Following survey,1 Marokoka was awarded to Repiu Tokata solely.2
Purchase by the Crown
In November 1886 Repiu Tokata offered to sell the block, which he described as having an area of 1349 acres, to the Crown.3 The Assistant Surveyor General commented that
The part [of the block] I personally know, i.e. that facing Waiwawa, is fair land suitable for pastoral purposes. There is a considerable population at "Upper Mill" and at "Gumtown". I am not aware as to how Repiu makes out the area of 1349 acres. No Order of Court in division received by me. Survey Department holds survey lien of £88-18-11 over the block.4
However no further action seems to have been taken.
Nine years later, in January 1896, Mair, the land purchase officer in Thames, reported that
Repiu Tokata came from Mercury Bay today to offer to sell the Marokoka block of 2600 acres. It is situated on the left proper bank of the Waiwawa River and is generally poor fern land, but there are a few good bits along the river here and there. Repiu states that he is the sole grantee, that he has received an intimation that he must pay £8o survey lien to the Government, hence his desire to sell, but he wishes to retain 6o acres where his house and graves are situated. He asks 5/- an acre, but I should think that 3/- an acre would be more like it. He will wait at the Thames for an answer, which he would be glad to receive as soon as convenient.5
The Surveyor General, who had provided the report on the block nearly ten years earlier, recommended "Price say 2/6; don't let them retain all the frontage to Waiwawa."6
l Hamilton Maori Land plan 5701. Supporting Papers #N180.
2 Order of the Court, 12 March 1886, attached to cover sheet for file NLP 1887/14. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1896/109. Supporting Papers #B108.3-5.
3 Repiu Tokata, Waiwawa to Native Agent Otorohanga, 24 November 1886. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1896/109. Supporting Papers #B108.1-2.
4 Assistant Surveyor General to Under Secretary Native Land Purchase Department, 26 January 1887, on cover sheet to file NLP 1887/14. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1896/109. Supporting Papers #13108.3-5.
5 Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 17 January 1896. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1896/109. Supporting Papers #B108.6.
6 Surveyor General to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 3 February 1896, on cover sheet to file NLP 1896/23. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1896/109. Supporting Papers #B108.7-8.
36