Mair received a reply from Harper, explaining that Gibbons merely had power of attorney to cut the timber from the block,34 which he forwarded to Wellington with a further explanation. I made no reply to Mr Harper's letter ... as he stated he wished to see me personally.
I did not meet him till the other day when he admitted that his clients had no registerable title, that the native owners had merely appointed Mr Gibbons as the attorney to cut and remove the timber for them at any time during zr years, and to pay them from time to time. When I told him the whole of the money had been paid and I had seen a clause in the deed which stated that in the event of the quantity of timber being more than stated, yet no further demand would or could be made by the native sellers.
I have seen the owners who say they are prepared to sign a deed at once for the 3000 acres, but I have told them to wait till I received further notice from you.35
Mair purchased all the interest of Tame Hoani, and half the interest of Paora Tiunga, in Awaiti z in October 1899.36
In November 1899 Ngawiki Potae, Epiha Taha and others wrote to the Native Minister
concerning a certain block of land containing four hundred acres in Te Awaiti block, which was sold by Tiunga and others to the Government. Friend, we ask you to return that four hundred acres to us as there is a fence of ours on that block. We will give another four hundred acres in Te Awaiti block.
It rests with you whether we give a larger area. If you arrange this matter with us as this is a great loss to us. If you cannot consent, write to us so that we may know and take down my fence.37
Mair explained that
The Crown has, with the exception of one interest (Totorewa Haira) completed the purchase of two subdivisions of Te Awaiti, viz, Awaiti No 1G, 411 acres, and Awaiti No IF, 400 acres. The writers, who own the adjoining land, wish to give an equal or larger area in consideration of receiving back No IF. It is possible that an equal area in some other subdivision might make the Crown portion more compact, particularly if offered out of 1B or Ili, but in any case the request cannot be entertained at present till Totorewa's interests are acquired. He is willing to sell and has promised to come up from Tuparoa, East Coast.38
The same month as Ngawiki Potae and others wrote to Wellington, November 1899, Mair commenced purchasing interests in Awaiti rB.39
In March 1900 Ngawiki Potae repeated her request to exchange Awaiti IF for a similar or larger sized portion of Awaiti block.40 She was told that
34 AP Harper, Thames, to Land Purchase Officer Thames, 17 August 1899, attached to Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 3o September 1899. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 905. /
39.Supporting Papers #B154.24-27.
35 Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 3o September 1899. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1905/39. Supporting Papers #B154.24-z7.
36 Auckland Deed 3527. Supporting Papers #A316.
37 Ngawiki Potae, Epiha Taha and others, Paeroa, to Native Minister, z8 November 1899. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1905/39. Supporting Papers #B154.28-3o.
38 Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 1 January 1900, on cover sheet to file NLP 1899/221. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1905/39.Supporting Papers #B154.31-32.
39 Auckland Deed 3521. Supporting Papers #A31o.
4°Ngawiki Potae and others, 9 March two. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1905/39. Supporting Papers #B154.33-34.
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