Chapter is Government Policy and Maori Reaction, 1880–1890

seeing that the adjoining land is already Government property, and that the Thames public are desirous and have frequently requested that these Native lands within the Goldfield should fall into Government hands as soon as possible, I am of opinion that this would be a desirable purchase to make, and would suggest that the offer be accepted.55

Approval was given and the purchase went ahead smoothly, the signing of the deed being witnessed by the Thames Resident Magistrate who, two weeks later, also certified the deed in his capacity as Trust Commissioner.

Waiau no. 1

At Waiau no. 1, as at Waiotahi A, Maori owners were compelled to sell some of their more valuable lands in order to meet pressing financial needs. The eight grantees were persuaded by Wilkinson to offer the block to the Crown for purchase in 1882. Wilkinson reported that he had seen a chance to promote the. Crown's interests when the owners had wanted to replace the present gold field arrangements for the payment of miners' rights and fees with an annual rental:

Acting under instructions previously received to purchase land within the Goldfield whenever opportunity offered, I have replied to the letter of these natives by suggesting to them that the best way out of the difficulty would be to sell the block to Government, but I did not fix any price per acre. ...56

The Minister decided to go ahead, noting that it was a 'pity' that Maori could not keep their income of some £120 per annum from the block, but that, as there were no restrictions on the title to keep out private parties, the Crown 'might as well do it' at the price (£600 for 1,098 acres) suggested by the Under Secretary of his department.57 Clearly, matters were not so pressing that Maori needed to sell at this price because it was another six years before the block was brought to the Government's attention again. On this occasion, Frederick Preece wrote to the Native Department that he had been offered the land at 14/3d per acre, but was sure that the land could be bought for 'far less' as it was 'only owing to the great want of money on their part, to pay their debts' that the owners had now consented to sell.58 The suggestion was not picked up, however, because the Government had 'no money to spare for this class of purchase', until 1891 when Cadman, the new Native Minister, instructed that the unsold shares should be acquired.59

One of the owners had been declared bankrupt and her estate was in the hands of the Official Assignee in Auckland who informed the warden (from whose office the purchase was being conducted), that E.T. Dufaur, a prominent local solicitor, was one of the major creditors. According to Dufaur, land close to the block had recently been sold to a Sydney Syndicate for £10 per acre and the assignee now asked for £3.10 per acre which would be the upset price when the land was put up at auction.60 Cadman dismissed the offer

55 Wilkinson to Under Secretary Native Department, 26 March 1885. Cited in ibid., p. 340.

56 Wilkinson to Under Secretary Native Land Purchase Department, 9 August 1882. MA MLP 1897/238. Cited in ibid., p. 211.

57 File note by Native Minister, 6 September 1882. Ibid., p. 212.

58 F. Preece to Under Secretary Native Department, 21 February 1888. Ibid.

59 Under Secretary to Native Minister, 24 June 1889, NLP 1889/165, Native Minister to Under Secretary Native Department,

60 Official Assignee to Northcroft, 7 July 1891. Ibid., p. 214.

37