THE MANAWATU PURCHASE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2658, 7 April 1868, Page 6

THE MANAWATU PURCHASE.

« EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES FOR THE CROWN. (]?EOM OTTR SPECIAL COBBESPONDENT.) Wednesday, Apeil I, IBGB. The counsel for the Crown called — Metekingi Paetahi, a Wangnnui cbiof, who gave evidence confirmatory of Kawana Paipai's statements on the previous day. Ho gave an account of the early fights between Ngatitoa and and the Wanganui tribes, and of subsequent events. At the time of the second coining of the Ngatitoa, the Wanganui, Ngatiapa, Rangitane, and Muaupoko tribes were at Kapiti exhuming the bones of their dead, according to the ancient custom. On hearing of it the Wanganui chiefs planned an attack upon Te Rauparaha, and started back for that purpose ; but on reaching Wanganui they found that some Ngatiapa chiefs had in the meantime gone to Waitotara and given Te Rauparaba a friendly reception. This prevented any attack upon him by the Wanganui chiefs. Te Rauparaha came on to Rangitikei, and, after remaining there some time, were escorted by the Ngatiapa as far as the Manawatu river. The Ngatiapa then returned to their homes, and the Ngatitoa went on to Kapiti. [Witness then gave a detailed story of intertribal fights which took place at a later period.] When Pehi returned from England, where he had gone to obtain guns in order to avenge the deaths of his children who were killed at Waikanae, he found that Rangihaeata had made peace with the Ngatiapa. Pehi insisted, however, in seeking "utu," and he led a party against Ngatiapa and took a pah at Rangitikei. I don't know where the pa was or who were killed ; but there was no more fighting between the Ngatitoa and Ngatiapa. By Mr Fox : I took part in the Hoawhenua fight. It was a war between the Ngatiraukawa and Ngatiawa. The Wanganui, Ngatiapa, Rangitane, and Muaupoko fought on the side of the Ngatiraukawa. The Ngatiawa section of the Wanganui fought on the other side, The Ngatiraukawa got the worst of it. They evacuated their pa afterwards and retired to Ohau. Some oi them went to Rangitikei and squatted on the land. It was not known then whether they would escape boing killed. They did not fight with the Ngatiapa nor put out their mana. They had been fighting on the Bame side as Ngatiraukawa. At that time there were about 400 Ngatiapas living on the block between the Rangitikei and Manawatu rivers, which has been recently sold to the Queen. They were at that time occupying Pukepuke, Awahou, Tawhirihoe, and other places on the. south side of Manawatu. They wore also occupying Parewanui on the other side. They were 'also living at Orona. Matone Te Matuku, a Ngatiapa chief, had previously been cultivating at Himatangi. His old cultivations were to be seen there. The Ngatiapa occupied the places I have enumerated on the Rangitikei-Mnnawatu block, and many other smaller places, the names of -which I don't know. I signed the deed of cession. I had claims in the block, so had my tribe. That was why we signed the deed. lam as closely related to the Ngatiapa as to the Wangnnui tribes. I formerly held Ngatiraukawa slaves. The rest of my tribe also hold Ngatiraukawa slaves. It was I who first proposed the sdlo o f the Rangitikoi-Manawatu block to the Queen. This was at the time of the Rangitikei dispute. Ihakara commenced his occupation by building a pa. The Ngatiapa also built paa. We expected there would be fighting. After a month I and several other chiefs came out from Wanganui and tried intervention. Wo first wont to the Ngatiteihiihi pa (Opopo) and then to the Ngatiapa pa (Awahou). I urged the tribes not to fight. Mohi, the Ngatiapa chief, in reply said " I will be killed before the land of my ancestors shall bo taken from me." I told him I would not agree to any fighting, and that I was now going to visit Ihakara, in the Ngatiraukawa pa. Mohi consented, and I went accordingly. Ihakara said that he did not want to fight, but that he wnnted the land. I then returned to Parewunui and advised the Ngatiapa to sell the land and- put an end to tho trouble. Hoani Ilipango supported me. Mohi Mahi, Ratann, Hunia <md tho other Ngatiapa chiefs nssented. I recommended the Ngatiapa to hand over to Dr Featherston a gun and cartouche box as a pledge that t.liero would be no more fighting. The Ngatiapn then waited for Dr Feutherston's coming. ■Dr Featherston afterwards came, attendodby his interpreter, Mr Hanalin. The gun and cartouche

