G.—2

87

116. Then you think European customs and habits being introduced hare prevented them from getting the opportunities they had of growing into the position of chiefs?— Yes; the Court practice since 1865 has demolished the chiefs altogether. 117. Therefore, it is not because the sons are inferior to their fathers ?—No. Tβ Eangi Mairehau examined. 118. Sir W. Bullar.] You belong to the Muaupoko Tribe?— Yes. 119. Were do you live ? —At Horowhenua. I was born there, at Karapa, a pa, near the lake. 120. You have heard of the kuitetanga, the great fight on the West Coast ?—I know the war referred to. 121. You have heard it was in 1839?— Ido not know the year. 122. How old were you at the time of the fight ?—I was grown up. 123. Were you old enough to carry loads on your back ?—Yes. 124. Were you old enough to look for a sweetheart ?—Yes; I was. 125. How tall were you ? —I was about so high (indicating about 4ft. or so). 126. What age do suppose you are now, judging from those events ?—Perhaps seventy, more or less. 127. You listened to the ancient history that Wirihana gave?— Yes. 128. You are a much older man than Wirihana : do you say that history is true or not, according to what you have heard?— Some was true, and some was not true. 129. You heard what he said about Te Hakeke's mana coming to Horowhenua: was that true ? —lt is not true. 130. You heard him give the account of the amiowhenv.a, the inroad of the tribes along the coast: was his account of that true or not, according to your hearing of these traditions?— His account of the war-party was true, except what he said about his ancestor, Te Eangi Houhia; he was not in that war. 131. He also mentioned Tangaru : was he in that war?— That is true. 132. Was this fighting-party defeated and driven off, and, if so, by whom ?—Some were killed, and others retreated ; but they were defeated. The chief was not caught; he escaped. 133. Can you mention some of the other chiefs on Tangaru's side ?—The chiefs at that time were Tangaru, Taueki, Te Atua, Te Matangi, besides the younger chiefs; those were the leaders. 134. Give a brief account of what happened, according to the well-accepted tradition?— When the war-party arrived, the Muaupoko were in their pas on the lake. The whole of the shores of the lake were occupied by the enemy for many days and months. The Muaupoko then took into consideration the propriety of attacking them. They proposed to attack them at a place called Teraiotekaraka. They sallied forth in the night from the island-pa with their women in canoes. The males landed from the canoes, and the women remained in them. The males made their attack, and the women in the canoes raised a ngere (war-song), in order that the war-party who were to be attacked would suppose there was a very large party in the pa. 135. Did the women use their paddles or anything else ? —They had their paddles in their hands, and when they heard the attack being made by the males, the women raised this warsong. 136. Was there an accompaniment with their paddles ?—Some of them, while the war-song was being sung, were striking the canoes with the paddles; others stirred the water to make the people believe there was an immense flood coming. 137. Did that increase the panic, and contribute to the defeat of the war-party?— Yes; they were panic-stricken and fled ; they could not turn round to fight. 138. What was the strength of the war-party, according to tradition?—l cannot say how many there were in the war-party, but there were two hundred killed, and they were all drawn into the pa and eaten by the Muaupoko. They first killed them, and then eat them. 139. How many of the Mauaupoko were killed on that occasion ?—There was one killed, and he was pourangi —a fool. He was the only one killed. 140. Were you at the Court which sat at Foxton in 1873 ?—Yes. 141. Did you take an active part in the proceedings at that Court, on behalf of your tribe?— No ; I did nothing but listen. 142. Did many tribes come from other parts of the country?— Yes; that is right. 143. You heard the reason given by Wirihana that they came to Awhina te Hakeke : is that so?— Yes; the Ngatiraukawa, Ngatiapa, Ngatitoa, and Ngatikahunu all assembled at that Court. 144. Did they come out of regard for the Muaupoko, to help them?— Yes. 145. Were they paid anything by either Hunia or Kemp for coming ? —I never heard that they were paid. 146. Were you at the Court from the beginning to the finish? —I was there all the time 147. There was an investigation, and then it was adjourned, and, in the following March, judgment was given. HB. Who conducted the proceedings for Muaupoko on that occasion?— The two chiefs, Hunia and Kemp, conducted for Muaupoko. 149. Were you present at the meetings out of doors which preceded the judgment?— Yes. 150. Did you help to settle the list of 143 names of which we have heard ?—'Yes; it was I and Heta, a younger brother of mine, who is since dead, that settled that list. 151. Did Kawana Hunia put some names in that list ?—Yes. 152. Was he at all your meetings when you were there ?—Yes. 153. Do you remember that it was decided to put Kemp's name alone in the certificate, and all the others at the back of it, at all those meetings?— Yes ; it was decided at the last meeting before