Ohinemuri District: Ohinemuri

Te Paeroa, Ohinemuri, to make arrangements for the hearing of this block. When I arrived there I had several conversations with Tukukino, who wished the land to be withdrawn from hearing, and I was as persistent in having it brought forward, that is Ohinemuri Gold Field as a whole. As he was the principal spokesman for Ohinemuri, all the other chiefs were in favour of it being heard, but were disposed to yield to Tukukino's wishes, therefore I was left alone to do away with Tukukino's obstruction. The chiefs who assisted me were Te Pokiha, Rawiri Taiporutu, Te Wikiriwhi, besides Te Rihitoto. The wish of these people was with me to endeavour to get the land put through the Court.33

Investigation of Title

For the title to any block to be investigated, the Court first had to have before it a survey plan. The plan produced for Ohinemuri is undated.34 It seems to have been merely a sketch of the

outer boundary of the block, together with such agricultural leases as issued under the Mining Act marked on it, and with some mine workings sketched in.

The Court case commenced on 9 June 1880, when the various claimants made appearances, and was then adjourned.35 Wilkinson at a later Court case in 1884 outlined what happened.

The case was called on before the Court ... I stated my reasons to the Court why the case should be gone on with. Tukukino raised strong objections, without stating any particular reasons. Mr Judge Munro agreed to hear the case, but objected to the plan as it then was. The Judge said he knew that there were a great number of different hapus claiming on this land, and there were no lines to show the different subdivisions, and it was suggested by the Judge that they should devise some means amongst themselves to divide the plan so that the case could go on. I proposed an adjournment to allow me to make arrangements, the adjournment was granted, we then proceeded to appoint the proper persons. I don't exactly remember who were appointed spokesmen. Tukukino was one of the parties appointed. Tupeka Te Whakamau, Hone Reweti etc of N' Karaua; Karaitiana Kihau, Rawiri Taiporutu, Rapata Te Pokiha of Te Uriwha; Rawiri on behalf of N' Koroke and N' Karaua; Tupeka was on behalf of N' Tangata, Te Wikiriwhi on behalf of N' Taharua; Karaitiana Kihau on behalf of N' Rangitaua; Te Keepa Raharuhi on behalf of N' Koi, also for N' Tokanui; Pineaha Te Wharekowhai was for N' Mataku; Haora Tareranui, Hirawa Te Moananui, Tinipoaka of N' Tawhaki were present at the same time; and N' Poro were represented. Tukukino was asked to lay down his in his boundary, to which he did not agree. After a great deal of difficulty he left it for Tupeka to settle. Tupeka then laid down his boundary from Waimana to Waitekauri. I then took a ruler and drew a line from Waimana to Waitekauri, to which Tukukino objected. After a long discussion the line was left for Paraone Te Maupu of N' Hako to settle. Te Wikiriwhi and Te Rihitoto were amongst the disputants over this line. After they had come to some mutual agreement, the line was defaced and another line drawn, which was agreed to by Tupeka and Tukukino. They then proceeded to fix the line from Waitekauri in a westerly direction, which was finally agreed on to Kapukapu. When the line was finally fixed it was clearly defined that Tukukino's portion was to be northward of this line. There were no objections by other chiefs to Tukukino's piece. The reason why there was nothing said about this piece at the time the others were being laid off was because that portion was to be withheld from hearing. During the conversation we had about this piece, Tukukino made frequent reference to the ancestor under whom he claimed the land. The whole of the people who were at the meeting heard this. Taiuru was the name of the ancestor, that is why I wrote the name of Ngati Taiuru on the plan. ... We then proceeded to define the other boundaries, which were all finished during the day.36

33 Hauraki Minute Book 16 pages 323-324. Supporting Papers #J22.6–7.

34 Hamilton Maori Land plan 3416. Supporting Papers #N123.

35 Hauraki Minute Book 12 pages 346–347. Supporting Papers #J18.56–57.

36 Hauraki Minute Book 16 pages 324–327. Supporting Papers #J22.7–10.

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