THE MANAWATU PURCHASE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2659, 9 April 1868, Page 4

THE MANAWATU PURCHASE.

EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES FOR THE CROWN. (_bom our special correspondent.) Friday, April 3, 1868. Tho counsel for the Crown called Amos Burr, who having been duly sworn, said : I am a settler, and I havo been resident in the Manawatu for twenty-six years. I was in the eervice of the N.Z. Company, and I was sent to Manawatu in 1841. I was in charge of the Company's stores, and was assistant interpreter. I am intimately acquainted with all the tribes m the district. I was frequently examined by Mr Spain, the Crown Commissioner for the settlement of land claims, about 1844. [Mr Fox then read the following extract from one of Mr Commissioner Spain's reports of that period— Pari. Pup., 1846— "Mr Burr, whom I subsequently examined and found to be very conversant with the manners and customs of the natives, speaking their language with much fluency and possessing considerable influence amongst those residont at the Manawatu." and asked the witness if he was the person referred to in that report. The witness replied in the affirmative]. At that time the Ngatiapa were in full possession of the land lying between the Rangitikei and Manawatu rivers. Nepia told me at that time that the land as far south as his fishing station at Omarupapako, about three miles north of Manawatu, belonged to Ngatiapa. At that time the Ngatiparewahawaha were living at Te Wharaugi, a fishing station at the mouth of the Manawatu. The bulk of the Ngatiraukawa tribe were living at Otaki at that time. The Ngatiapa claimed the wholo block lying between the Rangitikei and Manawatu riverß, and were in full possession of it. They were living on parts of the block. If any one had stated in this Court that " the Ngatiapa had at that time no mana over that land," {Archdeacon Hadf eld's evidence) I am confident it would not be true. Old Nepia assured me that all that land belonged to the Ngatiapa. I always found Nepia very trustworthy. I certainly do not consider that " tho Ngatiapa were under subjection to the Ngatiraukawa" (Archdeacon Radjield's evidence). I may mention that I attempted to get a Ngatiraukawa guide at Otaki. The natives told me they were afraid to pass through the Ngatiapa country. If I heard any one state that "at that time the land between those rivers was openly claimed by tho Ngatiraukawa : tho Ngatiapa were at that time living in subjection to Ngatiraukawa" (Archdeacon Hadfield's evidence), I should consider the statement simply absurd. I know the block called Himatangi. When I first went to Manawatu in 1841, there wero no tribes in occupation of that land. But I saw some extinct potatoe grounds. In 1846, tho Ngatirakau, a branch of the Ngatiraukawa, were cultivating at Opiki, on the south bank of Manawatu. Te Raotea told me that they had never lived further up tho river. It was my duty to make enquiries on behalf of the Company, as to how far the cultivations extended. I understood thut the Ngatiraukawa had never occupied there before 1846. Ihe Ngatiteupokoiri, who were a very industrious people, were then living in great force at Manuwatu. At the time of the N.Z. Company's purchase from Whatanui (1841), there wero very few Ngatiraukawa at Manawatu. They were cultivating on the land thero by permission of the resident tribes. I understood from j Nepia at that time that they wero living at Rangitikei and Oroua by permission of tho Ngatiapa. Nepia and Hukeke (tho Ngatiapa chief) were iriendly. I enquired particularly of the Ngatiapa why they were retiring from tho land on tho banks of the Manawatu, for the N.Z. Company were seeking at that time to purchase the land. They told me that they had moved up to Rangitikei in order to be nearer to their missionary, Rev. R. Taylor. They certainly were not driven away by the Ngatiraukawa. I was present on tho occasion of the salo of the Awahou block to Mr McLean. Nepia Taratoa generally opposed that sale. Ho ultimately consented on condition that the Ngatiraukawa did not encroach further on the Ngatiapa tribe with whom he wos on the most friendly terms. Nepia was then addressing the great body of the Ngatiraukawa chiefs. I