MOEWAI

AREA   882 acres

PLAN   Hamilton Maori Land plan 1484

OWNERS   Enoka Puia and 8 others

CERTIFICATE OF TITLE (Hamilton Land Registry) 76/2221

PURCHASED BY   Archibald Smith and William Meikle

DATE   24 April 1873

PURCHASE PRICE   £250

TRANSFER REFERENCE Deeds Register Book 2D page 263 (Auckland Land Registry) Deeds Book D7 pages 412-416

The Resident Magistrate at Coromandel made inquiries on behalf of the Trust Commissioner, and reported in July 1873 that

I have delayed communicating with you ... in the expectation that some of the parties interested in the matter would wait on me with respect to it.

I casually met Mr WJ Young, the licensed interpreter, a few days since, and informed him of the circumstances. Riria Karepe was brought to me by him and I have examined her as to the bona fides of the conveyance. I attach the result of my questions, which is satisfactory, and I also learned from her the following facts respecting the position of the Grantees of the property.

Enoka Puia, Ruihana Kawhero and Riria Karepe are the principal owners, Rewi Ngamaka Taupoki, Ripeka Titiparu, Wikitoria Nohohau, Matawini Haururu, all of whom have executed the deed, are owners but of lesser interest, and Wiremu Taripono, who has not signed, holds a smaller interest than any who have signed.

The last named native lives at Shortland, and I now beg to return the Deed for the purpose, if you please, of it being forwarded there for his signature and examination.'

Ruihana Kawhero and Wikitoria Nohohau confirmed that they had sold their interests and received the money due to them, in January and February 1873 respectively.3

1 This title was issued on the basis of Hamilton Land Registry Application 3200.

2 Resident Magistrate Coromandel to Trust Commissioner Auckland, 8 July 1873. Papers for Application 1873/84. Trust Commissioner Auckland's 1873 Papers. Suppoting Papers #M1.19-27 at 23-25.

3 Statement by Assistant Native Agent Thames, 24 January 1873, and Statement by Resident Magistrate Coromandel, 5 February 1873. Papers for Application 1873/84. Trust Commissioner Auckland's 1873 Papers. Supporting Papers #M1.19-27 at 26 and 27.

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