proceeded with Mr Mackay to Ohinemuri, and was present when he was negotiating with the Natives there assembled, and I feel convinced that a large saving, both in time and money, was effected by his being placed in funds promptly to conduct these negotiations.5
In June 1872 Mackay reported that
The surveys of the Cape Colville and Waikawau blocks had, as you are aware, been commenced prior to my engagement as Land Purchase Agent under the Immigration and Public Works Act. These are now completed and the compilation of the maps will be finished in the course of a few
days....
Tukukino, Hohepa Te Hauhitu, Mere Titia, Te Kereihi Hukohuko, Wi Katene and Humia Te Weu, who have heretofore been staunch Hauhaus, ... have received payment in full for their claims to the Waikawau and Cape Colville blocks, and have signed the Deed of Cession....
The negotiations for the cession of the Moehau or Cape Colville block are progressing favourably, but this question is not so far advanced as that of Waikawau, it will however be completed in a short time. I know of no difficulty or obstruction other than a few trifling disputes as the boundaries of pieces owned by other tribes, but which have been much simplified by some recent decisions in the Native Land Court at Coromandel.
The Cape Colville block as surveyed contains 6z,000 acres of Native Land ... and I believe the whole cost including survey and other charges will not exceed 2/4d per acre.... Considering the known auriferous character of the Waikawau and Cape Colville blocks, and that the revenue payable in the shape of Miners Rights and Licences will soon repay the cost of the purchase, I do not think the price to be given is excessive or more than could be expected under the circumstances.6
In August 1875 Mackay summarised his negotiations with Ngati Tamatera.
The acquisition of [Moehau and Waikawau] blocks is to a certain extent mixed up with the Ohinemuri question. The chief owners of which are the tribe Ngatitamatera, two thirds of whom in 1872 were Hauhaus and one third loyal. Great pressure was put on the General Government by the Superintendent and people of the Province of Auckland to induce them to purchase these lands. ... After I was instructed to purchase these blocks, I attempted in vain to get the Hauhaus to treat for the sale of them to the Government. They refused to take the Governor's money. At this time their old and influential chief Taraia Ngakuti died, and as usual on such occasions a very grand feast was contemplated, and although the obstructives would not take money, they joined the friendly natives (secretly) in procuring some thousands of pounds worth of flour, sugar, tobacco, tea, bullocks, sheep and clothing. The cost of these supplies was arranged to be placed against the Waikawau block in the first place, but as some members of the tribe had no interest in it, portion of the first and subsequent advances were charged to the Moehau and Ohinemuri blocks. Subsequently large numbers of the Hauhau party for the first time openly joined in the land purchase negotiations which were progressing most favourably, and the price was nearly arranged with them, and some signed a preliminary deed for the Waikawau Block, when the murder of Timothy Sullivan at Waikato in April 1873 threw everything into confusion and the ultra Hauhau party for a time became troublesome. I at the request of the Government went to Waikato as their Agent, and was there engaged for about fourteen months.7 The steps taken on the frontier soon showed the King party that they had no
5 Auckland Provincial Superintendent to Colonial Secretary, 4 April 1872. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1873/35. Supporting Papers #B3.1–6. AJHR, 1873, G-8, page 7. Supporting Papers #U1.7.
6 J Mackay, Auckland, to Minister of Public Works, 22 June 1872. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1881/309. Supporting Papers #B36.1–10.
7 Mackay ceased to be a land purchase agent for the Coromandel-Hauraki district between 1 May 1873 and 30 June 1874. During that time he was employed as the Government Agent at Cambridge, on salary. (File note by RJ Gill, 31 August 1875. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1885/18—Supporting Papers #B54.27.)
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