recollect what took place on the occasion of Mr Skipwith's lease at Himatangi. I heard all the circumstances from James Bell, Mr Skipwith's managing man. I also heard tho circumstances from the natives ; and the two accounts quite coincided. Bell told me that the Rangitane had insisted on the removal of the sheep. The sheep were removed in consequence. I heard that from Mr Bell himself. The natives gave me the same account of it. I cannot say positively what na- I tive told me of it, but I believe it wa3 one of the Ngatiraukawa shepherd lads. There was a written lease between Mr Skipwith and the Ngatiraukawa. Mr Bell negotiated it. There have been many leaseß granted over the land lying between the two rivers and on this side. I have been presont at many of the negotiations for these leases. lam confident that these leases were not a true test of the ownership of the land. In many cases tho leases were negotiated privately in order to avoid collision with other claimants. They were not therefore conclusive proof of ownership. In many cases those who had t bus clandestinely granted leases were compelled to hand over the whole of the rent to the owners of the land who had not been consulted, and to trust to their generosity for some of it back again. I refer particularly to tho leases granted between 1850 and 1860. I know Archdeacon Hadfield. I can t say positively, but I think that he was residing in 1840 41 at Waikanae. For many years, between 1840 and 1850, he was absent from this coast, and residing at Wellington. During the first five years of my acquaintance with Manawatu— from 1841 to 1846—1 don't think Archdeacon Hadfield passed through that district n.ore than once a year. I had charge of the ferry during tho whole of that period, and no ono could vory well pass through without my seeing him. After Mr Hadfifcld's return from Wellington, he commenced to ■visit that district about onco in six months, and afterwards once in three months. I had better opportunities for obtaining information than a missionary whose enquiries would naturally bo confined to the tribe among whom he resided. Cross-examined by Mr Williams : I saw Ngatiparewhawha at Te Awahou ; but that was not their fixed place of abode. lam speaking of 1841. At that time their fixed places of abode wero at Ohau and Waikawa. Nepia had a small potatoe ground at Rangitikei. My information about tho tribes was derived from themselves. I can't swear to dates, because I never trust dates given by natives. I got my information about the Kuititanga and the treaty of Waitangi from tho whalers of Kapiti. I can't say positively whether the Kuititanga preceded tho treaty of Waitangi or not. I never heard the Maories talk about tho treaty till within tho last month or so. I believe I visited Kapiti in January 1810. When I first saw Nepia's clearing at Rangitikei, thero were from ten to fifteen native whares, and I should Bay, about that number of families. I saw no Ngatiraukawa pa thero. Tho bulk of the Ngatiraukawa never resided at Rangitikei. They camo on to Otaki to seek tho protection of Te Rouparaba, and remained hero. At the time of the first Manawatu sale [New Zealand Company], I suw Nepia Taratoa stretch out his arms, toindicate the boundary, and Bay that the Ngatiraukawa should not encroach beyond Omarupapako. He said that tho land on tho other side would be for him and his lmpu, and the Ngatiapa ; that tho Ngatiraukawa should confine their future land sales to the south side of Manawatu. All tho principal chiefs of Ngatiraukawa were at that meeting. By the Court -. At the timo of the New Zealand Company's purchase, Te Whatanui was regarded as the head of the Ngatiraukawa tribe. The purchase of tho New Zealand Company Hextended as far as Kaikokopu. It did not extend "much further Mian Moutoa on the north side of the Manawatu. On the south side it extended to the Manawatu gorge. When I first, came to tho district, I found the Ngatiapa living in a strong pa near the mouth of the Rangitikei river,

