7
G.—2a
Hakiriwhi, of Waikato, saluted the Court: Greetings to you, Tapa, and to your friends. I speak of the lands adjudicated upon in 1868—viz., Maungatautari, Pukekura, Puahoe, and Ngamako No. 2. Tapa and his friends have a claim on these lands, and all the way up to the confiscated line. I say Tapa is right, because they went away quietly and left the land in possession of our fathers. Maungatautari was taken by me by conquest from the Marutuahu, also the other side of Maungatautari (adjacent) Pukekura was brought before the Court by me. It was publicly notified. Ngatikauwhata did not come to the Court. They may have had some difficulty This is why Tapa desired a rehearing. lam pleased he has come. It is right for him to urge his claim. Riliia Te Kauae, of Waikato, said : I cannot agree that McDonald and his people of Kauwhata have any right to speak about Pukekura and the lands referred to in that document. What I say is, Commence to adjudicate on the confiscated land in Waikato. We have all been summoned to attend the Court that the nature of the claims may bo discussed. Hori Karaka, of Waikato and of Ngatikauwhata, said : Greetings to you the Commissioners sent by the Government. I agree to the investigation of the lands to which Tapa and his friends lay claim. They were not present in 1868. They werp hindered by the Rangitikei Court. Their claims to these lands should be heard. Tuwhenua, of Waikato, and Ngatihaua, said: Greetings to the Court. I reverence the Court, because the lands heard in 1868were awarded to thewrong people. This is the reason—ten people only were put in the Crown grant for the whole of the owners. Those grantees sold the land ; all the people left out suffered a wrong, it is right to rehear these lands. Rihia's statement relative to the rehearing is wrong. I and Rihia should fix our claim on Maungatautari. Pukekura and the other lands named belong to Ngatikauwhata. They were left by Ngatikauwhata, in charge of their friends who stayed behind when they went to Kapiti. Hakiriwhi's statement of the justness of Ngatikauwhata's claim is correct. Heni Mohi, of Waikato, said: Blessings on the Court which looks on past events on the error committed, and looks to redress. Ngatikauwhata is right. lam pleased with them. They were absent from Cambridge in 1868 All the people with them suffered a wrong then. This people, Ngatihaua, were present at that Court. Some of the Ngatihaua were absent like Ngatikauwhata. The young people and the children were here. The elders and fathers were with the Hauhaus. Ngatihaua got the land because they appeared in Court. Those of Ngatihaua who were with the Hauhaus were like Ngatikauwhata They got no share of the land. I dissent from the Court in 1868. Harete Tamihana said: The words spoken at Maungatautari by Ngatihaua were "Come Ngatikauwhata, come to Pukekura." I agreed with that invitation. A word said to have been spoken—omitted by Hakiriwhi and Raihi —at that meeting was, " I am not agreeable that Ngatikauwhata should come here for these lands." I was left, as chief, carefully to guard these lands. They went away of their own freewill. I exclude Ngatikauwhata, of Raukawa. I may say who of Ngatiraukawa were welcome back. I reverence this Court. Ido not know whether I shall be righted or not. If this Court will protect my interests I will give it my support. Te Raihi, of Waikato, said : Ngatikauwhata have two claims—the confiscation by the Queen and the decisions of the Court in 1868. The Court sat at Ngaruawahia to hear confiscated lands in 1867 (about). Some of Ngatiraukawa remained here. I include myself with them. I wish to speak of my claim to Rangiaohia and Pukekura. Mr. Mackay hindered my words and they were not uttered. The portion of the confiscated land which was restored by Mackay was a quarter of an acre ; that is to say, a very small piece at Hakarimata and Pirongia. What 1 did not then say I would like to say now Ngatikauwhata are right in coming here. Our relationship still exists, notwithstanding the fightings of former times. It is for the Court to examine the nature of these claims. Two principal points appear; the lands granted to us and the confiscated lands. I shall say no more at present. I will hear the claims of the Ngatikauwhata. Court adjourned until 10 a.m. to-morrow.
Wednesday, 2nd February, 1881. A, McDonald said: We wish to commence with Pukekura. I wish to make clear the reason for this corning of Ngatikauwhata —that is this portion which comes from Kapiti—they left a portion at Kapiti. Those who went to Kapiti went at a time of great disturbance. They went there because of the reported fertility of the land, and to purchase guns. They left their land here in possession of Ngatikauwhata. Differences afterwards arose here. The migration found troubles there also. There was fighting at Kapiti; and there was fighting here. In both places enemies to Kauwhata appeared. A long time after there was war between the Natives and Europeans here in Waikato. In the beginning of it Ngatikauwhata sent messengers to Auckland from Kapiti (1863) I was sent. I went to the Government. Sir W Fox was the Minister. I said, " Should this be a great war, and confiscation follow, what will become of the land of Ngatikauwhata and other persons living at Kapiti ? " Mr. Fox said, "Go and say to Kauwhata, ' Sit still; should confiscation be in Waikato their lands will be carefully sought out [Court: ascen ained and protected] " I had a Maori companion. I said to him, " Let us see Manga and the other fighting chiefs, and hear what they have to say ' Government told us we should find it impossible to do as we desired. We left for Wellington on Mr. Fox's promise of protection for our lands in Waikato. We returned to Kapiti. In 1867 I asked the Government —Mr. Richmond, I think, was then Minister —what should be done relative to the promise made by Mr. Fox ? He said the lands had been allotted to those entitled to compensation. I said, "We did not hear of the investigation which had been held in Waikato." He said, " Petition the Parliament." We then commenced our appeals for our lands which had gone by confiscation. We afterwards heard that, in 1868, a Court would sit here, and on the following day a Court would sit at Rangitikei. I asked Mr. Eichmoud to direct Ngatikauwhata. Ho said, '-Remain at Rangitikei and I will have Waikato Court postponed." We afterwards heard the Court here at Waikato had not been postponed. We were then told to petition Parliament again. This was our second petition. Tho first was relative to confiscated land; the second was relative to the lands we lost through non-attendance here. From 1869 to 1877 we