acres, was meant for everyone and was sold ‘clandestinely by Te Moananui without the knowledge of his children or other relatives’. In fact, continued Hohepa Te Winika;

If we had heard of this transaction of his we should have objected at the time – this is why we have petitioned Parliament to have this land returned to us. This was the reason for the 3 petitions sent to Parliament under the understanding that this land was given to Te Moananui and other[s].²³

Winika was at a Native Land Court hearing in the Waikato, ‘watching his interest in Te Paia’ when the sale happened:

Te Moananui proposed to Hohepa Te Kai to include the 50 acres with the 200 – on my return to Tauranga I found it had been done. I thus came to Mr Clarke and asked him to exclude my 50 acres from the 200 – Mr Clarke blamed [me] for not coming with Te Moananui. I said I was away at Waikato – I still maintain my claim to this piece of land – Wira and Ngaitamawhariua were present when this land was given by Hohepa te Kai … my wish now is that this [grant] shall separate my 50 acres from the 250 acres.²⁴

Another witness was sworn in, Harawira, who lived at Opureora and was connected to ‘Ngati Mura’. Harawira corroborated the counter-claimant’s statements. He, too, disagreed with the Ngapiri’s statement and even suggested that the reserved land belonged to Ngarae:

Te Moananui and Narai were appointed by Ngatimura to apply for these lands to be set apart for themselves and the people[.] [A]fter this meeting Te Moananui applied and got 200 acres … Narai applied and got 300 acres … to be [ceded] to them, their descendants and others – after this she did and left the land to others mentioned in the application. After Narai’s death this 300 acres was sold by Te Moananui – when this land was given to Narai, she made a will. This will lies in the office of Mr Clarke. This will is in connection with this 300 acres – The European mentioned by [the] counter claimant [h]anded in [the] will to Mr Clarke.²⁵

Harawira verified the statements made about Ngarae’s will, and told the Native Assessor that:

I saw the will in Mr Clarke’s office a number of years ago. The counter claimant has asked for this will four times but was always told that the will was lying safe in the office – The will will prove the fraudulent sale.²⁶

²³ Hohepa Te Winika, 15 August 1878, TMB 1, p. 19.

²⁴ Hohepa Te Winika, 15 August, TMB 1, p [illegible]

²⁵ Harawira, 16 August 1878, TMB 1, pp. 34-5.

²⁶ Harawira, 16 August 1878, TMB 1, p. 35.