G.—2a

10

him say so. My father lived at Kapiti, but he returned, and died at Rangiaohia. Visits were interchanged between this and Kapiti —some even returned and died here. I have heard of Ngatihinepare tribe. I am of that tribe. We were called Ngatikauwhata at Kapiti. Here we were called by the several children of Kauwhata—namely, Ngal iwehiwehi, &c. Ngatiwehiwehi were called Ngatikauwhatas because of their father, Kauwhata, so also Ngatihinepare. I have never heard the Waikato chiefs forbid the return of Ngatikauwhata, but, on the contrary, they have called us to return. I have heard of Parakaia Te Pouepa. He was not sent by Ngatikauwhata to represent their claims in Cambridge Court in 1868. He had no authority from any of us to appear as our agent. I heard from Parakaia that he was coming to that Court. I saw Potatau at Kapiti. I heard what he said to Ngatikauwhata. He said, " Each of your hapus here return to his own place or possessions " (or, " I have no objection to your coming to your ancient land ") I know the Ngatihaua. I have never heard of fighting; between Ngatihaua and Ngatikauwhata. We did not go away to escape any evil, or flee as refugees. Up to our arrival at Kapiti none pursued us. My father died about the time of the Waikato war against the Europeans. He might have died at Rangiaohia. Ilefthim there. Three brothers of mine returned here with Potatau. They remained here until they died. Haunui and Porokoru went to Kapiti; Potatau went first; Porokoru and Haunui went afterwards. When Porokoru and Haunui returned, my parents and friends returned with them, and lived and died at Rangiaohia. I returned to Kapiti. Examined by Major Mair: Ngatikauwhata went to Kapiti in search of provisions and guns. Rauparaha invited us and promised us food and guns and everything else. Pukekura and the land here gave a certain kind of food, but those lands at Kapiti gave rare food, such as sharks, guns, and white men. None of Ngatiraukawa went with Ngatikauwhata. Ido not know whether Waikatos had guns then; Ngapuhi had. I do not know whether Ngatipaoa and Ngatimaru had firearms then. Some of Ngatikauwhata returned to Pukekura and planted. My father was one who returned. Te Kawa was another, Hoera Pokorahi, Panitaua, and Rangitaiki and Hone. Te Wherowhero's invitation was given with the intent that we should all return. Kereama Paoe, sworn :lam of Ngatikauwhata. My father was Paoe ; he is dead. I was born at Otawhao (Te Awamutu) My father did not accompany the first expedition under Tapa's father. He went after the fight at Taumatawiwi. He then lived at Otawhao. Afterwards he went to Kapiti and died there. He was not driven away by the people of this place, but because of his affection for the people who had gone before Our parents and my brothers and sisters were there. I never heard Ngatikauwhatas at Kapiti say they would never return here ; on the contrary, I heard them say they would return. I went away peaceably Mr. McDonald said : I will now call witnesses from the resident Natives. Te Raihi (declared) : I will speak the truth. I live at Tamahere. lam a younger brother to Tamihana ;we were cousins, sons of brother and sister. We always lived together. I never heard him forbid Ngatikauwhata to return. Tamihana went to Wellington without me. All those who went with him are dead. Te Waharoa and Tamihana had such affection for Ngatikauwhata that they invited them to return. Raihi said : I wish to explain. The name of the vessel of Wi Tamihana and Murupara was called " Kauwhata." She was bought for the purpose of bringing the bones of the people (my fathers) who had died at Kapiti to Pukekura. Tho vessel was wrecked before that object was effected. Examined by Major Mair : I was present at the investigation of Pukekura. I spoke then. I know the land and those to whom it belongs. That land belonged to Ngatikauwhata. Those left behind were put in possession of Pukekura—none of those who left. Some Ngatihaua were included. Examined by the Court: In 1868 I appeared in Pukekura. on behalf of the resident Ngatikauwhata. I said nothing for those absentees; they stayed away I was one engaged in giving the names for the Crown grant. I cannot remember whether I was he who gave the names to the Judge then. Ido not remember to have said anything of those at Kapiti. I did not see Ngatikauwhata go to Kapiti. Ido not know whether I was born then. I did not go to Kapiti. I have forgotten my statement to the Court in 1868. Tou have the books and know [Statement read from the Minute-book.] I said the names given were all I then recognized, because those who had gone to Kapiti put in no appearance. Ngatimaru were our enemies at Maungatautari. Ngatimaru took Horotiu. I do not know that they took Pukekura. They were afterwards driven away by us. [Further statement read, and admitted by witness] Ngatikauwhata were living at Pukekura then, and took part in the fight against Ngatimaru, and returned to it afterwards. We looked on Maungatautari as ours by conquest after that battle. I then lived at Pukekura and Maungatautari—sometimes at one place, sometimes at the other. I never lived at Pukekura by right of conquest, only at Maungatautari. Ido not know the term conquest can be applied to Pukekura. I claim my interest from ancestry —from Kauwhata. Court adjourned.

Thursday, 3rd .February, 1881. Rawiri te Hutukawa sworn: I am of Ngatikauwhata, from Wehiwehi. I came from Kapiti just now I was b orn here. I went to Kapiti at the time of Kuititang'a. They were fighting when I arrived there (1839) Mr. Williams had come here with Christianity I shared in the lands of Wehiwehi at Kapiti. Wehiwehi was a son of Kauwhata. Kauwhata had a right to land here, and I have a right to his lands here. lam a proper claimant to them. Many went with me to Kapiti. Examined by Major Mair: One hundred of us went together. That is Maori counting. This was a migration subsequent to the great one, which was much earlier We went because of our affection to those who had gone before. We left some behind us hero. Te Muera, Wiremu, and others were left here by us. Those left were about my ow-n age, and chiefs of Ngatikauwhata, descendants of Wehiwehi. This is the first time I have returned here. I was here when the first migration took place. I was here at the time of Tauinatawiwi. Taumatawiwi was a Ngatihaua fight with Ngatimaru. Ngatimaru were defeated and fled, and left the land in the possession of Ngatihaua. Ngatihaua took up their abode at Maungatautari. They did not live on Pukekura, Ngatikauwhata and Ngatihinepare lived