The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 10
To Thomas Williams
To Thomas Williams.
Dear Friend,—
The Ngatiapas and Rangitanes had lost all authority over these lands as far as Wairarapa long before the Treaty of Waitangi came in 1840. At the tune the Treaty was signed they had no authority over the land.
The Ngatiraukawa quietly handed over the other side of Rangitikei to Ngatiapa for them to sell to Mr. M'Lean, which made that sale complete.
Ahuoturanga also was quietly handed over by Ngatiraukawa to Hirawanu, chief of Rangitane, which made that correct.
This side of Rangitikei was retained by Ngatiraukawa then, and they are still retaining it.
(Signed)Matene Te Whiwhi. *
Correct translation—J. N. Williams.
Here follows the Treaty of Waitangi, the Maori's Crown Grant;
In 1849 the Ngatiapa tribe sold a large extent of country to the north of the Rangitikei river to the Government. It appears from the published statement of the Natives that the Ngatiraukawa waved their claim to the block, stipulating at the same time that the Ngatiapa should abandon any claim they might be disposed to set up to the land south of the river on the ground of their having formerly been driven from it. Some of the Natives say that the Ngatiapa agreed to this; others, that the arrangement was made with Mr. M'Lean, the Land Purchase Commissioner. Mr. Buller, in a letter to the Minister for Native Affairs, dated August 31, 1863, speaking of the question, says—" It appears that when the Ngatiapa, in 1849, surrendered to the Crown the land lying between the Whanganui and Rangitikei rivers, they compromised the conflicting Ngatiraukawa claims (of conquest) by conceding to the latter the right of disposal over the territory lying south of the Rangitikei, with the mutual understanding that as the Ngatiraukawa had received a share of the payments, the Ngatiapa should in like manner participate in the purchase money of this block, whenever the Ngatiraukawa should sell. With the lapse of years the Ngatiapa have come to regard their claim as one of absolute right, in every respect equal to that of the present holders; while the latter, always regarding the latter claim as one of sufferance, are now disposed to ignore it altogether." The following extracts from published documents will show that the whole of the purchase money was paid to the Ngatiapa, confirming the statements of the Ngatiraukawa Natives:—
"Wellington,August 26, 1851.
" Sir,—
"At a general meeting of the Natives, on the 29th May last, I handed over the third instalment of £500 to the Ngatiapa tribe for the Rangitikei purchase.
"I have, &c, "(Signed)Donald M'Lean,
"Land Commissioner."The Hon. the Colonial Secretary."
* In support of the above statements, I would refer the reader to letters from the Ven. Archdeacon Hadfield and the Rev. S. Williams, which appear in the Appendix.