Chapter 1: Government Policy and Maori Reaction, 1880–1890

Crown, a notice was gazetted in February 1882 stating that monies had been paid ... and that negotiations had been commenced for the acquisition'.66

The remaining rents were paid over in July 1882. Government officers now set about to purchase shares, the Native Minister (Rolleston) authorising the price of 7/6d per acre as opposed to the 10/- suggested by Under Secretary of the Land Purchase Department, or the 5/- which he himself thought the land worth.67 As a first step, the Government informed one of the owners in the block, Rihitoto Mataia who had purchased the interests of three of the other grantees, that the transaction was illegal since the block had been proclaimed earlier in the year. Two months later, Rihitoto's husband (Mr. Nicholls) travelled with those vendors to Auckland, where they signed a deed of sale to the Government.68 As the Crown acquired shares, it reduced the amount of rent it paid out.69

Little further progress was made in the Crown's campaign of acquisition except for the purchase of a few more shares by the gold field warden who had taken over Wilkinson's duties, at a cost more than £1 above the rate set by the Minister. Kenrick (the warden) then arranged for Frederick Preece who was considered to have 'great influence with the natives' to act on the Government's behalf in the matter. Two years later, however, Maori remained reluctant to sell. The Mines Department decided that the Government should withdraw from the rental arrangement, and pay instead the miners' rights revenues which came to a lesser amount. The Auditor General reminded the Department:

Notice of the existing agreements being put an end to, a fresh lease will have to be made, or all legal power to collect revenue and enforce the mining laws will cease. Native lands can only come under the Act at all, under the definition of 'Crown lands'. ...70

But nothing was done to draw up a new arrangement at this stage. Instead, Kenrick presented an ultimatum to Maori; that the Government would no longer pay the annual rent, but that the block would remain within the proclaimed field, nonetheless; and since they would now receive miners' rights only, they should sell. Preece reported that, in late 1885:

He [Kenrick] ... gave the natives notice through me that they would have either to sell their shares in the block to the Crown, or on the other hand they would have to content themselves by receiving the Miners' Rights etc in lieu of the £500 per year, as the lease to the Crown would expire on March 1st '86, and that the Crown would not consent to continue paying the rent beyond that date.

Mr Kenrick gave me a [written] agreement [on which to obtain signatures] .... Mr Kenrick desired me again to give the natives notice that the Crown would not pay any more rent ... and that they would have to either sign that agreement and accept the Miners Rights etc or sell the block to the Government, for which he on behalf of the Government would give them £600 per share. ... 71

66 Ibid., p. 90. See also discussion in MD 1/82/361.

67 Ibid., pp. 90–91.

68 Ibid., p. 91.

69 See Wakefield minute 16.4.83, on Kenrick and Wilkinson to Paymaster General, 29 March 1883. MD 1/83/483.

70 Auditor General memo., 5 March 1815. MD 1/85/70.

71 Preece to Native Minister, 21 February 1888, MA 13/296. Cited in Alexander, The Hauraki Tribal Lands, Part 1, p. 92.

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