G.—2a

26

others who withdraw—with one exception, a man named Matiu te Wheoro, who is so ill as to be unable to attend, at present living at Awahuri. These last are known to me as " Mateawa." I do not think Matiu has any claim on Maungatautari. Kereama Tauwhare said :If Maungatautari is reopened, then let Kawhia be reopened. I took them both by conquest. If he comes back on Maungatautari, he should come back on Kawhia ; and if Maungatautari, Pukekura, Puahoe, and Ngamako go back to Ngatiraukawa, then let all Waikato come back to us. We conquered Waikato. The Government took Waikato. All I agree to admit Ngatiraukawa on is Pukekura. I only admit him there because he was connected with Waharoa. Had Waharoa been a Ngatiraukawa, I should have driven him to Kapiti with the others. Court adjourned.

Monday, 14th February, 1881. Mr. McDonald said the Natives are desirous of attending the Native Land Court to-day, and desire me to apply for an adjournment until to-morrow Mr. McDonald then made protest relative to the opinion expressed by the Commissioners respecting the effect on the Crown grants already issued for the blocks of land the subject of this inquiry The Commissioners told him if he put it in writing it would be attached to the records. He promised to do so. Protest re Ngatikauwhata Claims, Waikato. Sirs, — Cambridge, 12th February, 1881. You have been pleased this day to state, as by authority, that however favourable to the petitioners your report may be, it cannot have the effect of disturbing existing Crown grants, and can only result in a money compensation. In making this statement you have taken away the only motive which has induced the petitioners to persevere, and have rendered them and their witnesses careless in the prosecution of their claims. You have thus seriously damaged the petitioners' case while it is yet under investigation. For it is certain the petitioners would not have taken the pains and trouble they have done if they had not the hope to retain an interest in the original home of their people. Moreover, I respectfully submit that, in making the statement in question, you have altogether exceeded your authority under your commission, which is limited to the inquiry whether or no the petitioners had any interest in the land on the 3rd November, 1868, and, if so, to what extent. I submit that, in making this inquiry, it is not necessary nor right to take into consideration any interests which may have grown up since that date. May I ask you to be so good as to attach a copy of this paper to your report to His Excellency the Governor? I have, &c, A. McDonald, The Hon. Commissioners. Agent for some of the Petitioners. The Court adjourned.

Tuesday, 15th February, 1881. Akapita te Tewe said: I appear on behalf of fifty-six claimants in this land —for Mateawa. 1 signed the petition to the Parliament as well as the others. I would like to postpone my evidence, because the others have gone to the other Court, and some have not yet come from Kapiti. I did not expect the other cases would have been concluded so quickly I would like now to withdraw my claim altogether. My friends have not come to assist me. I, therefore, wish to lay it aside. I withdraw our claim as a separate hapu. Mr. McDonald said : A.kapita is the agent for the fifty-six Natives claiming to be interested in Maungatautari, and has acted as such since 1867 The other woman represents the seven others. I think he withdraws his claim as separate from the claim preferred by the seven persons represented by Winia Pohotiraha for Ihakara Ngatahuna and others. Akapita te Tewe said : None of the fifty-six will now ask to be heard in this matter. lam of Mateawa hapu of Ngatiraukawa. I live at Tauranga. Mr. McDonald said : Winia wishes me to appear on her behalf until she has prosecuted her claim in the other Court now sitting here. Her uncle is also there. Mr. McDonald said: As Akapita has withdrawn his claim, I bring forward the claim of Ihakara Ngatahuna and six others to an interest in Maungatautari. lam acting for him while he is engaged at Captain Symond's Native Land Court. AVhen he has finished there, he and Winia Pohotiraha will prosecute their own claim here. I now ask for a list of the grantees in Maungatautari. I ask for these names because I believe Ihakara does not want to set them aside, but to have his name included, because of his relationship and because of the words of the fathers. Winia Pohotiraha here arrived and took up her claim. She said, "We discussed this matter outside with Tuwhenua on Saturday, and we have concluded that we should prosecute our claim to this land. I will state my claim. 1 claim from my ancestor Tuakere —Hore —Waimahoe—Te Rama— Whaianoho —Te Umu Ki Katikati —Pohotiraha —Winia Pohotiraha. This is my claim." Winia Pohitiraha sworn : The statement I have just made is quite true. I belong to Ngatiwehiwehi. This is a distinct tribe in itself, but descended from Kauwhata. I lived first at Kapiti. married a husband and went to live with him at Rotorua. To-day I am living at Mangawhara, near Hinuera. My parents lived at Kapiti; they are living here now also. My parents and my brothers are at Maungatautari. They have always lived at Maungatautari. They did not go to Kapiti with the exodus. They were living round here (at Maungatautari) at the battle of Taumatawiwi; some were living at Patetere. My relatives took part in Taumatawiwi. They assisted Ngatihaua. After that battle they lived at Maungatautari. After the battle they returned to their several plantations, and they have lived there permanently until the present day We have intermarried with Ngatikoroki. The six who claim with me are all near relatives, sisters and brothers. We are all full-blooded Ngatiwehiwehi. My claim is not for Ngatiwehiwehi, but a personal one through Tuakere.