(myself and others). It was because I saw the name of Wini Kerei, and that some of our land was to be his (was to be given to him). That is why I obstructed the Europeans (surveyors), viz., because he (Wini Kerei) is interfering (or claiming) without a right to land that is ours from olden time.
Listen, 0 Government, to my word. I do not agree to the name of this person (W Kerei) that I saw upon the map of this land. Remove his name from the map in order that I may be clear (my mind may be easy), and in order that the land may be left intact for you to do as you like with.15
Wilkinson forwarded his letter to Wellington, commenting that
The writer appears to think that either Wini Kerei is having the survey made without the knowledge of Government, or that he has made wrong (so Wirihana Paho thinks) representations to Government regarding his original ownership to the land. Wirihana Paho is a Waikato native, but I believe is also connected with Wini Kerei and his people. He is a King native and has been living on the land in question, and at Moerangi adjacent, for the past is years or more. There are letters in Wellington regarding his claim to this land. I am not clear as to his reference to its having been promised to him, unless he refers to the offer by Mr Fenton and myself in 1882 of most of the unoccupied Crown Land in the vicinity of Hapuakohe to landless Waikato natives if they would go and occupy it.16
The following month the Under Secretary noted that
I have seen the Survey Department, and no further difficulty is anticipated with Wirihana in connection with this survey.17
This note was made by the Under Secretary while he was in Auckland. While there, he also wrote a note to the Native Minister.
There is a difficulty in connection with the reserve which you have authorised to be surveyed at Hapuakohe in fulfilment of old promises understood to have been made to the natives. In a minute addressed to the Surveyor General on 4th January 1889, you asked Mr Smith what area would be necessary to give to the natives to include their settlements and cultivations. The Surveyor General in reply recommended that an area marked within blue lines and containing about 2500 acres should be given and remarked that "the land south of Mangawara is all swamp and would be no good to the natives". Now that the survey is being made, it is found that there is a dry belt or promontory of land south of the Mangawara on which the natives have cultivations which they much desire to obtain. I think the Survey Department should be instructed according to your intention to include in the survey all the cultivations, but if the natives can be go to agree, to exclude from the survey all land not likely to be of use to them. I am informed that a great deal of the land north of Mangawara is hilly and barren and not cultivatable by the natives, although of course they will try to secure it, being under the impression that the whole of the area coloured pink on the map referred to was promised to them.18
The Minister agreed that
The lines to be altered so as to include the cultivations, but the total area is not to exceed 2500 acres.19
15 Wirihana Paho, Tawhirinamu, to Native Agent Otorohanga, 7 September 189o, attached to Native Agent Alexandra to Under Secretary Native Department, II September 1890. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 18 92/8. Supporting Papers #B74.267-27o.
16 Native Agent Alexandra to Under Secretary Native Department, n September 189o. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1892/8. Supporting Papers #1374.267-270.
17 File note by Under Secretary Native Department, 15 October 189o, on cover sheet to file NLP 1890/313. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1892/8. Supporting Papers #B74.266.
18 Under Secretary Native Department to Native Minister, 18 October 189o. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1892/8. Supporting Papers #B74.262-265.
19 File note by Native Minister, 18 October 189o, on Under Secretary Native Department to Native Minister, 18 October 189o. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1892/8. Supporting Papers #B74.262-265.
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