We have very little exact knowledge of the early occupation of the Port Molyneux district.

We have good reason to believe that the Rapuwai and certainly the Waitaha people lived in large numbers around the Kaitangata Lakes and at the mouth of the Matau.

We know that a village called Murikauhaka was in existence for some time prior to the whaling days. But before that villages called Matai–pipi and Otapatu were in existence near the mouth of the river. On the sea sandspit and in all the bays from Port Molyneux to the Nuggets there is evidence of very old occupation. This old occupation was also all down the coast to Pounawea and the mouth of the Tahakopa, this last being a very old moa hunter site, as the researches by Dr. H. D. Skinner, L. Lockerbie and D. Teviotdale disclose.

But these belong to a shadowy past, and the village that Morrell saw was the home of Tuhawaiki's people. This village was right opposite the long tongue of sandhills known as the Sandspit. Where the old pilot station stood, and where the present school stands, and back over those easy slopes which lie to the morning sun, the village was scattered. The burial ground was in the sandhills at the mouth of the river, and the present road goes over part of it. The canoes were tied up in a backwater between the present school and Mr. Wright's house.

The question naturally arises:: If this was the site of the old village, why did not Tuhawaiki insist on it being put in as a reserve when the block was sold to the pakeha in 1844?

The answer is that between Morrell's visit and the sale in 1844 epidemics of measles and influenza almost wiped out the Maori population of the village.

When a Maori was near death, he was removed from the permanent dwelling house to a temporary shelter. After death this shelter was abandoned. The removal of the dying person from the permanent house avoided it becoming tapu.

Many people died in the measles epidemics that swept Murikauhaka, and all the houses would become tapu. So they would be burnt, the dead being cremated in them. Those who survived would shift to new ground. And that ground was obviously near Karoro Creek.

The reserve that Clarke was asked to put into the map was the new clean ground.

How Many Maoris Lived At Murikauhaka.

Although all the travellers round about the 1844 period refer to very large Maori populations that had disappeared, we have little reliable evidence. The statements that there were thousands in those old southern villages cannot be accepted.

Food supply determines how many people could live in a district, and it is natural that the Polynesian would congregate in the warmer climates of the North Island where the kumara would grow. South of Temuka the kumara could not grow. Life was harder in the south.

Cook saw only fires—he did not see the village. The first real evidence we have is from Morrell. Fifty natives went out to see his ship. There is room in the houses for 200 or 300 people. It is more likely that 200 would be the maximum in the village at that time. The new whaling centres were beginning to disturb all the old Maori settlements. The threats of Rauparaha forced people to strongholds like Otakou and Ruapuke. Then came the measles.

In 1840 Willsher and his party finds a remnant of half a dozen.

Maoris Living At Molyneux In 1844.

We know Makariri was at Molyneux when Willsher arrived in 1840. On Tuckett's visit in June, 1844, he noted the following:—

“Immediately north of the mouth of the Kunesoo, also on the seashore, reside a few Maoris, viz., Toki, the widow of Tahin, formerly chief of Kunesoo; Maihou and Touwere, aged men; KakiKaki and Tohatu, young men; also the children. They have lately erected some new houses of improved construction and have a few acres of land adjoining under cultivation. These, with Te Kaki and Kuri, of the Tiarea, who dwell at the Taiarea, are the only aboriginal residents; Tuawiti was born on the banks of the Matau, and considers himself as almost sole proprietor.”

Mr. Tuckett had some difficulty in the spelling of Maori names; and the early compositors and proof readers were not very sure about these difficult names either; but I think we can agree on these: Kunesoo should be Karoro; Toki, the widow of Tahin, should be Toke, the widow of Tahu; Makauri is obviously Makariri; Kaki–Kaki should be Raki–Raki (later known as Haimona Lakitap); Tohatu may be the Kinihi Kurupohatu mentioned in the following list, and who was the father of the Maori known to the early settlers as Kingi Ruru.

An Interesting List Of Names.

Several attempts have been made to disentangle the claims of individual Maoris to the land in the South Island Native Reserves.

On the 7th of March, 1891, at Otago Heads old lists of names were examined, and I have extracted the following set of persons who appear to me to have had, or said they had, some interest in the reserve at Port Molyneux. The letters (f) and (m) stand for female and male:—

• Puakihau (f)—Adult, sister to Tuhawaiki.

• Ngaroimata (f)—Minor, child of Teone Topi Patuki.

• Pinana (f)—Minor, child of Toke of Ngatihuirapa, had a take (right) at the Molyneux.

• Toke Hauti Ihi.

• Rota Pikaroro (m)—Adult.

• Rawiri Korako te Rehe (m)—Adult, a nephew of Toke, take small.

• Mata Makariri (f)—Adult, a niece of Toke.

• Haimona Tuhatara (m)—Adult, brother of Kinihe Kurupohatu.

• Ruru (m)—Adult, brother to Kinihi Kurupohatu.

• Ruru (m)—Adult, belonged to Te Karoro, died in 1847.

• Tuatara (m)—Adult, belonged to Te Karoro, died 1845.

• Piri (m)—Adult, belonged to Te Karoro, died 1847; a brother to Kurupohatu.

• Te Urukomako (m)—Adult, belonged to Te Karoro, died in 1847; a brother to Kurupohatu.

• Werohia (m)—Adult, belonged to Te Karoro, was son of Kara.

• Among the long list of names and persons submitted, but who were objected to through having no right, were:—

• Tahu (m)—Adult, husband of Toke.

• Te Kihi (m)—Adult, no take at Molyneux.

• Te Kawewhitau (f)—Adult, wife of Te Kihi.

