Te Hoe-o-Tainui Judgement, 1894

Here is a lightly edited version of this story which appeared in the Thames Advertiser on 3 February 1894. A copy of the version as it appeared in the newspaper can be seen below.
THE HOE O TAINUI JUDGMENT CONFIRMED,
AN INTERESTING CASE.
Till sitting of the Chief Judges Court at the Thames to hear the reasons for granting a rehearing of the Hoe o Tainui block, which a few years back was decided by the Native Lands Court to belong to Ngati Tahuna and Ngati Te Hiko of Ngati Paoa and Ngati Koura has resulted in the application of the Ngati Mahuta for a rehearing, being dismissed, and the original judgment confirmed. Tainui was the canoe which came from Hawaii some fifty generations ago, and was the original or first canoe which landed here. She was followed by Te Arawa canoe. Te Hoe o Tainui signifies the steer oar of the Tainui canoe. The Hoe o Tainui judgment ranks amongst the most important of judgments given under the auspices of the Native Lands Court, and in itself proves the wisdom and importance of the wisdom and importance of a Court which admits native customs being discussed on oath in the presence of assembled parties in an open court, presided over by impartial judges. The great evil attached to the Courts is the ground for suspicion in the native minds, owing to the Crown traffic in native lands, which is resuscitating the land league amongst the disaffected native land owners. The disputed ownership of Te Hoe o Tainui has been of long standing. Originally a sister and two brothers, all of high rank in ihe Arawa tribe, came and married in Waikato Paretahura (Paretahuri, ed), the sister, being the oldest, was represented in the Hoe o Tainui case by Pirihi Temonui (deceased). The brothers Mahuta and Paoa was represented in the court by Piripi Whanatangi,and Hohaia Ngahiwi for Mahuta, and Wini Kerei Te Whetuiti for Paoa, Koura, being the daughter of Paoa, from her sprung Ngati Koura, represented by Wini Kerei Te Whetuiti; Pare tahura (Paretahuri, ed), Mahuta and Paoa had no more claim to the lands originally than the (C?, ed) rown have. The land belonged to the husband of Paretahure (Paretahuri, ed) and the wives of Paoa and Mahuta in their respective divisions of estates. There was no quarrel between the sisters or the brothers Mahuta and Paoa, who lived and died in peace with each other. Tauhakere (Tauhakari, ed) was the wife of Paoa, and was a woman of high tone of character. Immediately previous to the birth of her first child, Mahuta came in state to be present and do honour to his brother Paoa and his wife Tauhekere (Tauhakari, ed). As usual, Mahuta came with a present. He ascertained that Tauhehere (Tauhakari, ed) desired a particular kind of eel, and Mahuta selected a fishing rod and with his own hands set to work to catch the coveted eels for his sister-in-law Tauhekere (Tauhakari, ed). In fishing, a crayfish took the bait, and Mahuta, in jerking it from the water, accidentally allowed it to strike him on the forehead and draw blood. His followers were alarmed and forboded evil; but Mahuta rebuked them; and said the gods had inspired the event as giving him a name for the first-born. " Go," he said; to his envoy, "and tell Tauhakere (Tauhakari, ed) if her child be a son call him Koura, if a girl call her Koura; this will satisfy all." And it was so, The child provod to be a girl; she was called Koura. From her comes the Ngati Koura represented by Wini Kerei. Koura married Waenganui, a great Waikato chief, and lived in the pah, the remains of which are seen on the site where Mr Drury now lives at Hamilton East, and the old trenches where Mr W. A. Graham lives at Hamilton West. Mahuta died, and was buried at Taupiri; Paoa died, and was buried at Ohinemuri. Paoa and his wife Tauhakere (Tauhakari, ed) lived at Te Hoe o Tainui; Mahuta never did. The line between the descendants of Mahuta and the descendants of Paoa, and the ownership ot Te Hoe o Tainue (Tainui, ed) has now for ever been decided, in favour of Paoa and the descendants of his wife Tauhakere (Tauhakari, ed). Paoa had two wives, the second wife being from Ohinemuri, from her springs the Tipa and Horowhenua. There was a quarrel between tho step-brothers, and Horowhenua, after parrying three blows from his step-brother, Toawhana, he turned and slew him, his other stepbrother, Toapoto, sprang forward, and Horowhenua slew him also, Koura, the sister, was saved by Tipa, the elder brother of Horowhenua. From Tipa comes Waata Tipa of Ngatipara (Ngāti Pāoa, ed) today, who is now mourning over Wini Kerei at Te Hoe o Tainui, representative of Koura. The history of Mahuta and Paoa is one of the most romantic of Maori histories. King Tawhiao represents Mahuta. Paoa now has lost his representative in Wini Kerei until another is elected. Paoa was the Tohunga, or sacred chief.-" Waikato Times."

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