must make some sacrifice. They are practically unanimous in the wish to dispose of this block. As I have pointed out, unless Government can entertain some of the numerous offers they have made, there is nothing for it but to withdraw all their cases from the present Court. These people have been consistent Kingites and anti-land sellers, and it will be a great pity if we cannot assist them in some mutually advantageous purchase of their surplus lands.24
But the Chief Land Purchase Officer was unmoved.
I can only say that if the Natives do not require this land for occupation, and are not residing on it, the Minister has been deceived. Dr Pollen, who was the General Government Agent alleged by the Natives to have made the promise, denies their statement from beginning to end. Mr Mitchelson, under the impression that they wee landless or had their homes on this reserve, gave it to them as an act of grace.25
Mair then explained the land that Ngati Paoa had.
The same natives have since had the Maukoro 10,000 acre block conveyed to them by Sir F Whitaker, also Willis' Grant 2000 acres, and over z000 acres in Hoe o Tainui block, so Government need not be apprehensive about rendering them landless by purchasing Hapuakohe. 300 or 400 acres is all they need retain in it. However if Government will not purchase, there is an end to it. I have informed them accordingly.26
The Chief Land Purchase Officer sent the file to the Surveyor General, commenting that
Mr Mitchelson would never have given the Natives this reserve had facts not apparently been misrepresented to him.27
The Surveyor General replied that
No doubt it is so. The land was returned to these people because they were living there in large numbers in (1880—about), and because they were represented as landless. It would never do to buy this block. It is not suited for native settlement and should be kept as a reserve for them.28
Award of Land in Lieu of Survey Costs
Section 474C1 Parish of Taupiri, of 69 acres, was awarded to the Crown in payment of all survey costs owing on the parent block, in January 1908.29 The owners were then left with Section 474C2 of 849 acres i rood io perches.
24 Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 4 March 1895, on cover sheet to file NLP 1895/106. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1895/106. Supporting Papers #B96.3-4.
25 Chief Land Purchase Officer to Land Purchase Officer Thames, 9 March 1895, on cover sheet to file NLP 1895/106. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1895/106. Supporting Papers #B96.3-4.
26 Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 19 March 1895, on cover sheet to file NLP 1895/106. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1895/106. Supporting Papers #B96.3-4.
27 Chief Land Purchase Officer to Surveyor General, it April 1895, on cover sheet to file NLP 1895/106. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1895/106. Supporting Papers #B96.3-4.
28 Surveyor General to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 17 April 1895, on cover sheet to file NLP 1895/106. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1895/106. Supporting Papers #B96.3-4.
29 Auckland Minute Book 8 page 343. Supporting Papers #11.7.
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