92

urged them to unite, on the principle that "a house divided against itself cannot stand." It was in this spirit that Matene included the whole coast in his application on behalf of the whole tribe of Ngatiraukawa.

On the 19th I went to Waikawa, as requested by the Natives of that place. Tamihana te Rauparaha, Hoani Meihana, Manahi son of Paora of Waikawa (deceased), and a number of others, accompanied me. I found about forty people encamped in tents about a mile from the beach, awaiting my arrival. They strongly objected to have their title investigated by the Court, saying there could be no doubt of their being the proper owners, and so forth. They refused to send applications, and declared their resolution unalterable. They said they would sell their land as they would a pig by the lump "me hoko a poaka." I told them the Government were perfectly willing to buy their pig, but must be sure of the owner. I said we did not dispute their right to the "poaka," but if we were to pay them money for it without first duly ascertaining the ownership, they would be secure, having received the payment, but we should, in all probability, be landed in a difficulty, as it was likely this and that hapu would come forward, each claiming and taking a slice, till at last we should be left with nothing but the bones. For our own protection, therefore, we required the title to be investigated.

The discussion continued all day between them and the natives who accompanied me, those latter advocating the passing of the land through the Court. In the evening, as I was about to leave, they said they would take their "pig" to Wellington, and offer it to the Government. I told them they of course could do so if they liked, but I warned them that if they did so, they would have the trouble of driving it back again, and reminded them of what the Hon. the Native Minister had told them when they were in town; namely, that they were to send applications to the Court for investigation of their title before the land could be purchased.

I then gave them some forms of application, advising them to consider the subject carefully. I promised to wait a day at Otaki for their decision, and left them. On Thursday, the 21st, after a very violent debate, as I was informed, a deputation from them came to Otaki, and had a consultation with Matene Te Whiwhi, which ended in their joining with him in his general application in respect of the whole coast.

Whilst we were at Otaki Hoani Meihana received two telegrams from Major Kepa at Whanganui asking him to proceed forthwith to attend a meeting at Putiki respecting the Muaupoko claims. Accordingly I made arrangements for his passage by the coach, and he started from Otaki on the 21st inst. He intends to advocate strongly, as the representative of Rangitane, the settlement of all disputed claims in the Land Court as agreed to by Ngatiraukawa. If he find the Whanganui Natives (who are relations and allies of Rangitane, Muaupoko and Ngatiapa) in any way inclined to resort to unlawful means in support of their claims, his line of argument will be that Major Kepa and his followers have hitherto been supporters of law and order, that they have earned a reputation and a name by their deeds in assisting to put down anarchy and rebellion, and supporting the Queen’s authority, and that they cannot therefore now object to submit their grievances to the decision of a legally constituted Court under the same authority of which they have hitherto been such staunch supporters. If they do object, the honor which they have gained will have departed from them, and the Ngatiraukawa will have become the more legal and orderly people.

He says if they determine upon any illegal proceedings he will withdraw from them and return at once. I apprehend good effects will result from his visit.

All parties, Ngatiraukawas and others, have expressed their determination to sell the hills, extending along the whole coast, and some are willing to part with a portion of the flats. I told them all the hills would be useless to the Government without a strip along the base for a road; and I think it can be arranged that the boundaries of the portions to be sold be taken from point to point of the hills so as to enclose considerable portions of the flat, and many desirable valleys and gullies; many of the lower hills and slopes are by no means steep, and are composed of very excellent soil.

To guard against the natives imagining that favor is shown to any particular party, I would suggest that a Court be held both at Otaki and at Manawatu, taking in detail the lands at both places, according to their proximity to the place where the Court sits. As the questions to be considered are of a complex and delicate character, and will require much care and thought, I venture to suggest that the assistance of an extra Judge would be judicious, the natives generally appear to be in favor of Mr. Rogan, and said that they considered it to be most important for their interests that the Native Assessors assisting should be unconnected in any way with the tribes or hapus whose claims were to be investigated.

To avoid repetition I have up to this point purposely abstained from touching upon the question of surveys. This subject was discussed at each meeting which I attended. The natives everywhere declare their inability to bear the expense, saying if they had to do this they would be unable to pass their land through the Court at all. I explained to them that I proposed getting a general map made of the whole district, with rivers, lakes, native settlements, boundary posts, and all prominent features of the country clearly marked, and as many Maori names of places, positions and boundaries inserted as possible, so as to enable a division of the various blocks to be made on the map in the Court by the Surveyor. They enquired particularly if a charge would be made against them for preparing this map, and when I told them the Government would