G.—6a

3

References. 1. Order of 6th April, 1910 (Browne, J.), determining beneficial owners of Lot 154. (Tauranga M.B. 7/48.) 2. Appellate Court order of 7th December, 1910, varying above. 3. Partition of 29th July, 1914. (Tauranga M.B. 8/154.) 4. Order of 17th April, 1916 (Browne, J.), determining owners of Te Puna, Lot 154d. (Tauranga M.B. 9/66.) 5. Partition of Lot 154d on 3rd August, 1916. (Tauranga M.B. 9/272.) Extract from Tauranga Minute-book No. 11, Pages 21-23. (3rd March, 1922.) Re Te Puna, Lot 154d. —Inquiry under Section 32 of the Act oe 1920. Present : (1) Potaua Maihi, or Tangitu ; (2) Hare Pitua ; and other owners. Court has read all previous orders and minutes of jiroceedings already taken in this block. Potaua Maihi, or Potaua Tangitu (sworn) : lam one of the petitioners. My complaint is that the sellers were also included in the title to the land which the Crown purchased and gave back — Lot 154d. A piece, of 20 acres was cut off for Te Wanakore Maungapohatu (see partition order of 29th July, 1914, reserved from sale to Crown) ; also 5 acres each cut off for Pitua family and Potier family. My main objection is that they had those awards, and yet participated in the 263 acres. (See 8/1914.) Section 157 —200 acres (about) —was given by grant to Potier famify, and Sections 164 and 184 —200 acres —to Pitua family. Potier and Pitua are Pirirakau. Te Puna, Lot 16 (50 acres), also went to the eight persons found by Appellate Court in Lot 154. (Shares of vendors in award was twenty-five out of sixty-eight —that is, 96f acres out of 263 acres 1 rood 24 perches. They reserved from sale 30 acres only.) Potaua (continuing) : In. 1870 Crown grant to two persons in trust. ■ People living on landbut some away, and noxious weeds growing. The others benefited by our labours. I ask for amendment of shares. To Court,: I did not appeal because I did not know about rules. Later on land partitioned, and we got No. 10—36 acres and 16 perches. I was present. Our houses to be cut out there. No appeal. Faulkner family agree with me, and Te Keno Hekenui, also Heke Hotu, Ratima family (Lot 154i>, No. 8), and Tarau family (Lot 154d, No. 11). Hare Pitua, Hoki Mare, Te Moetu : We oppose. Potaua Tangitu : I am prepared to confine, my claim to the unsold 30 acres for all the Pirirakau, including vendors. (Court pointed out that the sellers would get twenty-five shares out of sixty-eight of the 30 acres. Potaua Tangitu : I ask for adjournment until Monday. (Granted.) Extract from Tauranga Minute-booh No. 11, Pages 50, 51. (6th March, 1922.) Re Te Puna, Lot 154b. Inquir) 7 resumed. Potaua Maihi, or Tangitu (sworn) : When this came before Native Affairs Committee, opposition did not attend. lam not now asking for the 30 acres not sold to the Crown, but I will ask for order to be amended for the 263 acres by cutting out all names of vendors. It is because the petitioners suffered and the others did not. Rotohiko Whakana (sworn) : We petitioned because some Pirirakau left out of order for the 263 acres. I was left out. (In list—No. 58.) I have finished, as I find I am in the list. (Case.) Hare Pitua (sworn) : I oppose the petition. Judge Browne's order on 17th April, 1916, is correct, and we have worked the land according to the partition orders made subsequently, on 3rd August, 1916. The Pirirakau are all right as a whole, but Potaua is making trouble.

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