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

were for money and supplies obtained subsequent to the meeting at Whakatiwai as the dates will show.118

Te Whetuiti (whose name was later shown to be on the deed) maintained that he had no knowledge of such a large sum having been paid, and demanded clarification of which hapu were involved.119 Ngati Paoa stated that they did not wish to impute dishonesty to Mackay—they merely wished to ascertain what debt lay with which hapu. Their complaint pointed, however, to the defective nature of that first transaction which had acted as a lever for the opening of the area. The Committee wrote to Lewis: 'We are not clear about this amount. [I]f you the Government can make it clear to us that we have received this money we shall be prepared to admit it as a charge upon our lands' which was clarified as meaning 'the lands of those individual natives who received sums not in all our land.'120 The two leading Committee members, Tipa and Kerei, accompanied by their agent (WA. Graham) subsequently visited Lewis, stating that it was unfair for the Government to keep the sum hanging over their heads when they could find no trace of who had received it, and when the largest portion of the money had been spent on food for the whole of the tribe.121

The majority of Ngati Paoa were anxious for the matter to be settled and admitted much of their debt to the Government. W.A. Graham suggested subsequently, that 'all sides now desire to finally close the Piako block. [A]djournments are impoverishing the natives and making them inclined to become sullen.'122 A finalisation of the sale to the Government was necessary so that the proclamation prohibiting private purchases in the area could be lifted, and other areas sold to pay off other pressing debts. They now offered a total of 45,000 acres in payment for the money they had received, a total payment of £11,776 being admitted. The areas they would transfer would comprise 23,742 acres that Pollen had formerly promised to return to Ngati Paoa within the confiscation boundary, Kopuatai nos 1, 2, and 4 (4,379 acres), 10,295 acres on the eastern side of the Piako River, Patatai which was marked no. 4 on the Government's map (2,500 acres), and 4,084 acres of land at Waitakaruru (marked no. 6).123 When Lewis again met with the Native Committee, at their room in Shortland, he announced the Government's disappointment at the smallness of area being transferred by Ngati Paoa and their repudiation of the original sums paid to 'them and their fathers.' Examination of the accounts had showed, however, that the hapu in receipt of the greatest payments did not have sufficient land to recompense the Government for its expenditure. He told them that, in these circumstances, the Government would accept their offer. 124

Piako was brought before the Native Land Court in early May. Taipari and several others withdrew their claims upon the land that, it was agreed, should go to Ngati Paoa. Ngati

118 Ibid., pp. 29–30. Doc. 4, pp. 72–73.

119 Ibid., p. 34. Doc. 4, pp. 77.

120 Native Committee to Lewis, 1 May 1889. MD 89/135. In MA 13/64 (b)

121 See memo. of interview given to Waata Tipa and others, May 1889. NLP 89/135. In ibid.

122 W.A. Graham acting for Ngati Paoa to Native Under Secretary, 30 July 1889. NLP 89/242. Ibid.

123 See HMB 20, pp. 293–299; also W.A. Graham to Native Minister, 22 January 1892. MA MLP 1892/8.

124 Notes of several meetings held with the Ngati Paoa Natives ... representing the purchase of Piako, p.38. NLP 89/148 in MA 13/64 (b). Doc. 4, p. 81.

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