A.—No. 19.

Eangitane at Hakione, overpowering them and carrying off some of their women. Proceeding a little further they came upon another Eangitano settlement, occupied by Te Panau and his people. This village was attacked, but its inmates all escaped. The invaders pursued the fugitives for some distance, but, failing to overtake them, they took possession of the Eangitane canoes, and descended the Manawatu Eiver. Finding a small Eangitane settlement on the river bank opposite Puketotara they landed, and the villages mistaking them for friendly visitors welcomed them ashore. The war party killed some and took others prisoners. Eota Tarehe and 'Arapata Takahu (both now living) being among the latter. Peropero, a Bangitsne chief of high rank, was among the killed on this occasion. The war party then proceeded down the river to its mouth, and thence spread themselves along the coast. Many Ngatiapa women were captured by this war party, all of whom were afterwards restored to their tribe. Peace was at length established between the invaders and the Ngatiapa; and the Ngatikauwhata, a section of the Ngatiraukawa, with the concurrence of Te Kokiri Hamuera (Hamuera To Eaikokiritia's father), located themselves on the banks of the Oroua. When, at a later date, Te Eauparaha arranged a division of the lands claimed by conquest, the Ngatikauwhata chief Te Whata (father of the present chief Tapa te Whata), claimed to be the possessor of all the Oroua Plains, and that claim was tacitly recognized by all the other sections of the tribe. To Eauparaha allotted Waikawa to the Ngatitcihiihi, Ohau to the Ngatipare, and Horowhenua to Tc Whatanui, who allowed the conquered Muaupoko* to remain in joint possession. The Manawatu-Eangitikei country was not allotted, Manawatu Eiver being the limit of Te Eauparaha's tribal partition of the land. The territory north of that boundary was left to the occupation of any sections of the Ngatiraukawa who might choose to locate themselves there as joint occupants with the Ngatiapa. After peace had been established with the Ngatiapa, Te Eauparaha made war on the Eangitane and defeated them signally at Hotuiti, their strongest pa. At a later period again, the Ngatiraukawa sent a war party to Whanganui to avenge the death of Euamaioro. one of their chiefs, who with his whole party had been treacherously murdered when on their way to visit their friends at Kapiti. The Ngatitoa and Ngatiawa warriors joined the expedition, and the Ngatiapa, headed by Te Ilakeko (father of the present Kawana Hunia), made common cause with the Ngatiraukawa in this invasion of the Whanganui country. The expedition is said to have numbered 1,200 men. The Whanganui tribes accepted a challenge at Putikiwharanui (opposite the site of the present town of Whanganui), and were defeated with great loss. On the evening of the day of battle the pa surrendered. They received little or no quarter. A largo number of them were killed and eaten, and others were taken captive to Kapiti. The Ngatiapa returned in company with the Ngatiraukawa, and re-occupied the coast. Te Hakeke and a few of his immediate followers accompanied the force to Otaki, where they located themselves for a short time, ultimately returning to Eangitikei. Prior to the Ngatiraukawa invasion, the Eangitane and the Ngatiapa were alternately friendly and at war with each other. When the Ngatiawa and Ngatiruanui, in 1539, made war on the Ngatitoa and Ngatiraukawa, the latter sought the aid of the neighbouring tribes with whom they had then established friendly relations. Besides the Ngatiapa allies, the Whanganui sent a contingent of 200 men, under Pehi Turoa; the Ngatituwharetoa (Taupo) sent 140 men, under Te Heuhcu; the Ngatimaniapoto sent 200 men, under Taonui and Tariki; the Ngatiteupokoiri (a section of the Ngatikahungunu) sent 100 men, under Te Whaiukau; and a few Eangitane chiefs joined the expedition. A section of the Ngatitoa, under Te Hiko-o-te-rangi, made common cause with the enemy. Before the arrival of reinforcements, the Ngatiraukawa and the Ngatitoa had defeated the invaders in four successive fights, known respectively as " Maringi-a-w rai," " Haowhenua," "Te Eereamanuka," and "Te Pa-a-Te Hauataua." Three more battles were afterwards fought, the combined forces acting under Te Eauparaha and Bangihaeta, and the result was the utter defeat and rout of the enemy. After this permanent peace was established among the Coast tribes. The following hapus of the Ngatiraukawa located themselves on the Eangitikci-Manawatu Block : the Ngatiparewahawaha under Nepia Taratoa and Taiaho ; the Ngatikauwhata, under Te Whata; the Ngatiteihiihi, under Te Whetu and Te Kohu ; and Ngatipare, under Te Matenga and Te Kiharoa ; the Patukohuru, under Taikapureia; and the Ngatirakau, under Ngaturia. The Ngatiwhakatere, a section of the Ngatiraukawa, assert claims to the Eangitikei-Manawatu Block, although they have never actually resided upon it. During the early tribal wars, the Ngatiwhakatere, acting in concert with the Ngatitarua (who afterwards migrated across the Strait), sent a large war party, under the Chiefs To Puoho, To Mahuehue, Te Purangi, and Te Momona, to avenge the death of Te Eauhiti, a Ngatiraukawa chief, who had been treacherously killed when on a visit to Taranaki. They defeated the Ngatiapa on frequent occasions, and took many prisoners, among whom were Wi Mokomoko and Kaewha (the mother of Kawana Hunia). On the re-establishment of peace the prisoners were liberated. Wellington, 20th July, 1867. Walter Bullee.

No. 5. Copy of a Letter from His Honor I. E. Featherston to the Honorable J. C. Richmond. Sir, —■ Superintendent's Office, Wellington, 2nd August, 1867. I do myself the honor to enclose two letters addressed to the Judge of the Supreme Court at Wellington, which have been sent to me from certain Natives resident at Manawatu, and which I shall be obliged by your forwarding to their destination. I have, &c, The Hon. J. C. Eichmond. I. E. Peatherstos:. * At a very remote period the Muaupoko were occupants of a part of the Rangitikei-Manawatu Block, and they still assert claims there. 3

9

THE MANAWATU BLOCK.