MAORI MATRIMONIAL DISPUTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 21 October 1912, Page 6

MAORI MATRIMONIAL DISPUTES.

The matrimonial differences of two na>iive couples some 200 years ago formed the basis of the contest over the Mata•hiia block, which was before the Native Land Court at Tuparoa a few days ago. In one case a child cried for crayfish. The father rebuked the child,' and the mother resented this treatment of the little savage. The father then remarked that it was somewhat strange that ciie could not chastise his own child, since the latter would never derive any ■ land from the mother which would entitle ham to procure crayfish. The mother was so irritated at this that she immediately went to one of her landed relatives, who forthwith made the child r. present of a block of land that was then of little value. In the other case, the wife, having a difference with her husband, he, according to ancient custom, left her and took unto himself another partner. Pride forbfade the first wife from publicly complaining, but whr>n he had the etfrontery to send some .of his slaves on to her land to collect fern root and other delicacies of that -mature to feed the second wife it was more than human nature could stand. The first wife forthwith collected a war party, who fell upon the husband -and his people and slaughtered them, and in repayment to the chiefs for the assistance accorded she divided the land among them. Both tales are accepted by the native race as genuine, and the only point in dispute is as to the boun- ■ dary between the two areas of land af--fected by either gift.

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