25

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was next. It was a large block containing Horowhenua Lake. It was said to contain 15,000 acres, but has turned out less on survey. The tribe decided that this block should be for the people, and that I was to be the caretaker of it. We then discussed No. 12, a block of about 13,000 acres on the hills. I was not present the whole time. I was ill. Did not hear what had been arranged until it came before the Court. None of these divisions had yet been before Kahui's Court. Nothing was known about No. 13 until we went into Court. No. 14 came next. It was on the Ohau side. I asked the people to consent to this block being awarded to me. The tribe agreed. It was my land, and they agreed to my having it for myself. They all agreed. None of them objected. McDonald was not present at all the discussions. He ceased after No. 4 was discussed. At that time relations between us had become strained. Sometimes McDonald attended the meetings. Sometimes he did not, as we were not friendly. When the new Assessor arrived the Court sat again. This was Kahui. When Kahui arrived we all assembled in Court. Cannot remember date. Judge Wilson presided. We asked that the orders for Nos. 1, 2, and 9 might be confirmed. The latter was formerly No. 3. It was McDonald who applied for confirmation of the former awards, because they were of no effect. The Judge also said that the orders of the previous Court were invalid because the Assessor sitting with him at the second Court was a new Assessor. The orders for (1) rail-way-line, (2) the township, and (9) for descendants of Te Whatanui, 10,200 acres adjoining Eaumatangi, were then made. When No. 9 was being arranged in Court, Hitau, a Ngatiraukawa woman, said that part of the land was sandy. Nicholson also stood up and asked to be shown the plan. The Court told him it could not hear him. I got up and said I would adjust the boundaries so as to exclude the sand. The descendants of Whatanui wanted me to bring the boundary to the Hokio Stream. I declined to do this, and said that it must not approach nearer than 2 chains from the stream and lake. The Judge then left the Courthouse to Mr. Lewis so that we might discuss the matter. I was present at the meeting with Lewis in the Courthouse, arranging the boundaries of No. 9. Palmerson was there. The boundary was finally settled then and there. We shifted the boundary so that it went by Otaewa. The lower side was moved to Waiwherowhero, cutting out Ohenga, the sandy ground. Ohenga is a burial-ground. Mr. Lewis and the descendants of Whatanui agreed to the boundaries as altered, and the matter was completed. It was taken into Court again, and awarded to me for the descendants of Whatanui. After this was done, McDonald applied for No. 4 for people of Hamua. There were no objections to this. After this award was made McDonald ceased to act for us. We quarrelled. He wanted me to give him the line of railway. I said I would, but I first wanted to know what was meant by the word "shares." He replied, "that does not matter ; you have signed the agreement to the Eailway Company." I insisted that he should explain to me what " shares" meant. I was careful, because I had previously been a shareholder of a steamer and got nothing for my shares but paper. We thus became estranged, and I managed things myself. I explained to the Court what had been agreed to by the people, and asked for the orders to carry out their instructions. I first applied for No. 5, and it was awarded—after objectors had been called for, none appearing. I then applied for No. 6. I explained to the Court what it was for, but that the names of the persons entitled had not yet been ascertained. Objectors were called for. There were none. Order was made. Then I applied for No. 7. There were no objectors. They were challenged by the Court. Objectors were called for by the Court when I applied for No. 8. None objected. Then came No. 9, which was awarded to me for descendants of Whatanui. The adjustment of the boundaries was mentioned. There were no objectors, and the order was made. I explained the nature of No. 10 to the Court—that it was for my debts which my people had taken on to their shoulders. Objectors were challenged, but there were none, and an order was made for it in my name for me to convey to Sievwright, which I did. Then came No. 11, including the lake. I made the application for it. I was on one side of the table; McDonald and Wirihana on the other. The majority of Muaupoko were in the body of the Court. My application to the Court was that No. 11 should be awarded to me in pursuance of an arrangement made by my tribe that I should hold the land as a caretaker. As I stood up, McDonald handed me a note suggesting that Warena and myself should be put in the title. Te Kiri and Eaniera wanted to know what was written on the paper ? I said it was proposed that Warena should be put in the land with me, and trouble immediately arose in the Court, and, seeing this, I said we would go into another room and talk the matter over. The Court waited. When we entered the little room I said I will give the land to Ihaia Taueki as caretaker. Eaniera, Te Kiri, and others would not consent, and insisted that I should be in the title. I'then said I would agree to Warena being in the title with me, as he was an exemplary young man. The people were very angry. Eangimairehau, Eaniera, and others left the Court. I went back and applied to the Court to make an order in favour of Warena and myself. Objectors were challenged. There were none. The principal people had left the Court. They were right, and I was wrong, as is shown by what is now happening. It was not proposed at any of our meetings that Warena's name should be put in the title. The proposal came upon them as a surprise ;it was the first they had heard of it, and they were annoyed. It was McDonald's fishhook that caught me. He is a man of fishhooks. No. 12 was next. I applied to have this awarded to us two, as we were already in No. 11. Eaniera objected. The case stood over for a time, and came before the Court the next day. In the meantime we had arranged the matter. Eangimairehau wanted to be kai-tiaki, so did Hoani and Himiona Kowhai. I said we will leave all your names out and put in Ihaia Taueki. The tribe agreed, and it was brought into Court. I applied for an order. Objectors were challenged. None appeared. Order was made to Ihaia Taueki. The tribe knew it was for them. No. 13 then came before the Court, and it was found that there were two names for one person, Wiremu Matakatea and Wiremu Matakara. A block containing one square foot was awarded to the latter. There were no objectors. My first mentioning of No. 14 was at Mangakahia's Court. I made my first application on the 2nd December, 1886, after the square foot was awarded. The order was not made then ; the Judge remained silent.

4—G. 2.