Mercury Bay District: Oteao 4

In July 1898 the Minister of Lands applied to the Court to have the interests owned by the Crown in Oteao 4 defined.9

The application was heard in September 1899, when 175 acres was awarded to the Crown as Oteao 4A, and 9 acres was awarded as Oteao 4B to the two non-sellers, Merehana Eparaima and Ani Eparaima.10 They were two of the successors to Matahera Whakatau. Mair advised the Chief Land Purchase Officer after the hearing of its outcome.

The Crown claim was dealt with by the Native Land Court here on 30th September. Mr MacCormack appeared on behalf of the Kauri Timber Company, who claim to have purchased the timber, estimated at half a million feet, from the owners. He therefore asked that the award to the Crown be made subject to the Kauri Timber Company's rights, which he stated were acquired about 1894 but only registered after the Crown had commenced its purchase. After some argument, the court decided that the company must protect itself by an action in the Supreme Court should it desire so to do, and granted the award to the Crown of the area applied for, viz 175 acres to be called 4A. Nine acres being cut off for the two non-sellers.11

This brought a query from the Chief Land Purchase Officer as to when the purchase had been authorised - apparently he was unable to locate the departmental file.12 Mair replied that

I ... have been making a thorough search through my papers, which have got mixed up in consequence of moving from house to house several times. I can find no papers whatever on Oteao No 4. I can only remember sending you an offer from Rahera, Peneamine and others to sell the land, and after some time I received a memo from you telling me to buy at £6 per share.

I cannot even find this minute now, but will make one more search.13

Mair was asked to

ascertain from Peneamine Tanui whether he has disposed of any interest which he may have acquired under this [timber lease] deed.. Get particulars as fully as possible.14

He replied that

Peneamine Tanui died in March or April [1899]. I wrote direct to Rahera Tanui, his wife, to see if she could give any information, but have received no reply. I have heard incidentally that the K.T. Company advanced Peneamine about Loo on account of the timber on Oteao No 4, that he left a will in favour of his numerous children.15

Oteao 4A was declared Crown Land in July 1900.16

9 Minister of Lands to Chief Judge Native Land Court, 26 July 1898. Maori Land Court Hamilton Block Orders file C164. Supporting Papers #K8.13.

10 Orders of the Court, 30 September 1899. Maori Land Court Hamilton Block Orders file C164. Supporting Papers #K8.14–17.

11 Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 7 October 1899. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1899/190. Supporting Papers #B134.10.

12 Telegram Chief Land Purchase Officer to Land Purchase Officer Thames, 20 October 1899. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1899/190. Supporting Papers #B134.11.

13 Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, date not known. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1899/190. Supporting Papers #B134.11.

14 Chief Land Purchase Officer to Land Purchase Officer Thames, 30 December 1899. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1899/190. Supporting Papers #B134.12.

15 Land Purchase Officer Thames to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 1 March 1900. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1899/190. Supporting Papers #B134.12.

16 New Zealand Gazette1900 page 1341. Supporting Papers #W33.3.

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