This concluded the Government's consideration of the petition.
In 1905 a second petition was lodged by Haora Tareranui, seeking redress for the missing 500 acres, and noting that he had never received any reply to his 1900 petition.23 The Chief Land Purchase Officer provided a copy of his report to the 1900 petition, together with a copy of the 1897 reply by the Registrar of the Native Land Court,24 and the Native Affairs Committee recommended that the Government "make immediate inquiry into this case".25
The Chief Judge of the Native Land Court was asked to investigate. He reported that
On referring to the former papers, I can come to no other conclusion than that the Clerk of the Court in 1878 wrote the figures 1856 in the minute of the Court's order inadvertently, and the error was copied into the Court order. I can find nothing else to support the contention that the Court intended to award 1856 acres. It might help to satisfy the Natives if I referred the question for inquiry in open Court under s. 49/95.26
This was done, as when a question was asked in the House of Representatives in September
1907 as to what steps the Government had taken in connection with the 1905 petition, and the Native Affairs Committee's recommendation, the response was that
Inquiry has since been made by the Native Land Court, and the Chief Judge recommends that no further action be taken.27
Partition
In February 1899 Moehau 1G was partitioned into 3 subdivisions, Moehau, 1G1 of 169 acres 0 roods 29 perches, 1G2 of 199 acres, and 1G3 of 965 acres 1 rood 16 perches.28
Offer to Sell a Share to the Crown
In January 1906 Maaka Te Ngaohe offered to sell his share in Moehau 1G3 to the Crown.29He was told that
As you are only one of a very large number of owners of the Moehau 1G block, I cannot enter into negotiations with you for the purchase of the land unless a considerable number of the other owners express in writing a desire to join with you in the sale.30
Partition
The block was partitioned into eleven divisions on 28 October 1908.31 This seems to have involved the annulling of the 1899 partition orders.
23 Clerk Native Affairs Committee to Under Secretary Justice Department, 3 August 1905. Maori Affairs Head Office file 1907/507. Supporting Papers #C7.135–137.
24 Chief Land Purchase Officer to Clerk Native Affairs Committee, undated. Maori Affairs Head Office file 1907/507. Supporting Papers #C7.138–139.
25 Report of the Native Affairs Committee on Petition 155/1905, 22 August 1905. Maori Affairs Head Office file 1907/507. Supporting Papers #C7.140. AJHR, 1905, 1–3, pages 9–10. Supporting Papers #U25.1–2.
26 Chief Judge Native Land Court to Under Secretary Justice Department, 29 September 1905, on cover sheet to file J 1905/1235. Maori Affairs Head Office file 1907/507. Supporting Papers #C7.141–142.
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