on the south side. It had a double palisaded pa, with the usual amount of fortification. Nepia's potato ground was from Bix to nine miles furthor the river. This was in 1841. The Ngutiapa informed mo at that time that they had whares at all their fishing stations (eel lagoons) near the coast, on the block lying between the Rangitikei and Manawatu rivers. The Court then adjourned for one hour. On resuming, the counsel for the Crown called Peeti Te Aweawe : I live at Puketotara, and belong to tho Rangitane tribe. My father, Te Aweawe, was tho great chief of the Rangitane. 1 recollect the battle of Haowhenua. Mr father and Tiweta led the Rangitane in that light. At that time the Ngutiteupokoiri were living at Tioritau and at Puketotara. They and the Rangitane lived together at Puketotara. Tho cultivations at Hitnatangi wero Matene Te Matuku' s, and the Ngutiteupokoiri harvested the crops, because Mahuri and Tiweta had pointed out this land to them. After Haowhenua the Ngatirakau went to Opiki. I recollect the battle of Kuitilangu. The Ngatirakau had not at that time commenced to cultivate at Hitnatangi. 1 heard of the coming of Mr Williams with the treaty of Waitangi and the blankets. Long after that they commenced to cultivate on I t,he north bankof the Manawatu. It wasin 1857-58 that I first saw To Raotea's houses there. I know the date, because it was tho timo of the Awahou sale. For the first time then I saw that thoy had established a settlement on the north bank. This was at Papakiri. The Rangitane have continued to live at Puketotara up to tho present time. They have, to the present day, been accustomed to catch eels in lagoons in the Himatangi block. [Witness named the lagoons.] My ancestors, my father, and my tribe, havo dug fern-root at To Manu. Ruiwora was formerly a pa of ours. It has since been a cultivation. It is on the Himatangi block and near Puketotara. I know where Matiu's boundary post stands. That post was put in when To Whatanui sold the land to the New Zealand Company. It was first placed at Moutoa. It was moved afterwards to Pakingahau." The other boundaries were, Kingi Te Hanea's at Omarupapako, and Te Hakcke's at Kai-iwi. This was tho dividing boundary for the Rangitane, Ngatiapa and some of Ngatiraukawa. The Whitirca post set up by Mr Williams (in 1848) was to settle a local dispute between To Whet u on ono sido, .and To Raotea on the other. The Ngatiapa and Rangitane had nothing to do with that post. I heard of posts set up inlund at Olealatuhi. When the Ngatiapa heard of these posts they came and pulled them up. 1 recollect about Skipwith's lease. When Te Aweawe heard that the sheep wero on the Himatangi land, ho told his people to go and order them off. I and a party went down to Skipwith's shepherd. We ordered him oft', saying, "If you don't obey, your sheep will be killed, cooked, and eaten by Rangitane." Tho man consented and took his sheep away. We heard that Nepia waarranging to lease land to Mr Robinson. We thought at first the cattle were trespassing ; and then wo heard that tho land was being secreth leused. A party of us went down to impound tho stock. [Witness detailed the subsequen* steps, which ended in an amicablo arrangement.] Hoani Meihana was the man appointed by my father to sign tho lease on behalf of the Rangitane. I don't know about any divisional boundary. It was all one lease from Manawatu rivei to tho sea. This loise was granted in 1861. J rpeeived rent for two years. Dr Featherston then interfered and impounded the rents. We havi received nothing since. I know about the lease of the Kaikokopu land to Mr Cook. Kerei and myself signed it on behalf of the Rangitane. [The witness then gave a full account of the circumstances attending the Rangitikei land dispute.] This closed tho examination in chief, and the Court rose at 5 p.m. Saturday, Arnin 4. Peeti Te Aweawe, recalled and cross-examined by Mr Williams : lam a chief. I had manu over the Rangitikei-Manawatu block. That land belonged to Ngatiapa, Rangitane, and Muaupoko. After the battle of Haowhenua some of the Ngatiraukawa retired to Rangitikei and settled down among U9. I don't known the date, but it was lonj> before the Kuifcitanga fight. I located Te Whatu andTe Whetu at the Oroua. This was because we hud been fighting side by sido at Haowhenua. The Rangitane at that time enjoyed their full independence. To Whetu and Te Whata enjoyed mana over tho land pointed out to them by Tiweta and To Aweawe." In the course of the further