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and so disheartened them that they sued for peace, and that immediately after the latter returned to Hauraki they took possession of Maungatautari, and set bounds to such portions as they chose —the boundary line running about north and south —and they have continued in undisputed enjoyment and occupation thereof till the present. (3.) Ngatikoura, under Te Hakiriwhi, based their claim on identically the same grounds as Ngatikoroki, but with one difference. Their boundary line ran from Mangapiko to Waitete, cutting the boundary lines of the Koroki claims at right angles as nearly as possible. (4.) Ngatikoura, Ngatiparehaehaeora, and Ngatiraukawa, under Te Puke, based their claim on the same grounds as the other Ngatikoura, with a comparatively slight variation of their boundary line, also on descent from Ihingarangi, a son of Raukawa, and continuous occupation from a period anterior to Taumatawiwi. (5.) Ngatiapakura set up that they conquered the Natiraukawa in a series of battles, commencing with Waipatoto and ending with Arukoata; that it was entirely owing to them that Raukawa migrated to Kapiti. They also claim by conquest to have acquired the mana of the land, and that, therefore, the result of any battle between Marutuahu and Ngatihaua could in no way affect the title of this land. They also claim to have occupied, and, in evidence thereof, set up occupation of Rangiaohia, Te Whanake, and other places, and also claimed by reason of a curse. (6.) The Ngatihaua and Hourua case is based on the expulsion of Marutuahu by the Taumatawiwi victory, and the occupation of the land by some of the Ngatihaua and Ngatikoroki hapus. The witnesses in this case deposed that no boundaries were laid down, as sworn to by the witnesses in the Ngatikoroki and Ngatikoura cases * and that though most of the hapus which constituted the army of Ngatihaua and its allies at Taumatawiwi, which were led by the famous Te Waharoa, did not actually occupy Maungatautari, it was partly on account of the military duties enforced upon them by the aggressive spirit which for several years after Taumatawiwi actuated Marutuahu that they were compelled to occupy Matamata and other defensible positions close to the northern portion of this district; that they were not able to turn their attention to agricultural pursuits and to the peaceful possession of the conquered country; and it can scarcely, we think, admit of doubt, as alleged, that if danger had threatened from the south portion Te Waharoa and his redoubtable warriors would have been there to meet the foe, and drive him back to whence he came or perish in the attempt. (7.) As to the Hourua case under Te Whitu, that is actually part of the Ngatihaua case, and should have been so dealt with from the first. The Claimant in reply set vp —(1.) Ancestral title and occupation. (2.) A peacemaking with Waikato. (3.) A formal handing over of Maungatautari after Hangahanga to Waikato—■ viz., to Tukorehu and Te Akanui, chiefs of Maniapoto and Ruakawa, and to Te Paewaka and to Te Wherowhero, the great Waikato chief, the father of Tawhiao. (4.) That in later days the land the subject of this inquiry was given back by Te Wherowhero and Te Paewaka, also by Haunui and Porokuru (to whom it does not appear to have ever been given by the Raukawa owners), to Ngatiraukawa, and that therefore it became the property of the whole of the Ngatiraukawa Tribe. It is also alleged in support of this theory that Ngatiraukawa went in peace to Kapiti and other places, after formally handing over their land to the guardianship of the chiefs above named, and that some eighty of them came from Pawaiti and settled on certain portions of it, and remained in occupation till their death, when they were succeeded by their descendants, whose representatives are still in occupation. That Marutuahu' never acquired mana over Maungatautari, and that the result of Taumatawiwi could not in any way affect their title thereto. It is admitted on all sides that Ngatiraukawa and Ngatikauwhata were the owners of Maungatautari and the land surrounding it. Some generations back there was trouble between Koroki and his relative Taowhakairo about a woman. The position was aggravated by some very objectionable observations made by the latter as to what he would do with Koroki; a fight ensued, and as the case of each of the belligerents was espoused by the neighbouring hapus, a very pretty melee was the result. From a small matter at first it at length assumed large proportions, and became a general war, in which Taowhakairo was defeated and slain, and a good many of the Ngatikauwhata pas were taken. The Waikato and Maniapoto Tribes, from various causes, took part against Raukawa and Kauwhata, and a series of engagements were fought, with varying success, victory now inclining to one side and now to the other. At length, whilst some of the Ngatiraukawa were absent on an expedition to Hawke's Bay, the rest of them were hemmed in in their pa at Hangahanga. The besiegers sat down before Hangahanga to starve out the garrison, and invested the place for several months. One of the besiegers, being of an inquiring turn of mind, built a tower or crow's-nest to enable him to watch the proceedings of the besieged with a greater accuracy, but paid for his rashness with his life, for Te Ahukaramu, one of the Ngatiraukawa, being armed with a musket, one day watched his ascent, and just as the feather with which he embellished his head-dress appeared above the top of his tower, he took a pot shot and brought him down. There were two stand of arms in the pa—a musket and a pistol. The besieged evacuated the pa one night and escaped to Pawhaiti, it is alleged, with the connivance of Te Korehu and Te Akanui, who commanded part of the besieging force. Two of the Ngatiraukawa, one very old man, Te Koru, and Matangi, who was sick, having been left in the pa, were butchered next morning. After a time there was, it is alleged, a peacemaking between a section of the Ngatimaniapoto and Ngatiraukawa, at Pawaiti, and some of the latter