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An Epitome of Official Documents Relative to Native Affairs and Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand
[Evidence of Te Haurangi]
Te Haurangi: I live at Mataawa. I remember the first bringing of the Opouteke Block before the Lands Court at Kaihu, in January, 1875. Symonds was the Judge. I was there with Heta. I spoke to the Court with respect to our land that was included in their survey; that is, the survey of Wharepapa and party. I was questioned by the Judge. Wharepapa disputed my claim. I said I did not dispute their claim to their land, but only to ours, that is, Heta, Ihaka te Tai, and myself. I said the land had been stolen by the surveyor, by them. The Maoris who assisted the surveyor, Hopeha, and others were asked by the Judge. My claim was admitted by the Court to our land that had been included in this survey. Opokena is the new name of the piece. The plan was placed on the table, and Wharepapa asked me if I knew my piece. I pointed it out; its name is Owhata. I pointed out the other boundary, Te Pukitaru. I cannot point out the line on this plan (produced); but one was made on the plan in Court. The Court ratified it. My name was not written in. Heta then proposed that Wharepapa should be allowed to deal with our piece too. The Court and we all consented to this. It was arranged that my money should be paid to myself by Wharepapa, or some one paying the money, and that myself and Heta should be present when the money was being paid. This is what I said in the Land Court. Wharepapa promised that when he received the money that he would pay our share to us. There has been a great deal of deceit in him: I was at Kaihu when the money was paid for this land. Mr. Preece wrote for us to come. I went, but not Heta. He had also, at Ohaeawai, told me to come I did not see the money actually paid to Wharepapa. I do not know how much he got. I expected to be paid for the area of my piece. I forget now how large the piece was. I did know at the first Court. I cannot say how much I ought to have had Wharepapa did not give me a penny even. I did not know that he gave any to Heta or to Ihaka. Heta may say. I asked Wharepapa for it in Mr. Preece's presence. He replied that Heta and self were thieves. He was obstinate and would not give any. The only money I got at Kaihu then was £10 from Mr. Preece. I returned home. I left £90 in Mr. Preece's hand to bring to Auckland. This was paid to me in consequence of Wharenapa's bad behaviour. The £90 was taken to Auckland by Preece in consequence of a letter I had given him from Ihaka and Heta te Haara. Immediately after I had signed a receipt for the £100, I was told by Mr. Preece that I was to have no further claim on the Government. I would not have signed had I known this before. Mr. Preece and Mr. Kemp alone were present. The money was paid to me before this explanation. I had the money in my possession. I did not return it, nor make any objection to what had been said. Preece wrote a letter for me to give to Heta, and read it over to me. I took the letter to Heta, and gave it to him on my return to Ohaeawai. We both came to Kororareka and saw Ihaka. These two disapproved of what I had done in taking the £10. Heta and self came to Auckland about it. We went to Mr. Kemp's office, and saw Mr. Kemp and Mr. Preece Mr. Preece handed us the £90, and Heta would not receive it, as he did not approve of it, as the land was a large piece. We did not then take it. Heta said he would retain the land. We saw Mr. Nelson. I did not speak to him about this matter; perhaps Heta did. We went back to Kororareka. Before this (our return), Paora Tubaere, Heta, and self were standing in the street at the corner of Queen Street, outside an entrance. Nelson had pointed out the place, saying that was the house of his lawyer. We went upstairs, and Nelson came up after. He interpreted for us. We did not speak, only Nelson: it was he who had advised us not to take the money (£90). He had talked to us at a public-house before this. We met him in Queen street, and said he was very glad to have seen us before we went to the Native Office. He gave us all the information about the area of the land and everything. We went to see Mr. Tole to try to get money from the Government, not from Wharepapa. We all went together to Sir. George Grey. We never said anything; the lawyer did all the talking. Paora spoke a little about his matter with Tiopira. We all went to Colonel Haultain also, then we returned to Kororareka, as I have said. I was not aware that Heta received this £90 while in Auckland.
Before the payment of the money I spoke to Mr. Preece not to pay all the money to Wharepapa. I do not know if he heard me, as there was a noise. I was not present when Wharepapa was paid. I went to the Court House, but the door was closed. I may have got the £100 from Mr. Preece before Wharepapa was paid. Mr. Kemp was present. It was in the day-time, about noon sometime.