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Te Roera Tareha, sworn.] Live at Waiohiki. Know boundaries. The lake was outside the boundary of the land sold. Te Puka shotdd have been excluded from sale. That is an island (Park's island). Rorokuri another island should also be excluded. Three principal islands in lake were reserved from sale. Taputeranga (or Watchman Island). I mean all islands in lake were reserved from sale. Not xd. Commission adjourned to 10.30 a.m. 14th August 1920. Ptjketitiri and Whanganui-a-Rotu (contd.) Napier, 14th August, 1920. 2lohi te Atahikoia, sworn.] Live at Pakipaki. I was one who gave evidence before Parliament in 1918. Mohi (myself), Tareha and Waha Pango gave the evidence. I told the Committee we had a copy of original deed. The Native Affairs Committee advised us they had no power and suggested we confer with the Harbour Board. They said it was the faults of former Governments. If we got no satisfaction we were to go back to Parliament and the legislature would consider matter. The Harbour Board conferred with us. The Clerk and Mr. Prentice represented the Harbour Board. The Clerk asked us to make a statement and he would report to the Board. An answer from the Harbour Board did not come for some time, and it was then in the shape of a copy of the deed. The Board's representatives did not object to or question our claim. Hand in copy of minutes taken at this conference. This was returned with the copy of the deed. I wrote for a more definite reply but got no answer, and I then placed another petition before Parliament. In 1915 petition the Solicitor representing the Harbour Board was not present. I know of other streams that required artificial opening or assistance in relieving the water pressure. The name Whanganui-a-rotu was derived thus—Te Orotu was the name of a person. Whanganui was a fresh water lake and it was called Te Orotu's lake. Keteketerau was the first outlet to the lake. The present opening was made by Tu Ahuriri many generations ago. Some of Tu Ahuriri's descendants are in the South Island. Taiaroa and others are his descendants. The outlet was named after Ahuriri. The elders say that this opening got blocked at times the water oozing through. When the rivers were in flood the water rose and were let out by reopening the outlet. Tangoio is another lake of similar nature. That also becomes blocked and openings have to be made to allow the water to go out. The training walls made keep Ahuriri always open, and salt water fish now enter the lake. Fish in lake were flounders eels inanga and fresh water fish. After the opening became permanent salt Avater fish would enter. Ngaruroro and Tukituki streams also become blocked by the action of the sea. Wairoa river which is larger than these also becomes blocked. Te Whakaki lagoon is another and becomes blocked at times. Fresh water fish are caught there. I am old enough to remember the original sales of land and can recall people receiving the money in Waipukurau sale of 1851. Cannot say which was first sale. The Natives were paid as follows —half in gold and half by token. The Government had not sufficient gold to pay in cash. The Government did not purchase the lakes. This happened with regard to Wairarapa lake. For this latter they were subsequently compensated. The stone tokens were all redeemed in cash. A block was called Tau-kohikohi-kohatu (The period when payment was made by stones.) We received full payment for the land but not the land covered Avith water. The name Upoko-poito refers to a place on the coast from here to Ngaruroro stream. Okahu is the name of the place marked Upokopoito on map. Not xxd. Tuehn Pomare closes evidence. 96. It seems plain from this evidence that the following is the Maori conception of the character of the Whanganui-o-Rotu. It was that of a fresh-water or brackishwater lagoon which had to be ojiened occasionally when the waters from the streams feeding it caused the water-level to rise to a point that menaced their homes and cultivations situated on the low ground bordering the lake. While the lake was open to the sea certain sea-fish would enter, but the main catch was of fresh-water fish. At times, through evaporation and percolation of the w r ater through the retaining bank of gravel closely approximating the inflow T from the feeder rivers and creeks, the lagoon would remain completely landlocked and at a static level. It then had all the characteristics of a fresh-water lake. The opening originally made to relieve the pressure of water and reduce the level of the lagoon was at Keteketerau, which was situated at a dip in the road about a mile to the north of the present Westshore Bridge. On one occasion when an outlet was made slightly to the Napier side of Keteketerau the scour of w T ater carried away an adjacent burial-ground. That opening was called Ruahoro, and by that name is mentioned, in the deed of cession and shown on the plan attached thereto. Lately a fresh opening was made or reappeared at Ahuriri, and from that time the Keteketerau, or Ruahoro, opening has remained permanently closed. An examination of the Pahou

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