box were handed over to him, and the negotiation for the sale of the block was then commenced. Dr Feathorston then went on to Wanganui. By Mr Williams : Ngatiraukawa were beaten at Haowhenua. Some of Ngatiraukawa were killed, also some of Ngatiawa. After the battle the land in tho vicinity of Otaki was evacuated, because it was no longer safe. The Ngafciraukawa returned however from Ohau. Some of them went on to Manawatu and Rangitikei, and simply squatted there. They were undecided then whore to remain. The Manawatu and Rangitikei had no idea that there would be any permanent occupation of the land by the Ngatiraukawa. According to Maori law, a tribe that retires from its own land is a beaten tribo. I don't know how long Otaki was abandoned by the Ngatiraukawa. I consider that their taking refuge in Manawatu and Rangitikei was a proof of their having been beaten. 1 have claims in the Rangitikei-Manawatu block. My parents cultivated at Awamato, Pukekuku, Koputara, and other places in that block. Since I have grown up to be a man, I have been cultivating in that block. I have lately cultivated at Makowhai. I cultivated thers at the time of the erection of Mohi's pa, and previously. I had a cultivation there a short time after the war at Wanganui when the murderers [of the Gilfillan family] were executed. Tho Ngatiraukawa attempted to erect a mill at Makowhai, and wo prevented it. Mohi was tho first to cultivate there. I afterwards joined his party. We built a pa there. Nepia Taratoa interfered at that timo and prevented fighting. The pa was then left, and the Ngatiapa crossed to the other side. But they afterwards came back to Makowhai to cultivate. I have never been to Himatangi, but I have a claim there through the occupancy of my relative, Matene Te Matuku. The money I received was partly on account of that claim. Mateno gave me eels that lie caught at Koputara. Matene and I inherited that land jointly from our ancestors. Matono cultivated there and sent me a share of the produce— that is to say, he caught eels there and sent them to us at Wanganui. Ngatiraukawa are now occupying Himatangi. That was why I sold it. I heard that the Ngatiraukawa wauted an investigation as to tho title. I did not consent, because I was the owner of tho land and the Ngatiraukawa had nothing to do with it. Besides there was no Land Court to which the question of title, could be referred. By tho Court : Mateno To Matuku was cultivating at Himatangi before the date of the Haowhenua fight. I don't know whether he cultivated there after that period. Matene's relatives were cultivating there with him. The Court then adjourned for one hour. On resuming, tho counsel for the Crown, called, Karaitiana Takamoana, a chief of the Ngatikahungunu, (Hawke's Bay) : When the Ngafciraukawa first came to Heretaunga — about the same timo that To Rauparaha invaded Cook s Strait — they came peaceably. Te Whatanui, Nepia Taratoa, Te Ahukaramu and the other chiefs were with them. While they were there the Ngatitorangi, under Te Waru, from Tauranga, camo down and attacked us. They were repulsed. The Ngatiruukawa then took up their cause and fired upon us. But we made friends with the Ngatiraukawa. After this, the Ngatiraukawa commenced killing peoplo. They attacked ono of the Ngatikahungunu pas and were repulsed. Afterwards they took possession of Puketapu, one of the eel-pre-serves. The Ngatikahungunu found that the Ngatiraukawa were bent on taking their land, and attacked them. They took the pa and captured many prisoners, including Te Whatanui's wife and his sons. Some time after that, Te Whatanui and the Ngatiraukawa returned to Hawke's Bay. They killed Torowhakairo, a chief of Ngatikahungunu, by way of utu. Some of the prisoners were then given back, others were retained. The Waikato, under Tukorehu, assisted the Ngatiraukawa, on that occasion. At a subsequent period, tho Ngatiraukawa and their allies attacked Rotoatara. They captured the pa but lost many of their chiefs. Having returned to their homes, they camo down a second time under Pehirehi. The son of Pehirehi, the Waikato, was killed. There was a fight at Pakahe, and that pa was taken by the invaders. They then returned to their homes. After this the