OUNORA 2

CREATED   5 October 1870

Hauraki Minute Book 6 pages 237-241, and Coromandel Minute Book 2 pages 44-4161

AREA   5093 acres

PLAN   Hamilton Maori Land plan 1959

SOLD TO CROWN 21 February 1878

Investigation of Title

In May 1870 Reupena Tahura, Henare Whakarongohau and others of Ngati Hei, through their agents Preece and Graham, applied to have the title to Ounuora 2 investigated.2

In July 1870 RC Jordan completed the survey of the block, and

certified that the lines marked on this plan are properly cut and pegged,and that the work was executed under my supervision.3

George Wiltshire, working under Jordan's supervision, had done most of the survey work. When the plan was checked in September 1870, it was identified that it included Ounuora Block which had already been granted.

At the hearing,4 Reupena Tahura claimed from the ancestor Taura, whose son was Korokaimaroro. He said that Korokaimaroro's descendants have had possession of this land ever since his day, and have continually exercised rights of ownership over it, catching birds, rats, getting berries, and doing all other things of Maori work. No one ever disputed our title or tried to eject us.... We have no cultivations on this block.'

George Wiltshire, one of the surveyors of the block, told the Court that

I also made the plan. The whole of the lines are cut except the south boundary and that it was not possible to cut. The survey has been made in accordance with the Rules of the N.L. Court. I was not gazetted as a Licensed Surveyor at the time I made the survey. Mr Jordan was with me, he surveyed a part of the block and tested my survey. We plotted the work together. The boundaries were pointed out to me by Reupena. I was aware that there had been a survey of a part of the block but was not aware that the land had been granted. Reupena did not tell me that

1 The Coromandel Minute Book appears to be a copy of the Hauraki Minute Book.

2 Application for Investigation of Title, 23 May 1870. Maori Land Court Hamilton Block Orders file C189. Supporting Papers #K10.1.

3 Hamilton Maori Land plan 1959. Supporting Papers #N28.

4 Hauraki Minute Book 6 pages 237-241, and Coromandel Minute Book 2 pages 414-416. Supporting Papers #J12.17-21 and J2.156-158.

5 Hauraki Minute Book 6 pages 238-239, and Coromandel Minute Book 2, pages 414-415. Supporting Papers

#J12.18-19 and J2.156-157.

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