cross-examination, Mr Williams put the following question to the witness : — " Did not Te Raupuraha make your nose bleed ? " Mr Fox rose to protest against the coarse and irritating manner in which the agent for the Natives was in tho habit of crossexamining the witnesses for the Crown. The only object seemed to bo to irritate and annoy natives of tho greatest respectability, and to worry them into contradictions or inconsistencies. Many natives had complained to him about it, and requested him to call on the Court to protect them from Mr Williams' insults. To give an instance : — On the previous day Mr Williams had asked a most respectable old chief where he lived ; the witness mentioned two or three places. "You have forgotten," said Mr Williams, " was not tito (a lie) another." This was a most gross insult; but only to his (Mr Fox's) ignorance of the language it escaped notice at tho time. Mr Williams here jumped up, and striking the table vehemently with his fist, shouted " It is false, I never used any such expression ; I utterly and entirely deny it ; ifc is false " Tho Court called Mr Williams to order ; and expressed its opinion that such irritating and insulting questions ought not to be put. [At tho sitting of the Court on the Monday after tho above scene, Mr Williams roso and beggod to state to the Court, that having consulted the sworn interpreter, he was bound to admit thut ho had used tho offensive language imputed to him, and ho begged to apologise for having stated that he had not.] When the Rev, Mr Williams came with tho treaty, Matene To Matuku was obtaining food at Himutangi — catching eels, snaring birds, and digging fern root. His cultivations also were there. To Hakeko then told Te Matuku to remove to Rangitikei. He wanted the tribe to concentrate at Parewanui and erect a church thero. Mateno then left off planting potatoes at Himatangi, but ho continued to exercise tho right of catching eels and snaring birds there. I did not see the Ngatitoa and Ngatituranga (hapus of Ngatiraukawa) living at Himatangi at the time of tie salo of North Rangitikei [1849]. I mere'y heard that Ihukara and his relativo Manukau had been to Himatangi and cultivated on Matene's old clearings. It led to a dispute After this they cultivated together there. I only heard of tin's. It was after Haowhenua, but before tho Kuititangi fight. I defined tho boundaries of the Ahuuturanga [upper Manawatu block], which was sold to tho Crown. The mana over that land rested with the Rangitane. By Mr Fox : Thero were never any battles between the Ngatiraukawa and Ngatiapa. The Rangitane tribe received all tho purchase money for tho upper Manawatu block. By tho Court : I never saw or heard of the letter from Parakaia and others now produced. [Letter dated, Otaki, June 27, 1864]. The Court then ndjourned for ono hour. On resuming, the counsel for tho Crown called — Pirimona To Urukahika, who was duly sworn. Mr Fox stated to tho Court that ho had called tins witness to replace tlie evidence of Paramena ITe Nnonao. Tho witness was, ho believed, the principal chief of the Ngutiteupokoiri. He would [ have been called on Thursday, but was not in Otaki ut that timo. Owing to his absonce, Paramana, a man of low caste, had been put into tho witness box — with what unfortunate result the Court was aware. The chief had since been sent for, and would now be examined. By Mr Fox : j I belong to Ngutiteupokoiri, and live at Hawke's | Bay. I recollect the hehe after the Rotoarata 1 affair. The Ngutiteupokoiri on that occasion came to Manawatu. They were under my direci tion. We came to Manawatu because. Hori

