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Anahera was an adopted daughter of Mereana te Marohuia. Heni Piti was a distant relative of Rapata Nepia. She was appointed his successor in Houpoto Blook because she had rights under the ancestor set up on investigation of the title to that block. I admit that my right and the right of the other successors appointed to Rapata Nepia is not as great as that of Keita Rangitukia. If I had been present in the Court I would not have; consented to my being included in the succession. Heni Piti lives at Omaio. Cross-examined by Merito.] Mereana te Marohuia derived her interests in the Rangitaiki Blocks from her father's side. Her mother belonged to Pahipoto. I think that Anahera had a right to succeed Mereana te Marohuia on account of the relationship and also on account of her having been adopted by the deceased. Re-cross-examined by Mr. Smith.] I admit that the Rangitaiki sections were confiscated land and that the ancestral title was extinguished. Merito Hetaraka (sworn) : (To Mr. Lawson). I knew Mereana te Marohuia. Will give whakapapa : — Te Kaikino Matangihiaro * Katamoe = Takotoiliu Kitawera of N'Pahipoto J (of N'Hokopu) | (N'Awa) Kawliena Mereana te Marohuia. Anahera Patara. * Katamoe — Te Mokaikai I ~ I Rangitukia Nepia Koita Rangitukia. Rapata Nepia. It should be plain to the Court that Keita and .Rapata have no claim to Mereana's interests in Lots 28 and 31, Rangitaiki, because the lists passed were in favour of definite hapus. 1 consider that the persons who should have succeeded should have been members of those hapus rather than the next-of-kin. These lands were awarded to the N'Hokopu and others and not to N'Pahipoto. Rapata and Keita have rights in the Rangitaiki Blocks under Katamoe. Mereana te Marohuia adopted Anahera as a child. Latter lived with her until Mereana died. Maori adoptions at that time were not registered. I consider that Anahera should be the sole successor to Mereana's interests in Rangitaiki Lots 28 and 31. I admit that I was responsible for the inclusion of both Keita and Anahera as successors. I remember Rapata Nepia. I know that Keita is his next-of-kin. lt is fully admitted, I will explain why eight other persons were admitted to succeed with her. The question of succession was brought up before the whole hapu, which decided that the persons who looked after Rapata during his illness should participate in his estate. It was decided to disregard the question of relationship. To Court.] We did not consult Keita Rangitukia, although she was the next-of-kin. Cross-examined by Mr. Smith.] I admit that Rapata Nepia was the next-of-kin to Mereana when she died, and that Keita is the nearest of kin to the latter, in preference to Anahera Patara. I admit that Rangitaiki Lots 28b and 31 were confiscated lands and that question of ancestral rights cannot be raised. But hapu rights obtain, and these lands were awarded to certain hapus. Heni Piti is not a near relative to Rapata Nepia, as far as I know. To Court.] I appeared before the Court and had Heni Piti put into Houpoto as sole successor to Rapata Nepia. I was asked to do so. I admit she was not the nearest of kin and that Keita was not consulted. She was at Rotorua, and was not advised as to how the interests were being dealt with. I admit that I acted wrongly in so doing, and Ido not now think I was right in putting a number of persons in as successors to Rapata's Rangitaiki interests without her knowledge and concurrence, although she would probably have agreed if she had. been consulted. Tho Court intimated that it would send its report to Wellington in due course.

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