Gv—6b

Concerning the rights of the parties to the Whakapuaka Block, the following memorandum taken from a copy of a genealogical table of Wi Katene te Puoho's lineage written between thirty and forty years ago bears on the question at issue : — " Kauhoe was first married to Te Puoho's brother, and at his death she married Te Puoho by whom she had one son named Piti, alias Te Puoho, to whom Whakapuaka was allotted (by common consent) as his portion and residence. Te Puoho (senior) was slain by Ngaitahu at Tuturau. His enemies called him Te Manu 011 account of his eloquence and melodious voice." (7) Touching the statement contained in the petition relative to the alleged agreement between Atiraira Mohi and Huria Matenga, although these persons are descended from a common ancestor, they are not equal in rank for the reason that Taku the first husband of Kauhoe (who married two brothers) was the junior of Te Puoho the second husband : consequently his son Wi Katene took precedence of Paremata te Wahapiro, the son of the first husband. Another circumstance that makes a further distinction between Huria Matenga and the two daughters of Ngamianga, the second wife of Paremata te Wahapiro, is that, irrespective of these children being the offspring of the " wahine iti " (second wife), the mother, who was a Ngaitahu, was a member of a conquered race. The statement therefore contained in the petition that Atiraira Mohi agreed that Huria Matenga, her superior in rank, should be allowed to prefer a claim to her own property seems rather preposterous and incapable of belief. (8) Paragraph 7 : I am unable to say at what time Atiraira Mohi first became aware that her name was not in the title, but I am inclined to believe that all the Paremata family were aware from the outset that their names were not in the title, as the decision of the Court was widely known. (9) As to the occupation of any of the members of the Paremata family either formerly or of late years, such occupation was at the will of Wi Katene te Puoho during his lifetime and since then at the will of Huria Matenga. (10) In former years Tipene Paremata, the eldest son, lived on the land during Wi Katene's time, and the second son Ripeni occasionally lived there ; but other members of the family, with the exception of Atiraira Mohi, have rarely been there, excepting probably on a visit for a brief period. (11) In support of Wi Katene to Puoho's right to the land it is necessary to narrate certain circumstances in connection with the ownership of it. It has already been pointed out that Paremata te Wahapiro was a captive amongst Ngaitahu at the time the Whakapuaka Block was first occupied by Wiremu Katene te Puoho, and up to the establishment of Christianity amongst his captors, subsequent to 1840. In 1842 he arrived in Nelson and was present at Commissioner Spain's Court in 1844, and after residing at Whakapuaka for a short time he crossed over to Wellington and eventually returned in the early part of January, 1845, with a party of turbulent Natives and proceeded to turn of! the European settlers occupying the land within Commissioner Spain's award to the New Zealand Company, This ultimately led to the company's agent, Mr. Fox, proceeding with an armed volunteer force to protect the Chief Surveyor while laying down the boundary of the northern limit of the purchased lands awarded lay Commissioner Spain to the New Zealand Company. This line ultimately formed the southern boundary of the Whakapuaka Block. In consequence of Paremata's turbulent conduct to the Europeans, Wi Katene turned him away from Whakapuaka to the North Island, and he was absent there for several years. (12) At the time that Paremata attacked the settlers Wi Katene was absent at Te Taitapu, and on his hearing of the aggression he returned hurriedly to Whakapuaka and found that an armed party had proceeded there in a boat belonging to H.M.S. " Hazard," with Major Richmond, the Superintendent of the Southern Division, the company's agent, and the Nelson Police Magistrate to further interview the Natives and warn them not to disturb the settlers living to the south of the boundary-line fixed by the company. (13) In compliance with the request of the company's agent Wi Katene te Puoho inspected the line fixed on for the southern boundary of the Whakapuaka Block, but, although he objected to it, he ultimately gave way through a desire to put an end to the quarrel, though he resented Paremata's turbulent conduct, which he believed had led to his losing part of his land. Paremata's excuse on being questioned by Wi Katene te Puoho as to why he attacked the European settlers was that they were residing to the north of the line that Wi Katene had pointed out he had sold to the company. (14) Although the position of the southern boundary of the Whakapuaka Block was fixed in 1845, the matter was not settled until 1851, when Wi Katene te Puoho and Major Richmond, the Superintendent of the Nelson District, aided by Mr. P. D. Bell, finally adjusted the matter, and Wi Katene subsequently superintended the survey of the line by the Government Surveyor. The next spoliative action which Paremata was concerned in against his brother was his joining the Ngatitoa in 1853 to sell all the lands claimed by that tribe on the southern shores of Cook's Strait to the Government. Amongst other parts included in the sale was the Whakapuaka Block, and if it had not been for the strenuous opposition of Wi Katene in 1856, when Mr. Commissioner McLean visited Whakapuaka for the purpose of paying a share of the purchase-money reserved for the local residents, and to lay off the Size of the reserve, the major part of the block would have passed into the hands of the Government.

Paras. 139, 140, and 141.

Paras. 136 and 137.

Para. 138.

Paras. 156 to 162.

Paras. 156 to 162.

Paras. 142 to 150.

Paras. 142 to 150.

Paras. 142 to 150.

Para. 202 a.

Para. 202 a.

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