THE HAURAKI TRIBAL LANDS-PART 4

Offer to Sell Hoe o Tainui South I

In September 1896 the solicitor for Graham, the surveyor, advised that the owners of Hoe o Tainui South I were willing to sell the block to the Crown. Mair advised that

The purchase of this particular block has not yet been authorised. Whareroa adjoins Hoe o Tainui No 2 lately purchased. It is better land and I doubt whether natives will sell at same price as given for the other block. There are about 30 owners.29

The Chief Surveyor in Auckland considered that 6/- an acre could be offered for it,3° but the Surveyor General did not agree.

I still feel doubtful about the character of this land, i.e. as to it being worth 6/- an acre. Try 4/- first."

Mair was asked to see what the owners thought of this offer.32

There was no immediate response. Then in March 1897 Oraiti Hape, writing on behalf of 16 owners of Hoe o Tainui South 1, offered to sell their interests to the Crown.33 Mair forwarded this offer to Wellington, adding that

You suggested offering them 4/- an acre, but we gave 5/- for No 2 and this is a better block, having been specially reserved from sale for themselves as a "kainga". They will take 5/- but not less.34

Later the same week Mair forwarded a further letter indicating that 23 owners were willing to sell.35

But the Surveyor General was unmoved, and Mair was not authorised to offer any more than 4/- an acre.36 As a result there was no purchase of Hoe o Tainui South I by the Crown.

Purchase of Hoe o Tainui South 3 Subdivisions by the Crown

In February 1895 Gilbert Mair received a letter from Ngatipaoa of Hoe o Tainui offering Hoe o Tainui South 3c (also known as Nga Huha o Tahuna Raukawa) to the Crown for io/- an acre "to provide money for our debts (i.e. passing our land through the Court)".37 When forwarding this offer to Wellington, Mair noted that

29 Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 9 September 1896. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1897/84. Supporting Papers #Briza4.

3° Chief Surveyor Auckland to Surveyor General, 23 October 1896, on cover sheet to file NLP 1896/251. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1897/84. Supporting Papers #13n2.15.

31 Surveyor General to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 29 December 1896, on cover sheet to file NLP 1896/251. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1897/84. Supporting Papers #B112.15.

32 Telegram Chief Land Purchase Officer to Land Purchase Officer Thames, 3o December 1896. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1897/84. Supporting Papers #Buz.I6.

33 Oraiti Hape, Tauhei, to Land Purchase Officer Thames, March 1897, attached to Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, io April 1897. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1897/84. Supporting Papers #11112.17-18.

34 Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, Io April 1897. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1897/84. Supporting Papers #13112.17-18.

35 Kariaruhe and 22 others, Tauhei, to Land Purchase Officer Thames, 13 April 1897. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLPR

1_97/4. Supporting Papers #Bn2.19-22.

36 Chief Land Purchase Officer to Land Purchase Officer Thames, 24 April 1897, attached to cover sheet to file NLP 1897/84. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1897/84. Supporting Papers #B112.23.

37 Ngati Paoa of Te Hoe o Tainui to Land Purchase Officer Thames, i8 February 1895, attached to Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 18 February 1895. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1898/186. Supporting Papers #13127.1-2.

34