Hauraki Plains District: Hoe o Tainui

petitioners have been exposed by reason of the stoppage of the said survey, your petitioners the native owners of the said block desire to so lease, being satisfied that such a course would be not only for their present good, but also for their ultimate benefit.2

The Assistant Surveyor General in Auckland explained that

The short history of this case is this. In September 1878 a survey application was received by me from Hohaia Ngahiwi and others with a request that a surveyor might be appointed to undertake the work. This was sent to the District Officer Mr Puckey for his recommendation as usual, and on its return recommended that Mr WA Graham was authorised to make the survey, who however appears not to have commenced it. On ro January 1880 I received a letter from Hohaia requesting me to authorise another surveyor as Mr Graham had not done the work. When Mr J Simms was authorised by carry it out, which ... to do until near its completion. On or about the 11th March last it was brought to my notice that the ... Block was included within the proclaimed boundaries of Piako, a fact I had not previously ... with, upon which I sent Mr simms the notice, a copy of which is appended [to the petition]. I am quite ... as I am as a rule most careful to see that none of the applications are so included. ...3

The Under Secretary of the Native Land Purchase Depai   fluent then recommended that

I think the survey should be allowed to be completed, and the Investigation of Title allowed. The natives signing this have not had advances of money. If the Court decides that those who have had money are owners, then the sale or lease of the land could be stopped.4

The Minister agreed, and the petitioners and the Chief Surveyor were informed.'

However it then emerged that the survey initiated by Hohaia Ngahiwi had caused tensions

with another group lead by Wini Kerei Te Whetuiti. They had asked that the survey be stopped back in March 1880. This was apparently because Hohaia's survey, being done for

"Ngatihua", was encroaching on the land of Wini Kerei's party at Whareroa, Te Kohatu and

Hangawera. Wini Kerei's party had been pleased that the surveyor Simms had been stopped by the Chief Surveyor's notice.' Frederick Whitaker had directed the Chief Surveyor to stop

the survey.? As a result of fresh lobbying by Whitaker in September 188o, the Chief Surveyor was instructed to not authorise the resumption of the survey.'

In the meantime Hohaia Ngahiwi's party wrote to the Government asking that the proclamation be lifted to allow the leasing arrangement to go ahead.9 Whitaker gave his

opinion.

2 Petition to Governor by Hohaia Ngahiwi and 9 others, undated (forwarded by Govemor to Premier, 14 May 1880). Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1892/8. Supporting Papers #B74.912-924.

3 Assistant Surveyor General Auckland to Under Secretary Native Land Purchase Department, date not known, on cover sheet to file NLP 188o/317. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1892/8. Supporting Papers #874.908-911.

4 Under Secretary Native Land Purchase Department to Native Minister, 7 June 188o, on cover sheet to file NLP 1880/317. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1892/8. Supporting Papers #B74.908-911.

5 Under Secretary Native Land Purchase Department to Hohaia Ngahiwi and others, 16 June 1880, on cover sheet to file NLP 1880/317, and Surveyor General to Chief Surveyor Auckland, 27 August 1880. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1892/8. Supporting Papers #874.908-9n.

6 Wini Kerei Te Whetuiti, Te Hoe o Tainui, to William Graham, 9 March 188o, and Wini Kerei Te Whetuiti and others, Te Hoe o Tainui, to J Sheehan and F Whitaker, 1z March 1880. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1892/8. Supporting Papers #B74.902-9o3 and 899-901.

7 Telegram Chief Surveyor Auckland to F Whitaker, Wellington, 31 August 1880. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1892/8. Supporting Papers #B74.897-898.

8 Telegram Surveyor General to Chief Surveyor Auckland, 2 September 1880. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1892/8. Supporting Papers #B74.896.

9 Hohaia Ngahiwi and others to Native Minister, 24 July 188o and 6 October 1880. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1892/8. Supporting Papers #B74.891-894 and 888-889.

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