G.—6h

2

As to Hoani Tatana's interest in the Arareke Block,-the following is the information supplied by a letter from the Registrar of the Aotea District Native Land Court to the Under-Secretary, Native Affairs, dated 7th December, 1918 :— " The name of Miri Tatana appears in the list of owners for ' Arareke 1892 Act leases,' but not that of Hoani te Keha or Hoani Tatana. The title to this land is an unsigned residue order (partition order) made under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Acts, 1913 and 1914, dated 25th July, 1916. A search of the previous title reveals the fact that Hoani Tatana was one of two owners of Arareke No. I—title, unsigned partition order dated 27th September, 1892 ; and Herewini Tatana and Miri Tatana were, in order dated 10th November, 1893, appointed successors in equal shares. But on the making of the order of the 25th July, 1916, the unsigned partition order for Arareke No. 1 was cancelled." It is against all these orders that Hoani Meihana and his relatives petition. At the hearing before me Hoani Meihana on oath gave the whakapapa as under : — Te Keha=Hinekauatata ! Eruera Tatana Hoani Tatana (d., no issue) Heruini Tatana Wild te Amohau Tatana __J I I • Miri Tatana (f.a.) Wiki=Te Waari Meihana=Huhana=Harawira Pirika Niwa Totiana=lhaka te I I (no issue) Kauri (1.) Mataria te Waari (f.a.) T (2.) Meri te Waari (f.a.) (1.) Hoani Meihana (m.a.) (1.) Rangiawahi te Morehu or < 3 -' Ani to Waari ( d -> (2.) Titiraukura te Waari (f.a.) .Meri Pirika (f.a.) I (3.) Rawiri Meihana (m.a.) (2.) Karira Wiremu Pirika (m.a.) laan te * Vaarl (™- a -> (4.) Haurangi Meihana (m.a.) (5.) Ruita Meihana (f.a.) (1.) Eruera Carrington Horoatua (m.a.) (6.) Heni Meihana (f.a.) (2.) Tukiaka Ihaka (7.) Riwiti Meihana (f.a.) (3.) Wereta te Kauri (4.) Wiremu te Kauri (deceased) (1.) Totiana Ihaka (f., 15) (2.) Rawara Ihaka (f., 14) (3.) Rohana Ihaka (f., 13) (4.) Wiremu Ihaka (m., 6) » (5.) Hine Ihaka (f., 5) (G.) Poki Ihaka (f., 4) (7.) Mere Wirihana Ihaka (f., 3) (Trustee for these minors, Tukiaka Ihaka, their uncle.) This he stated was on information given to him by his mother, and that he firmly believed it to be correct. It is, he informed the Court, supported by the list of owners in Pariwhakaoho 101, which shows Eruera Tatana, Hoani Tatana, and Herewini Tatana ; that Wiki was not included, as she had got into lands at Whakapuaka ; that Hoani and Heruini's names were in title for Arareke. Titiraukura te Waari supported her brother's evidence. After the evidence of these two had been taken a telegram was received from Samuel Jackson. Native Agent, New Plymouth, asking if certain applications to succeed to Hoani Tatana in respect of these lands had been heard, and stating Miri Tatana interested. A reply was sent that matter of petition was now before Court, and that Miri Tatana appeared to be entitled to one-third share. On the 19th November Mr. Jackson replied as follows : — " I am in receipt of your telegram of the 18th instant, stating that ' Succession cases adjourned. Reporting Chief Judge Miri Tatana only entitled to one-third. Does she object to that ? ' I have seen Miri Tatana, and she stated that she does not object to being awarded one-third of the Nelson lands, but she does object to others being included in the succession to Hoani Tatana in the Arareke Block, New Plymouth. Under these circumstances will Your Honour kindly adjourn application No. 72 (Arareke) to New Plymouth. Will Your Honour please notify me if adjournment is granted." To this a reply was sent that the Arareke case had been adjourned sine die, and that it would in the ordinary course be set down for hearing at the next Picton Court. If he so desired he could then ask for adjournment to New Plymouth. It appears to me that there is very little doubt but that Miri Tatana is entitled to one-third only. The succession orders as already made seem clearly incorrect, and should be annulled, leaving it to the parties to fight the whole question out when the applications for succession again come before the Court. Dated this 26th day of November, 1920. W. E. Rawson, Judge. The Chief Judge, Native Land Court, Wellington.

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