Chapter 1: Government Policy and Maori Reaction, 1880–1890
given up the lease which had given them the power to proclaim it a goldfield originally, and had allowed its (Crown's) own portion of it to be subdivided by Court. If they have any case would it not be inadvisable for me to agree to any subdivision that would throw the Kapanga claim with its valuable plant into the native portion, or to risk a subdivision by the Court which might give the natives that mine, as the Crown is only entitled to two-fifths of the whole. Under such circumstances would it not be better to withdraw case and let matters remain as they are at present, trusting in the meantime either to be able to purchase the unsold shares or that natives will eventually sign new agreement to get the revenue which is now in Warden's hands for them.78
Wilkinson acknowledged that the terms of the original gold field lease meant that the land would revert to the owners 'unfettered' if the Government decided to withdraw from the arrangement and failed to enter into a new one. He reiterated that it would be best to drop the case 'as the fact of Government pressing on subdivision shows that it wants to cut adrift from natives altogether and may incite them to test the legality of Government's annulling the lease before coming to terms for a new one.79
Initially, the Crown withdrew its application to have its interest defined. Despite the court's agreement that the case would be treated as merely adjourned if a gold field arrangement was reached, the owners continued to refuse terms. The Government, anxious to protect mining capital and determined to buy as cheaply as possible, was not prepared to let the matter stand any longer. Further pressure was applied for the purchase of Moehau no. 4, by Cadman, who wired Mitchelson in December 1887:
Would strongly its completion as matter of utmost importance to Auckland on account title to English company. Natives are now wanting money but will not deal with Wilkinson.80
Government officials were reluctant, however, to offer more than 7/6d per acre. The chief clerk of the Native Land Purchase Department noted that the owners having previously refused higher offers (of £3,000), should now be given no more than the standard price per acre—a total of £1,800. Mitchelson agreed that the price should not be 'very much more' than the 7/6d originally offered, but directed that 10/- or 12/- might be offered as it was extremely important that the matter be settled.
T.W. Lewis, the Under Secretary of the Native Land Purchase Department, was sent to negotiate the purchase of the outstanding shares. Again the payment of overdue gold field revenues from miners' rights was linked to eventual agreement to sell. Charles Dearle, a clerk in the Resident Magistrate and Warden's Court who was married to a local Maori woman and often employed by the Government to purchase signatures, was asked to assist in acquiring the share of Riria Karepe whose agreement was seen as the key to success. Dearle reported that Riria would not be satisfied with the £450 on offer since a large amount of revenue had accrued on the block, and suggested that the amount be increased to £500 or £525 to cover this debt, and depending on whether she was prepared to forego a so acre reserve. In February 1887 Lewis settled with her for £500, and her share of the
78 Ibid.,pp. 96–97.
79 Wilkinson to Under Secretary Native Department, 26 October 1887. Ibid., p. 97.
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