Notice by me, by Te Hapuku, respecting the Lake Poukawa, that it shall not be Drained after my Death.

Wananga, Volume 5, Issue 47, 23 November 1878, Page 594

Notice by me, by Te Hapuku, respecting the Lake Poukawa, that it shall not be Drained after my Death.

The following is a law made by me by Te Hapuku which shall be an unalterab e law for my lands at To Hanke which have UNKNOWN passed through the Native Lands Court, and this law shall be a law to all Future generations. Friend, the Kdror of Tic *Va.naxga. publish this, my notice, to al' the world, and I«-t it g-> over all the world, so that all the tribe- who live on these islands may see it. that is. all the Maori ami Europeau people. Let it »pp<ar in the MaO' i an 1 l;:tmn -ires. Now. this is my word : That the Poukawa Lake shall not be touched or meddled with by European or Maori, nor shnll anyone .iigor make a drain by jvlxich the water shall escape (.from the lake), and thereby cause the lake to dry tip. It w-U not be right or just if any person whatever assume any rivrht or authority over rnv lands. I have a name ; I have authority over all t ; e lands which I owu. and this portion I now hold is very small—it is Te Hauke ouH—so that, this portion shall be left as it was in d-.vs <ro-ie br. according to M aori customs and rights. And let no Crown grant. no investigation by the Na'ive Lands <'ourt -l>e made or held for thii laind. Te Hauke. and on to Poukawa Lake, which i< now held according to Maori right, so that th s, my Maori Lav. shall take effect on ir. as such law was the law of m.v ance-.ors for ages past and even dowu to the days iu *hieh I, Te Hapuku, have lived. Friend, the Editor of Te Wasaxga, sen 1 my law to Sir G. Grey, that he may .approve of this, my Mmri la\;. But [ have power over my own lands. Let tins uotice be published each Saturday of the mout-s <>f all th-" year 187 S. This is the word of the meeting of old chiefs in sur>pott of the words of. Te ITapuku, and it is true that wc lienro his words that not any European should meddle with or cut drains, so that the water of the Lake Poukawa could escape, and thereby 'train that I :ke. And the reasons for his words are these : This 'and lias not. been passed through the Native Lands Court, there lias not been a Crown <rrant issued for it, and it is held by Naive title, as he, Te Hapuku. is the sole holder (Crown grant) of this land, and Te Hapuku is the Native Mana of this land, and such right to this land lias been that by which this laud has been held from the crntidfatlicrs who held it in ages past, and even dov.-n to us the'oflthose ancient owners. Let not any person assume any right to ignore this Maori law, as Kenata Tamakihikuraugi has made this law steadfast on Te Hauke. as it is land at Te ITauke. which is held by Maori custom, and it includes all the land all around the margin of the Lake Poukawa. In some future time the boundaries of the land held under INI aori right will be given, that, is, all the ilauke lands and all around the lake, over which this Maori law si all have effect. Now, G Editor of Te Wanaxga. be quick and put this notice into Tn Wananga, so that it may be seen by the Maori and. European public. Let this notice be published on each Saturday of the months

in the year IS7S. Enough.-from all the committee •which is now being held at Te Hauke.

Na Te Harawira te Tatore. Na Renata Tamakihikurangi Na Te Rnpiha te Takou, N;i Raniera te Iho, Na Hemi te Hukui. JC* Ropata t.» Hoa, Na Te W.iaka Kewharewha, Na Kiiniri Tohnnjrn, Na Male tie Waewae, Ko Jlnika te kai Tnhi. SS