G.—2a
39
I saw her living at Horowhenua. She married Te Oti Waahu, and lived at Waitahi with Kerihi and others, and cultivated with them. I have heard of Ngarangiwhakaota; he was the father of Meretene Whakaewa, and a chief of rank and prowess. Te Biunga lived at Papaitonga. Her descendants occupied it after her —those who did not run away with Te Kotuku. Cross-examined by Hamuera Karaitiana. Witness : I derive my right to this land from Puakiteao and Temou, the former owners of the land. They got their rights from their ancestors, who took possession of it. lam descended from— Rongopatahi Te Kahu I Te Kuraituhi = Tapuwae Taueki I Hereora I Raraku Hunia Te Bongopatahi had no rights to this land. I do not claim any right from that ancestor. His lands were at Paekakariki. None of the Hamua are connected with the Pariri except Bihipeti, who lives at Tamaki. Te Whatahoro is a descendant of Kawainga; I cannot trace his descent. Te Hikaotaota was taken prisoner at Wainui, in Wairarapa, and brought here by Te Uira, father of Temou, who was afterwards killed by the people he had saved. Takare, Toheriri, and Papai were descendants of Te Biunga ; they got their rangatiratanga from her, not from Pariri. Bihipeti has no rights to Horowhenua No. 11 by ancestry or occupation ; she has no house here. My mother gave me the information I possess of the history of Horowhenua ; I was grown up when she died. The land south of Taueki's boundary was for Te Whatanui. It was included in the award of 1873 to Muaupoko. You had better try and get your clients into that part. I have rights to the land between Hokio and the southern boundary of Horowhenua, because a great part of the land belonging to my ancestors was given to others in 1886. I had ancestral rights to it before it was given by Taueki to Whatanui. My ancestor Potangotango was an independent chief. Mounuwahine was a hunting- and fowling-place of his. Patiki and Oero were also bird-catching places of his. My mother told me this. Tamatea and others of Muaupoko know it. Noa te Whata told me the same. It was the custom of chiefs to hunt and fish. Pariri's pas were at Pukerua and Paekakariki ; his descendants have lived there. Some of the descendants of Pariri have occupied Horowhenua since peace was made between Taueki and Whatanui. Te Kahu, child of Bongopatahi, lived at Pukerua and Uruhi. Te Kuraituhi lived at Horowhenua after her marriage with Tapuwae. I have heard that Pariri had an umu tawa near Horowhenua Lake. Wirihana said so in one of the Courts. I repeat that the Ngatipariri have no right to any of the eel-pas in Hokio Stream. If they want eels they have to ask us for them. It was not so in the time of Potangotango. I am telling you what I have seen myself. It is only since peace was made that Ngatipariri have been here at all. Tireo and his brothers lived here permanently. Ido not know that any lands have been awarded to their descendants in Manawatu. I know that he made raids there. Bihipeti and her parents lived at Tamaki after peace was made. My mother told me so. Hinerangi lived at Turakina. - She was a Ngatiapa, and married a Ngatiapa. Her rights are there, but Ngatiapa did not put Bihipeti into their lands. Ido not know where Hinerangi died. Tamati Maunu is buried at Kouturoa. Ido not know where Bihipeti's mother is buried. Akuira Takapo died at Bangitikei; he is buried here. I admit Te Aweawe's right by ancestry, and because he assisted Taueki in holding the land. I was in Bangitikei in 1886. Wirihana left me there when he came to the Palmerston Court. If I had attended the Court Te Peeti would not have been put on the hills. Cross-examined by Mr. McDonald. Witness : Te Uira and Wairotoariki were the first of our ancestors to occupy this land. Te Uira was murdered by his slaves, the descendants of Hikaotaota. This is what I heard. Ido not know their names. Wirihana mentioned them in the Court of 1890. Temou was an infant at the time. I heard this from Wirihana Hunia. Te Uira was buried at Horowhenua ;I do not know who buried him. I have heard from my mother that Temou died at Horowhenua, and was buried at Ohenga or Komakorau. Hikaotaota was brought to Te Uruhi and married Ngataitako there. That was his land. He was a descendant of Tupatunui. Puakiteao died a natural death at Te Koropu. I do not remember where she is buried. Hoani Puihi is a descendant of Puakiteao. [Vol. 13, page 242, Hone Puihi's evidence, read.] That is his version. I have given mine, which I consider more reliable. Ido not know where Tireo died, or how ; I think he died here. He put up a post here, and called it after Temou; it was to keep Ngatikahungunu away after he had driven them off the land. Ngaitaikaka was a hapu of Ngatiupokoiri. Ido not know whether the name is still used. It was Ngatikokopu who were attacked by Te Piro; he sent for his soldiers from Pukerua to assist him. Bangihikaka came, and together they defeated the Ngatikokopu. The cause of fight was that Ngatikokopu took Te Piro's match-wood. The Ngatikokopu were a hapu of Ngatiapa. Te Piro lived at Kouturoa. The Court adjourned till the 10th instant.