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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 63

Letter from Nepia Taratoa, son of Nepia Taratoa, mentioned in Mr. Fox's Memorandum above

Letter from Nepia Taratoa, son of Nepia Taratoa, mentioned in Mr. Fox's Memorandum above.

"Before the arrival of Ngatiraukawa these tribes, Muaupoko, Rangitane, and Ngatiapa were in a wretched state, from having been so roughly treated by page lxx Te Rauparaha and his tribes, and with Te Rauparaha still determined to destroy them. When Ngatiraukawa came they spared them, and they were saved. Ngatiraukawa then occupied the whole country from Otaki to Wangaehu. When Rangitikei was sold to Governor Grey, my father and his tribe, the Ngatiraukawa, fixed the Rangitikei river, the other side for Ngatiapa, this side for Ngatiraukawa alone. When the Ahuaturanga was sold, my father and his people fixed the boundaries of the land. The Upper Manawatu on to Ahuaturanga for Rangitane; that down towards the mouth of the river Manawatu on to Raugitikei to remain for Ngatiraukawa. Some years afterwards my father and his people granted some illegal and irregular leases over this country; the first year my father and his people took all the money; the third year my father gave some money to Ngatiapa; the fourth year Ngatiapa and Rangitane asked my father and Ngatikauwhata to allow them to join in the leases, my father gave his consent, then they joined. My father intended that they should have a portion of the money alone, not of the land. The land was to be for my father and his tribe alone; my father was simply treating, as he always had treated, with kindness, these people, Ngatiapa (ma) and their friends. When Nepia Taratoa died, Ngatiapa were covetous, and wanted all the money for themselves. Ngatiraukawa then became angry, and refused to allow Ngatiapa to join at all. Dr. Featherston then came to make peace, and settle disputes, as he said, when he joined those tribes Ngatiapa (ma) and their friends, and purchased this land, by which means I and my people were brought to ruin.

"Taratoa