WHERE THE WHITE MAN TREADS

Te Ao Hou, June 1960, Page 19

WHERE THE WHITE MAN TREADS The writer has chosen the title of the very readable book by William Baucke as a chapter heading, because our story will now deal with events in the Northern King Country district. Baucke's stories dealt with the people of that region—formerly known among the Maori tribes as Te Rohe-potae o Ngati-Maniapoto (The Rim of the Hat of the Maniapoto Tribe). About the year 1885 the chiefs of Maniapoto applied to the Maori Land Court to investigate the titles to the tribal lands, and in 1886 the Court commenced its sittings at Otorohanga. This event co-incided with sittings of the Court in Taupo under another Judge and Maori Assessor (David Scannell and Nikorima Poutotara). These sittings were the first to be held in these districts, and members of the tribes of Maniapoto and the Tuwharetoa went from far and near to attend the sittings. Puhiwahine attended the sittings at Taupo, and later went through to Otorohanga. At the latter place she learnt that the reason why the Maniapoto chiefs had applied for an investigation of their titles was because they had learnt that occupation was a strong ground for claims to land before the Maori Land Court. And at that time some sections of the Waikato people, whose lands had been confiscated by the Government after the Waikato War of the 1860s, had been in occupation of some of the best lands of the Maniapoto at Te Kuiti for twenty odd years. Among the Waikato refugees was King Tawhiao, but as he was also of Maniapoto blood he was made most welcome and his rights to land as a Maniapoto were fully safeguarded by the chiefs. When the main claim to the whole of the Maniapoto tribal domain came before the Maori Land Court there were claims by various outside tribes, including a section of the Waikato people. (Otorohanga Maori Land Court Minute Book, 1886). Hauauru was the principal witness for the Maniapoto, and his evidence in chief and cross examination lasted for ten days. It was when he was giving evidence in connection with the claim of his own Matakore sub-tribe to part—Rangitoto Block—of the tribal domain that Hauauru, during an adjournment of the Court, challenged the counter-claimants to quote some song in support of their claims. No one took up his challenge. Puhiwahine was present, and Hauauru acknowledged her presence by a respectful wave and cupping of the hand, he then turned to the chiefs and began to sing the Song of a Coquette. (See Chapter 5). Puhiwahine took it as a challenge and soon she had risen to her feet and joined him in the singing; but remaining in her place some paces away. At the fourth verse, Puhiwahine accompanied her singing with a pukana in the direction of Hauauru, and for the line, “at Rangitoto art thou, O Eruera!” she raised her voice to a higher note and with quivering hands she struck a graceful pose reminiscent of her younger days. The song was ended with the words in the last two lines of the verse: “This is but a day-dream for him who was the first of them all!” When the time came for Puhiwahine to leave Otorohanga for her home in the south, there was a special gathering arranged as a poroporoaki (take leave of) and to wish her well. Puhiwahine had composed a special song for the occasion. It was an expression of sorrow and regret for the manner in which the tribes were dealing with their ancestral lands.