CREATED 5 September 1878 Hauraki Minute Book II pages 305-323
AREA 50,331 acres
PLAN Hamilton Maori Land plan 2982
The first reference to a Moehau block was at the Native Land Court in July 1867,1 but as no plan had been prepared, it is not known which area was being referred to. The case was struck out.
Purchase by the Crown
In January 1872, when James Mackay was outlining
the services he could offer to the Crown if he was
employed as a Government land purchase agent, he wrote a lengthy report about the Coromandel district, which included a section about a block he referred to as the Cape Colville Block, which broadly corresponds with what came to be known as Moehau.
This is of considerable extent. The area of unsold lands may be roughly estimated at 50,000 acres. After deducting the pieces required for Native reserves, the area available for settlement is but limited, the greater portion of the block being hilly timbered country unfit for cultivation. Gold has at various times been discovered in several places within its limits, but no miming claims are at present occupied there. Some pieces of land have been sold to Europeans but these form but a small proportion to the whole. The kauri timber at Cabbage Bay, Tangiaro, Matamataharakeke and the northern portion of Kennedys Bay has been sold to Europeans owning sawmills. I have surveyors employed on the external boundaries of this block at the present time. The title is much disputed.2
In March 1872 he reported further.
I have the honour to inform you that the negotiations for the purchase of the Waikawau and Cape Colville Blocks from the Native owners are in a forward state, and the surveys of the external boundaries are nearly completed.
I have received from you advances to the amount of £45o on account of these purchases, which have been expended as follows: viz.,
Ltoo to Mr Creagh on account of the survey of the Waikawau block,
£15o to Mr Tole on account of the survey of the Waikawau [sic, should be Cape Colville] block,
Z200 advanced to Natives (in the shape of goods and stores at Ohinemuri, and which I have paid to storekeepers) on account of the purchase of the above blocks.
The Waikawau and Cape Colville blocks belong to the Ngatitamatera tribe, who principally reside at Ohinemuri and Coromandel, who, although not desirous of disposing of their estates at
1 Coromandel Minute Book i page 88. Supporting Papers #4.7.
2 James Mackay, Auckland to Minister of Public Works, 24 January 1872. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1885/18. Supporting Papers #1354.1-26. AJHR 1873, G-8, pages 1-5. Supporting Papers #ux.x--5.
38