Chapter III: Extension of Government Control Over Gold Field Lands, 1865–1870
revenues, he also began to pay deposits as inducements to agreement to lease. It will be seen that this practice of down-payments was later extended to alienations by sale, and that there existed considerable confusion between Mackay's capacity as a land purchase officer and as an official who paid out Government-held revenues from the gold fields.
Most of the western shores of the peninsula was opened to mining by the end of the year:
I succeeded in annexing the land between Kuranui and Opitomoko, which with that previously leased, formed what became known as Karaka block. North of this again, the Ngatinaunau hapu of Ngatiwhanaunga agreed to lease the land now known as the Tararu Block, extending to Maeroero. There was considerable difficulty in arranging the boundaries at that place. North of this again, was a piece of land ending at Otoi, the ownership of which was disputed between Te Waka Tawera of Ngatimaru and the Ngatinaunau.30
It was eventually agreed here that mining could go ahead while Mackay held the rents in the form of miners' right fees, until division of that money should be decided upon. North of Whakatate, the lands of Te Waka Tawera extending to Te Mamaku, the southernmost boundary of lands belonging to Ngati Tametera, were also opened to mining. All these transactions were in the form of verbal commitments. Mackay states that: 'It was understood there was to be one document executed consolidating and combining all previous arrangements, as soon as all disputes about boundaries were arranged'.31
Waiotahi, rumoured to be particularly rich, remained closed. Mackay, claiming that he acted out of concern at the Government's inability to enforce law and order as miner pressure mounted, used his judicial powers to coerce Aperahama Te Reiroa to open the block to mining. In early September 1867 two of the chief's sons were convicted of assault of a miner and fined £5 each with an alternative of two months' imprisonment. On being approached by Aperahama for his sons' release and for a loan so that he could pay the fine, Mackay, in a move of questionable integrity, grabbed the opportunity to precipitate the opening of the block. He reported:
I agreed to do so if he would take it as an advance, on miners' rights for the Waiotahi Block. He consented to do this, provided a line was cut along the base of the hills, and the flat land left as a cultivation reserve. He paid the fine, and his sons were released. That afternoon, the line of demarcation was laid off on the ground, and the Waiotahi was rushed by the miners.32
This area was later incorporated into the Karaka block.
Mackay then travelled to the Coromandel where he initiated discussions with Tawera and Ngati Maru regarding the cession of their Manaia lands; and with Te Moananui and Ngati Tamatera regarding their lands between Tuapo to the north and Te Mamaku to the south. In November 1867 Te Moananui and 26 other members of Ngati Tamatera entered into an agreement with Mackay on behalf of the Governor, for the mining of their
30 Report by Mackay on Thames Gold Fields, 27 July 1867. AJHR 1869, A–17, p. 5. Doc. 59, p. 1363.
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