Teknharoa had married a woman of high rank belonging to Rangitane. We came first to Ruahine, where Tiweta and Malum, Rangitane chiefs, came to visit us. They told us we might occupy on both sides of the Manawatu river, from the Ahuaturanga gorge to the mouth of the river. Himatangi was included in that land. We came on afterwards to Tioritau, lower down tho river, where we erected a pa. Then wo came on to Puketotara and to Hiuiatangi. The cultivations in Himatangi at that time belonged to Matene To Matuku, of tho Ngatiapa tribe, and Pakura of the Rangitane. We worked on their cultivations. There wero no Ngatiruukawas there at than time. Thoy were all at Otaki. After Haowhenua, some of the Ngatiraukawa went up to Manawatu and located themselves at Opiki on tho north bank. They cultivated on both sides. While the Ngatiteupokoiri were thero tbey continued to catch eels in the lagoons of Himatangi. Wo made a road from Moutoa to Puketotara, right across the Himatangi block. We (the Ngatiteupokoiri) returned to Hawke's Bay at tho request of Renata. We left our lands in Manawatu to the Rangitane. This was done at a public meeting at Moutoa. We gave Himatangi back to Rangitane, and Omarupapako and Kaiiwi to tho Ngatiapa. Tho Papakiri was not occupied at that timo. I signed tho deed of cession of the Rangitikei- Manawatu block. I received £1000. Kawana Hunia gave it to me. I received this for my interest in the Whukaari plains— tho land that Archdeacon Hadfield wanted to get for the church. I know about Matiu's post. It was at Moutoa on tho Manawatu river, and was the boundary as against the land for salo to the New Zealand Company. Omarupapako was Te Hanea'a post, and Kai-iwi was Te Hakeke's post. Cross-examined by Mr Williams : The Ngatiraukawa went first to Ahimate, I drove them away. Ahimate is on tho south side of tho river. By the Court : Tho Ngatiteupokoiri are connected with tho Ngatiapa through their ancestors. That is how we have a claim to tho Whakaari plains. Tho President instructed tho Interpreter to inform the witness that ho had given his evidence in a manner very satisfactory to the Court : that ho had given his answers to all questions, whether from the counsel for the Crown or tho agent for the claimants, in so open and 'frank a manner as to impress the Court with tho truthfulness of his story. The next witness colled was Herewini Tawiri, who corroborated in almost every particular the evidence of the previous ono. In reply to a question übout tho mana of the Ngatiraukawa, the witness said — I never heard, after the battle of Haowhenua, that the Ngatiraukawaassumed themselves to be the masters of the Ngatiapa. Cross-examined by Mr Williams t Matiu was himself tho boundary post at Pukingahau. When the Rangitane told us to occupy the land, no ooundaries were deGried. By the Court: Kopunkaihinu was the land about which Tc Raotea and I disputed. I got the oest of it and retained possession. That land is ■>n the north side of Manawatu. Tc Raotea tried ilso to obtain possession of Kurikantete, but bo failed also there. He tried to get Pakingahau out I drovo him away from thero. He lastly tried to get Waitaiepa, on this Bide of tho river, but I prevented his taking that. All this time fe Raotea was settled at Opiki. The Court complimented this witness also on the straightforward and satisfactory manner in which he had given his evidence. Before the adjournment Mr Williams requested permission to call attention to a mis-report in tho Independent newspaper, in which the witness Rukapa was made to say that she did not hear L'e Kauparaha say something. Rakapa had said exactly the revorso. Mr Williams wa3 proceeding to mako some very violent remarks when Mr lAjx rose to request the Court to call him to order. Mr Williams persisted, saying that tho misrepresentation of the Independent was all of a piece ' with the conduct of the case on tho other side. Mr Fox called on the Court to prottet him against tho vulgar and personal attucks of tho agent on the other side, adding that if such personalities were permitted no gentleman would consent to -how his face thero. Tho Court reprimanded Mr vVilliams, and told him that ho must learn to control his temper and to restrain himself — that such conduct was quite out of place in Court. Tho Court then adjourned till Monday, at 10 a.m. Monday, 6th Apeil. The counsel for tho Crown called Kawana Hunia, who gave a long and interesting account of tho early history of his tribo, and ; repeated the narrative of Te Rauparaha's invasion, and of subsequent events down to tho great j battle of Haowhenua. Tho witness continued : j My father Te Hakeko led tho Ngatiapa contingent in that fight. When it was over the Ngatiapa returned to their homes. Nepia Taratoa said to my father — " Te Hakeko return to your home. I will follow you up with my woraon and children, as I am anxious to get away from