• Tangata Huruhuru.

The Sister Of Tuhawaiki.

In regard to the reserve at Karoro, Mr. Symonds, writing on 2nd September, 1844, stated: “I suggested to Tuhawaiki that he should retain a portion of the land on that river where some of his family resided.”

This must be a reference to Puakihau, who was Tuhawaiki's only surviving sister. The three other sisters had died before 1844.

Descendants Of The Principal Chiefs.

In an old official return showing the holdings of land, those mentioned below are given as descendants of chiefs who signed the 1844 sale. It will be noticed that Anna Kihau and Kinehe Kurupohatu each held 100 acres.

• Tuhawaiki's grandchildren:

• Teone Kihau—25 acres (Karoro)

• Peti Kihau—25 acres (Karoro)

• Keita Kihau—25 acres (Karoro)

• Anna Kihau—100 acres (Karoro)

• Horomona Pohio—Descendants:

• Teone te Ururaki—22 acres 1 pole 20 perches (Karoro) Tutewaio—Descendants:

• Kinche Kurupohatu (Te Karoro A)—100 acres.

• Rora Rakiraki (Te Karoro A)—11 acres 3 poles 34 perches Papakawa—Descendants:

• Teone Paina (Te Karoro B)—5 acres 2 poles 18 perches

• Tiriata Maiharoa (Te Karoro B)—2 acres 3 poles 9 perches

• A note says that two of the names attached to the Otago deed—Pohio and Te Haki—belong to Horomona, who was known as Horomona Pohio and Horomona te Haki.

Trustees For Te Karoro Reserve.

Later, trustees were appointed to represent those who had some rights in the block.

Apparently Block A, nearest the Karoro Creek, was known as Karoro, while Block B, the northern end, was named Whawhapo, after the little creek at the northern boundary.

Block A Trustees (these appear to be Southlanders).—Alfred Kihau, Rena Kihau, Haimona Papaoka, Kinihi Rahimauki, Mere Hutu, Henrietta Whaitiri.

Kinihi Rahimauki is Kinehi Kurupohatu, while Mere Hutu is Mary Hood.

Block B Trustees (these are evidently South Otago Natives).—Haimona Rangireke, Rota Pikaroro, Rawiri Takata Huruhuru, Rawiri Koroko, Teone Te Ururaki, Ihaia Potiki.

Haimona Rangireke is old Raki Raki; Rawiri Takata Huruhuru is Takata Huru; while Ihaia Potiki is easily identified.

By the courtesy of Mr. William Paterson, the esteemed Secretary of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association, and one long identified with Port Molyneux, we are able to reproduce pictures of those old–time Maoris who will be well remembered by old residents of Port Molyneux.

Makariri.

Makariri was the daughter of Toke, who was the wife of Tahu, a chief of Matau. Makariri was well known for many years. She kept house for Willsher, and many wonderful stories are told about her. She protected Willsher “from being killed and eaten by the Maoris”; she swam out to the rocks of Willsher Bay, and made Willsher very worried; the early settlers sometimes referred to her as a “Maori princess.”

Haimona Rakiraki.

This was old Lakitap, who died at Port Molyneux in October, 1895. In the 1891 Parliamentary records he is shown as Haimona Rangireke. As a lad he escaped from Puoho at the Lakes, and was brought down to Molyneux by Haeareoa. When employed at the whaling station at Tautuku, he was disinclined to work on Sunday, so he was nicknamed Ratapu—a Maori name for Sunday. This was turned into Rakitapu, and then into Lakitap. He was a fine old type, and so long as he lived was regarded as the principal man. He claimed to be a Katimamoe.

Tangata Huru.

As the “ng” turns into a “k” in the southern dialect, he was known as Takata Huru. His name is given on some official documents at Rawiri Takata Huruhuru. Rawiri is Maori for David. During one of the early epidemics of measles, one cure was to eat a dog. He did so, and was one of the few that survived.

Ihaia Potiki.

A fine type of Maori, he was a descendant of the Potiki who signed the deed of sale of the Otago Block. Ihaia is his christening name—Isaiah. He was one of two sons, Ihaia and Henare. They were descendants of Taoka, the great fighting chief. In the 1891 records he had nine children—six girls and three boys. Emma Potiki and Tommy Potiki, son and daughter of Ihaia, still live at Karoro. Two others are alive—Jack Potiki, who lives at Te Puke, and Fanny, whose married name is Bryant, and who lives at Owaka. The late Mrs. G. S. Wilson was a daughter of Ihaia Potiki.

Kingi Ruru.

He also was a Katimamoe, and was best known as “old King.” Until a few years ago, he was a well–known figure at Karoro. He and Jack Lakitap were the two who lingered longest on the scene as links with the past. In the records he is known as Kiniti Kuropohatu Ruru, and at one time was shown as owning 140 acres of land. As Edward King he had a small interest at Stewart Island. Sometimes Edward King is rendered Erueti Kinihi.

Jack Rakiraki.

Often known as Jack Lakatip, or Lakitap, he was the son of old Haimona. He was the father of the present Rakirakis. A son Ben (“Mingo”) is now at Heriot, while two daughters, Marion and Stella, still live at Karoro. Jack was shown on the official records as Puahu Rakiraki. This photograph shows Jack as a young man.

Ben Rakiraki.

Sometimes known as Ben Lakatip, he was another son of old Haimona, being a brother of Jack.

Rora Rakiraki (Mrs. Clifford) and Kere Petimana Rakiraki are daughter and son of Ben Rakiraki, and are grandchildren of old Haimona. Ben's picture, as a boy, is shown in the picture of Makariri, page 23.