Court would sit here, and we have come. We do not know how we are to get to Te Awamutu to hear the evidence and question it of others at Te Awamutu. The Commissioners said that, after going to Te Awamutu, if Mr. McDonald or Major Mair required the evidence of any persons here, they would come back here again.