this dobateablo ground." My father replied -" The thought is with you. You may follow me." Te Hakeke then returned to Rangitikei with his people Nepia Taratoa afterwards followed him. When Taratoa reached Reurou, Turangapito heard of it, und was greatly incensed. He asked my father to let him kill him. He said, " Let us crush him while lie is in our power, lest ho increase in power— lest his number bo strengthened on our land." [Witness here observed that the words of Turangapito had proved to be prophetic] |Te Hakeko told him that Taratoa was his guest, and therefore under his protection, and that he would not. allow tho laws of hospitality to be violated. Nepia Taratoa was thus saved. Turangapito then threw away his weapon, visited Taratoa, and sang a song of reconciliation. [Witness recited the song.] This was tho first footing tho Ngatiraukawa obtained in tho Rangitikei district. They went as the guests of my father, Te Hakeke. [At this stage tho counsel for the Crown suggested that, as the further examination of this witness would occupy at least two hours, the Court should now adjourn, as usual. He pledged himself that neither he nor the gentlemen whom ho represented would hold any communication with the witnessOn resuming, examination continued.] I remember the battle of Kuititanga. I witnessed it. I was a youth at that time. Wo had in former times, a pa at Oahura, on an island in Kaikokopu lake. Tho pa was a strong one, and covered about four acres. My father had houses and cultivations thero. It was a strong, fighting pa. [ could point out the remains of the pa at tho pre- | sent day. Our other fighting pas on the Rangitikei side were, Te Awahou (which has now been erected for tho third timo), Tawhirihae, at the mouth of tho Rangitikei river — a pa containing good houses and with cultivated grounds attached — and To Ika-a-te m:ita, near Waituna. Our pas on the Oroua sido wore Karangatiko, Tukiapoaka, To Whinauahapainga (in which I lived myself for a time), and To Mateho. Paparata was ono of our pas, near the Waipouri lake. Our largo cultivations wero adjacent to Karangatiko, Tukiapoaka, To Whinauahapaingn, and To Mateho. We had many other cultivated grounds, of which Hamuera will toll the Court. [Witness then gavo tho names of numerous eel-lagoons.] The first lease negotiated on this block was that of Makowhui. Mr Alexander was the tenant. I will explain the wholo matter. [Tho witness then proceeded to give a detailed account of tho various leases in the Rangitikei-Manawatu block, explaining how they had originated, and proving that in almost every case tho Ngatiapa wore the first and principal lessors]. I remember tho great meeting at the Awahou pa, when Mr McLean bought tho North. Rangitikei block. At that meeting Mr McLean said to Hori Kingi Te Annua, " Ask tho Ngatiraukawa what their intentions aro?" Hori Kingi then stood up and said, "Aro you holding back tho land [from sale] for Ngatiapa?" Nepia Taratoa (who at that r-imo was living at Mnnawatu and Ohau) then stood np and said, "Yes. My only thought is concerning tho fire of Aperalmma, which is burning at Maramaihoea." Hori replied, "The thought rests with McLean and myself." I got up in the

1 meeting and told Mr McLean that the words of Nepia were false. The meeting afterwards broke np and I had further talk with Mr McLean on the subject. Hori Kingi asked the Ngatiraukawa whether they were holding back all the land from Rangitikei to Omarupapako for the Ngatiapa. They replied, " Yes." Hori then said to the Ngatiapa, "Do you also consent?" They replied, " Yes." I was angry with the Ngatiapa for allow- j ing the Ngatiraukawa to havo any say in tho matter. I remember the recent dispute at Rangitikei. Had wo fought on that occasion tho Wanganui, the Ngatiruanui, and tbe Ngatiteupokoiri would have assisted us. When Mr Fox visited us wo wore very nearly fighting. The only thing that restrained mo was that some of my relations of tho Rangitane wero on the side of the Ngatiraukawa. I built my pas because lex pocted an attack. Had they attacked me, I should have fired away without eating whether my relations were killed or not. 1 believe that had not Mr Fox and Dr. Featherston interfered, fighting would have ensued. Tho Court rose at 5 p.m.