9

G.—2a

We saw Te Puke, and I asked him if he was obstructing the survey. He said he was, and I told him I was going to put in my post, and dared him to pull it up. The post I put in was some distance north of the post put in by the Judge's directions, and excluded Te Puke's place. He expressed himself satisfied, and the survey was made. If I had adhered to the first post it would have taken in Muhunoa and all the kaingas. Let the Court go and see both boundaries. I think the Ngatiraukawa ought to be satisfied with these concessions. They were made long after the agreement was signed. The Ngatiraukawa are not entitled to any more reserves. I consented to a piece for tupapaku at Te Paikeatari, but my people have not agreed to it. This was a promise to Ngatihuia. I consider that I have fulfilled my promises to Ngatiraukawa. When I signed the agreement the reserves were not indicated by name. In the agreement with the Whatanuis the only condition was that the reserve was to be near the Horowhenua Lake. I have complied with this condition. Sir Donald McLean did not tell me who he was going to pay the money to, or what it was for. Nor did he mention names of persons the reserves were for. The land I gave up to the Ngatiraukawa is south of the Waiwiri Stream. The Ngatihuia were satisfied with the northern boundary as laid down. Te Puke expressed himself satisfied with the southern boundary as altered. The Ngatiraukawa have never applied to me for any further concessions. There was never any trouble until the time of the Commission. To Mr. McDonald : I remember the Court of 1886 at Palmerston. Notwithstanding the concessions I had made to Ngatiraukawa, I spoke to my people about the reserve I had promised for descendants of Whatanui. I considered at the time that I was not under any obligation to the Ngatiraukawa. Cross-examined by Mr. Morison. Witness : In bringing back the boundary to Waiwiri I consider I was making a large concession to Ngatiraukawa. I think it satisfied the Ngatiraukawa claims for reserves. In my opinion it satisfied their claims for reserves under my agreement with McLean. The boundary as originally intended would have taken in Muhunoa kainga and part of Te Wera-a-whango. When we inspect the land we will see how far south of Muhunoa the original boundary would have gone. Ido not know the southern boundary of Waiwiri Block. I know Te Kainga-a-pipi. I do not know whether my original post was north or south of it. I believe my concession to Ngatiraukawa cut off more than 1,000 acres for them, Be-examined by Sir Walter Buller. Witness: I have really no idea what area I gave up to Ngatiraukawa; it could only be ascertained by survey. To Assessor : If my tribe had fixed the southern boundary of Horowhenua instead of myself the Ngatiraukawa would not have agreed to it. Te Puke agreed to the southern boundary when I brought it back. Mr. Booth was present. It ended the trouble on this land. Ngatiraukawa did not ask me for the reserves. They asked Sir Donald McLean for them. McLean asked me to sign the agreement, and told me he was going to pay them some money. I was not present at their meeting with McLean. It was after I had signed the agreement that I made the concessions to Ngatiraukawa, and there was never any demand made upon me until the time of the Commission ; then the Ngatiraukawa took advantage of my trouble with Wirihana to make further claims upon me. It was in the time of Te Whatanui Tutaki that disputes first arose over this land. There was no trouble before that. In his time the Ngatihuia on the north, and the Ngatiraukawa on the south, endeavoured to confine the Muaupoko to a comparatively small area. I consider the adjustment of the boundary was a final settlement of all disputes. The Ngatihuia did not ask me for any reserves beyond the graveyard. To Court: The agreement I signed in 1874 was not translated to me. It was explained to me. I was told that it related to certain reserves for Ngatiraukawa. [Agreement read.] I meant the reserves for the permanent occupants, Nerehana and Te Puke. I .do not remember the hapus being named in the agreement. I would not have consented if I had known it. The Court fixed the limits of the land on the coast. The Judges themselves fixed the northern boundary. Mr. Edwin Woon, Hoani Puihi, and Te Bau were sent to put up the post at Waiwiri. Mr. Morison read from page 190, vol. i., to show that boundaries of Horowhenua were decided before the case came on. Benjamin Stickels sworn. Witness : lam a farmer. Live at Horowhenua. Know the Horowhenua Block. I remember the Court of 1873. In 1872 I was upon the ranges putting up trig, stations. I was with Mitchell's survey. Came down from the hills when Court sat in 1873. After the Court fixed boundaries we surveyed the northern boundary from the beach. There was a mark on a telegraph-post further north than where we started the boundary. Kemp brought the boundary back to where we started. The Ngatihuia were present. The boundary was brought back three telegraph-poles. A little afterwards we went to Waiwiri with the same surveyor. Hoani Puihi and one or two others went with us. Kemp did not go. We put the post in about 2 chains south of the Waiwiri Stream. It was a carved post, with Muaupoko on one side and Ngatiraukawa on the other. The Ngatiraukawa destroyed it shortly after. About a year after we returned. The mouth of the stream was further north then. We put in a peg at the mouth. Te Puke and his people stopped the survey. There was a small fishing village on south side of stream. Most of the houses would be inside the present boundary ; probably some are outside. I know the Mahoenui clearing. I live close to it. Have been living there eleven years. Have had stock on it since 1868. I have seen Ngatiraukawa come backwards and forwards there. Have not lived there permanently. They used to bring pigs there. I have not seen them there since 1873.

2—G. 2a.