them; they simply followed up the Mawhera or some other river to its source, and then popped over the saddle, and followed a stream flowing the other way.”
A good, if grim story is told of Tainui who, as will be shown, was one of the chiefs who signed the “Deed of Sale of Westland.” When his title was being investigated, he was asked how he acquired the land he claimed, to which he replied that “his claim was uncontestable,” as he had eaten the former owner. The main thoroughfare running from Mawhera Quay to the southern boundary of Native Reserve 32, upon which the business portion of the town of Greymouth is built, perpetuates the name of Tainui. There is also a Werita Street and a Tarapuhi Street within the borough. Thus did John Rochfort when laying out Greymouth in 1865 honour the two last chiefs of the Mawhera Pa. Werita Tainui died at Greymouth and was buried with his ancestors under the hill. The Maoris after his death removed to the Arahura. Apart from the wars which were waged for greenstone, there were many petty disputes anent the right of taking native birds, kakapo, kiwi and weka in the Arahura, Hokitika, Grey and Buller districts. These disputes became more acute in the opening years of the 19th century, for at this time early sealing gangs were slaughtering these amphibious animals, which were to be found in their teeming thousands on certain beaches.
