Ohinemuri District: Ohinemuri

subdivision should the block be divided on, with the numbers not dealt with. The whole of the Block should be acquired if possible.39

Wilkinson's next report was ten days after the previous one.

One of the larger subdivisions40 of the Ohinemuri Goldfields Block containing over 50,000 acres has passed the Court with 90 Grantees. A number of the names sent in were arranged by the Natives so as to defraud the Government, but by cross-examination I got a number of these struck out and also got others inscribed who had been previously removed because they had sold out to the Government. The final result is that out of 90 names sent in, 57 have already signed the deed of cession, which completely disposes of their claim. Of the 33 others, 5 have previously taken money from Mackay on account of purchase, but have not signed the deed, so that the area to be allotted to them will be considerably reduced if not swallowed up altogether. The balance of 28 who have as yet had nothing, now that judgement has been given, I will try and buy out as soon as I can, fixing the price at 5/- per acre, but I expect I shall have to give more than that in order to get them to sign. Evidence has also been taken in two other large blocks adjoining, but judgement is deferred until some disputed boundaries are settled, which will be done in a few days. Considering the many difficulties in the way, I think matters are satisfactory for Government so far. 41

In early July 1880 Wilkinson sent a fuller report.

Since sending my last telegram the Court has been more or less occupied with the different subdivisions of the Gold Field, but an adjournment had to take place a few days ago on account of the death of a chief of influence belonging to the Kiriwera tribe, over whose remains there has been great crying. The Court will open tomorrow morning for a short time in order to give judgement in three blocks, concerning which evidence has been taken during the last three weeks, when it will again adjourn and not proceed with regular business until Monday morning, and it is to be hoped it will then continue on without any further interruption.

The Court has now been sitting for nearly six weeks, which time has been principally taken up in hearing the Gold Fields Block, and judgements have now been given over 12 different sections, names of owners for which have been handed into Court, and number from about 20 in some Orders of Court to 90 in others. In each of these different Orders, I find on looking carefully through them, that the amount which can be claimed by the Crown considerably preponderates, over what interests are held by Native who have not yet sold, in some cases as much as five-eighths, some three-fourths, and others two-thirds, and in no case less than half; there are, however, several blocks yet to be heard, and I have thought it advisable not to do anything yet in Court with the Government claims, until the question of Native title over the whole block is settled. I have talked this matter over with the Judge, and he is of my opinion, viz. that it would be prejudicial to the Government to have its claims brought on too soon, as the natives would be very sore when they found out how much of the block would go into the Crown's hands. Considering how they have been all along trying to baulk the Government as much as possible, they would be sure to raise some excuse or obstruction to prevent the remaining portions of the block from going through the Court. Then there is the general question of reserves, which could not be well gone into piecemeal but only as a whole.

My great trouble is, however, that the Court cannot sit here more than a fortnight or three weeks longer at most, on account of Judge Munro having to go north to attend a sitting of the Court at Kaihu; that would cause the Court here to break up before having finished, in fact it is likely that Native title over the whole of the Ohinemuri Gold Field would hardly be finished by that time, and if it were there certainly would not be time to go into the title of the Crown. I think it is a

39 Telegram Under Secretary Native Land Purchase Department to Land Purchase Officer Thames, 21 June 1880. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1881/246. Suppoting Papers #B36.54.

40 Wilkinson is probably referring to Ohinemuri 10, decided on 23 June 1880, with 94 owners.

41 Telegram Land Purchase Officer Thames to Under Secretary Native Land Purchase Department, 26 June 1880. Maori Affairs Head Office file MLP 1881/246. Supporting Papers #B36.55–57.

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