THE HAURAKI TRIBAL LANDS—PART 1

for No 1G and 7/6 per acre for No 1H, these being the prices offered by Mr AA Preece, Licensed Interpreter, who is trying to negotiate purchase of these lands for some Europeans. Mr Preece informs me that he has made advances to a few of the owners, but I am satisfied that Natives have not yet signed any deeds. If Government are anxious to purchase, I think No 1G could be acquired at 4/- per acre and No 1H at 5/- to 6/- per acre.12

The Chief Land Purchase Officer considered that, because the Goldfields Regulations covered the majority of the Crown's interests in these blocks, "there are no particular reasons why the Government should acquire them",13 and instructed Dearle not to increase the Crown's offer price, but to get any signatures he could, "then we can if necessary proclaim".14

Protests Over Area of Moehau 1G

In October 1897 a Thames solicitor wrote that

I am instructed by several owners of the Moehau 1G block ... to write to you with reference to the area of the block which is not in accordance with the arrangements made with the Government Agents at the time of the sale of the Moehau Block to the Crown.

My clients state that it was agreed that an area of eighteen hundred acres should be reserved from the sale and granted to the Natives, but that when the survey was made it was found that the area so surveyed was only a little over thirteen hundred acres. I am instructed that the order of the Native Land Court was for the larger area, but that the title has been issued for the lesser area.

My clients ask that the deficiency may be made good and that they should receive a portion of the Crown Land adjoining the Block to make good the deficiency.15

The claim was referred to Wilkinson for comment. He replied that

Moehau No 1G or Waiaro West Reserve should contain 1856 acres according to the Order of N.L. Court made in September 1878.

Moehau No 1N or Whangahumi Reserve should contain 26 acres 2 roods according to the Order of N.L. Court made in September 1878.

So far as I remember, at the time the Moehau Block was before the Court at Shortland for the purpose of defining the Crown's interest by purchase, and defining the Native Reserves, the plan before the Court showed sufficient area to meet the cases of the different reserves as then fixed, after providing for the area for the Crown.

I notice that on the litho-sheet of the Coromandel County the areas of several of the Moehau Reserves as shown thereon (including Moehau No 1G) are less than was intended at the time they were fixed, and less than is set forth in the Orders of Court awarding same to the different Native owners. Why this is so I cannot say. Perhaps the Survey Department can explain.16

The Chief Surveyor's explanation was that

The area of Moehau No 1G is shown upon the original map before the Court (and which was duly approved by the Judge of the N.L. Court) as 1360 acres. On no plan does any larger area

12 File note by Clerk Resident Magistrates Office Thames, 24 April 1893. Maori Affairs Head Office file 1907/507. Supporting Papers #C7.108–109.

13 Chief Land Purchase Officer to Native Minister, 17 May 1893, on file note by Clerk Resident Magistrate's Office Thames, 24 April 1893. Maori Affairs Head Office file 2907/507. Supporting Papers #C7.108–109.

14 Chief Land Purchase Officer to Clerk Resident Magistrate's office Thames, 6 June 1893, on file note by Clerk Resident Magistrate's Office Thames, 24 April 1893. Maori Affairs Head Office file 1907/507. Supporting Papers #C7.108–109.

15 VG Day, Barrister and Solicitor, Thames, to Native Minister, 5 October 1897. Maori Affairs Head Office file 1907/507. Supporting Papers #C7.124.

16 Land Purchase Officer Otorohanga to Chief Land Purchase Officer, 14 October 1897. Maori Affairs Head Office file 1907/507. Supporting Papers #C7.125.

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