AN ANCIENT DISPUTE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3477, 13 October 1926, Page 8

AN ANCIENT DISPUTE

Reureu Native Rights

HISTORY OP PROLONGED LITIGATION

VALUABLE KANGITHtKI BLOCK At a session of tho Native Land Court in Wanganui last week, investigation of rights in the celebrated Reureu Block was further postponed until March 16th. Since it was set apart as a Native Reservation by Sir Donald McLean in 1870, the Reureu Block has been a source of unending dispute. Located near Kakariki, on the banks of the Rangitikei river, it originally comprised 4150 acres of valuable land, but reading and river erosion has since diminished its area by some 400 acres. Days of Warfare. The history of the block goes back to troublous days of Native history, when, between 1810 and 1830, the North Island was a battle ground of warring tribes. Those wore the days of Te Rauparaha and that famous trinity of brothers, Heuheu, Iwikau and Papaka. Heuheu, the great counsellor, was later overwhelmed in a landslide at To Rapa, Taupo. Iwikau won many battles, and was prominent at the time of the King movement, and Papaka was killed in the Horowhenua district when helping his kinsman, Te Rauparaha. In this score of years tho Maori race was seething with tribal warfare. The coming of the white man, and the introduction of crude firearms was largely responsible, but to be a great warrior, perhaps specialising in some type of combat, was the youthful Maori’s ambition, ard destiny. A Raid From Taupo. So things were when a Taupo raiding party, some of Heuhou’s tribe, the Tuwharetoa, invaded the Rangitikei and ejected tho occupants of the Reureu, who lied to the Bulls locality. In setting apart the reserve in 1870 Sir Donald McLean (Makinni) allowed the conquerors to continue in their occupancy, now sealed by the passage of time, and thereafter tho defeated natives disappear from tho story. But tho question of rights of ownership, incessantly recurred. and several awards of interest in tho block were subsequently made by the Native Land Court. Heading the present agithtion for a a readjustment, is Taito To Tomo, one of tho best known figures in tile Rangitikei, and one of the finest contemporary Maori orators. His claim is that former awards have bestowed Reureu rights on many not entitled to them, and ha and his fellow petitioners asked that 140 names be struck off the ownership roll. Heuheu’s Descendant. Opposing tho petition is Toro Iwikau, a grandson of the great chieftain whose name he perpetuates. Ho, also, is a well-known Rangitikei Maori. So widespread are the interests involved, and so numerous are the parties affected, that Native interest in the Reureu is very great, and tho hearing at Marlon on March IB is keenly anticipated. In making its decision the Court will bo guided by the evidence of various parties, and recitals of complicated lines of ancestry will occupy much of the time.