THE HAURAKI TRIBAL LANDS—PART 2

William Young was the interpreter for both leases. They were both certified by the Trust Commissioner in April 1873.

Sale of Part to Mercury Bay Sawmill Co Ltd

In July 1874 three of the four owners sold part of Kaimarama to the Mercury Bay Sawmill Co Ltd. The portion they sold had an estimated area of 2050 acres and was situated at the north eastern end of the block closest to the Whitianga River. The purchase price was £400 (i.e. approximately 4/- per acre). They agreed to "convey and assure" the land "with all the rights, members and appurtenances hereunto belonging ... for ever". This was translated as "ka hokona taua wahi ... me nga mea katoa i runga me nga mea katoa e whaitikanga ana o reira   ake tonu atu."12

Those who signed the deed were Maihi Te Hinaki, Hera Puna and Ngakapa Whanaunga (as successor to Tiepa Puna). Wiremu Ngawhare Te Hinaki did not sign. The Trust Commissioner certified the sale of the three interests in July 1874.

That same month WJ Young advised the Native Land Court that part of Kaimarama had been sold to the Mercury Bay Sawmill Co Ltd.13

In May 1876 Benjamin Gilmer, a director of the Sawmill Company, told the Native Land Court, at its inquiry into the succession to Wiremu Ngawhare Te Hinaki, that he had purchased from Wiremu, before he died, those of his interests in Kaimarama that he had not sold to the Crown.

The price was to be £100. He had in goods and money above £50. In money he had two sums of £10 each. Mr Young was present when the payment was made. The arrangement was that we were to give his boy 20 acres of land out of this block. We have had this surveyed for him.

William Young gave evidence confirming that Wiremu had sold his interest to the Sawmill Company, but that he had died before signing a deed of transfer."

The Court ordered that Wiremu's elder brother, Maihi Te Kapua, should succeed. He promised to sign the transfer. Presumably this was because an order of succession to Wiremu's son, who was still a minor, would have caused complications. It was understood by the Court that "the company" would convey 20 acres to Wiremu's son "Te Rangi" (sic).15

In 1876 a conveyance to the Mercury Bay Sawmill Company by Maihi Te Kapua, which was additional to the earlier conveyance by Maihi Te Hinaki and others, was forwarded to the Native Land Court for certification about payment of duty.16

Sale to the Crown

In January 1872 when outlining the services he could offer as land purchase agent for the Government, James Mackay wrote about what he termed the Mercury Bay Block.

12 Auckland Deed 696, Deed A. Supporting Papers #A65.

Turtons Deeds, Deed 355, pages 446–459. Supporting Papers #T2.88–101.

13 WJ Young, Auckland, to Chief Judge Native Land Court, 9 July 1874. Maori Land Court Hamilton Correspondence file C353. Supporting Papers #L2.5.

14 Hauraki Minute Book 9 pages 238–239 and 24.2. Supporting Papers #J15.80–81 and 82.

15 Hauraki Minute Book 9 page 280. Supporting Papers #J15.83.

16 Russell and Devore, Auckland, to Chief Judge Native Land Court, 19 October 1876. Maori Land Court Hamilton Correspondence file C353. Supporting Papers #L2.7.

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