Ngatiraukawa, with a section of Ngatiteupokoiri, came down again, and located themselves at Rotoatara, They were attacked by the Ngatikahungunu and driven out. Te Momo and other Ngatiraukawa chiefs were killed. All To Morno's children were taken prisoners. At the instance of Te Wha> tanui, the Ngatiapa, Rangitane, and Ngatiteupokoiri, went to Hawke's Bay to seek iitu. The war party returned after capturing some women. The Ngatikahungunu, after this, invaded tho Upper Manawatu. and attacked the Rangitano, killing the son of To Hiriwanu. Then they invaded Wairarapa and attacked tho Npatiawa. Captured the daughters of the great chief Te Wharepouri. After this, the Ngatikahungunu invaded Taupo. They took Omakukaru, a Ngatiraukawa pa. They killed Houokanga, and many other chiefs. We brought away many prisoners — many of the chiefs' daughters. I won't mention names, because they were afterwards liberated, and some of them are living here. This was tho end of the fighting between those tribes. By Mr Fox : When the Ngatiraukawa and Ngatiteupokoiri retreated from Hawke's Bay, some of the latter returned to Taupo, others came down to Manawatu. They took refuge here because they were related to Rangitane and Ngatiapa. They came to the land which they owned : also to see Te Rauparaha. They remained at Manawatu down to the timo of the introduction of Christianity. I camo to Rangitikoi when the second instalment of tho purchase money was paid by Mr McLean [1.850]. I am related to tho Ngatiapa and Rangitane. That was why they aent for me. I lived with the Rangitane at Puketotara about six months when Mr McLean asked mo to return to Hawke's Bay. At that time the Ngatifceupokoiri were living at Moutoa, on the north bank of Manawatu, and at Rewarewa on the Bouth side of the river. They had cultivations on both sides. There were about 200 of the Ngatiteupokoiri living at Oroua at that time. The Ngatiraukawa were also living at Moutoa. Their church was there. There were three hapus of Ngatiraukawa there — Ngatiwhakatere, Ngatikauwhata, and Ngatirakau. They wore occupying and cultivating at Opiki on the south sido of Manawatu. I am not aware that they had any other location. On tho same year that I visited tho Ngatiteupokoiri they returned to Hawke's Bay. When the Bishop first visited Manawatu, Renata, who accompanied him, recommended the Ngatitcupokoivi to return to their old home. They gavo their consent, and in tho year that I visited tho district, they carried their intention into effect. Mr Colenso came down for them. When tho Ngatitoupokoiri returned to Hawke's Bay they left tho lands thoy had been occupying at Manawatu to the Rangitano and Ngatiapa. It was I who first proposed the sale of the Ahuaturanga [Upper Manawatu block] to Mr McLean. That land belonged to Rangitane and Ngatiteupokoiri. I spoke first to Mr McLoan about it at Rnngiteikei. By the Court : I am related to tho Ngatiteupokoiri. By Mr Williams : Tho Ngatitoupokoiri have land at Hawke's Bay. I offored tho Ahuaturanga block to Mr McLean, and left my relative To Hirawanu to arrange tho terms. I heard that Te Hirawanu was urging the sale, and that ho never ceased to press it. I never heard that tho Governor had said, " Let Ngatiraukawa first conpent, and then tho sale will be right." I never heard that tho Ngntiraukawa had fixed the boundaries of tho Ahuaturangi block. The cause of the delay in the sale was that Te Hirawanu persisted in placing the boundary at Tawhiti. Ngaliraukawa and Ngatitoa objected to that boundnry. Tl, was I who fixed the boundary at Oroua. The Ngnl.iraukawa will recollect my visit. I proposed at Whnrekura to give up tho Tawhiti boundary. Tho Rangitano afterwards fixed another boundary, reserving tho price of land along the Oroun for their own uso. Tho Ngatiteupokoiri had no land in tho upper Manawatu block at the time of tho pnle : for they had given up their land to the

Rangitane when they left. I have signed the deed of cession. I received £100. My father belonged to the Rangitane, and my mother to the Ngatikahungunu. It is true that the Waikato held Ngatikahungunu slaves. lam not aware that tho Ngatiraukawa ever held Ngatikahungunu slaves. Many of our people were killed at Pakahe, and also at Rotoatara. There was a battle at Te Wairoa, but there were very few killed. There was another battle at Pukenui. The Court rose at 3.30 p.m.