By October 1896 the appeals had been decided. Haora Tareranui then offered to sell 600 acres of my land in the Awaiti block. I ask 7/6d an acre.
The County Council have made a road right through this from the Waihou River to the Waitoa. I therefore think that this land is worth 7/6 an acre.'°
When asked, the Surveyor General thought that "5/- quite enough, the position is good"," and this was communicated to Haora Tareranui. He responded that
this is altogether too little seeing that the land is quite close to the railway line (PaeroaTe Aroha) and the main road to Waitoa runs right through it. This is really good land and worth 7/6 an acre, because in two years time it will be thoroughly drained and dry through the making of the road and the digging of a great drain by the County Council past my land from Te Pari to the Waihou River.12
The land purchase officer in Thames forwarded Haora's response to Wellington, adding that
I know that this land cost Haora over £200 for Court fees and expenses, and, as illustrative of the enormous cost to the natives of putting their lands through the Court, the Ngatihako tribe, who have been awarded considerable areas in the Piako district lately, have paid about tz/- an acre in Court fees, Maori agents, surveys, etc, so that after all their lands are of very little benefit to them.13
But the attitude in Wellington was that
If Haora Tareranui is not satisfied with the price offered for Awaiti, he should look up a private purchaser."
In February 1897 the Land Purchase Officer in Thames telegraphed that
Judgement issued against Haora Tareranui and he is now willing to accept the price ... offered ... [for 600] acres of Te Awaiti block, namely five shillings. _15
He was authorised to purchase Haora's block,16 and completed the purchase of Awaiti 4 for Zr5o (i.e. 5/- an acre) later that month.17
Awaiti 4 was declared Crown Land in October 1897.18
Haora Tareranui, Thames, to Land Purchase Officer Thames, 3 October 1896, attached to Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 4 September (should be October) 1896. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1905/39. Supporting Papers #B154.6-7.
11 Surveyor General to Chief Land Purchase Officer, z6 October 1896, on cover sheet to file NLP 1896/270. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1905/39. Supporting Papers #13154.8.
12 Haora Tareranui, Thames, to Land Purchase Officer Thames, 4 November 1896, attached to Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 4 November 1896. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1905/39. Supporting Papers #8154.9-12.
13 Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 4 November 1896. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1903/39.Supporting Papers #B154.9.
14 Telegram Chief Land Purchase Officer to Land Purchase Officer Thames, to November 1896. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1903/39. Supporting Papers #B154.9.
15 Telegram Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 8 February 1897.Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1905/39.Supporting Papers #B154.13.
16 Telegram Chief Land Purchase Officer to Land Purchase Officer Thames, 8 February 1897.Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 2905/39.Supporting Papers #B154.13.
17 Auckland Deed 2049.Supporting Papers #A270.
18 New Zealand Gazette 1897 pages 2747-2749. Supporting Papers #w30.2-4.
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