with Waikawau and Moehau in principle given up, the interests of the various hapu in those blocks were agreed and the balance still lying against Ohinemuri considered.

Now, perhaps for the first time, there was serious discussion of the per acre valuation of the land. Te Moananui and the runanga asked for 10 shillings an acre. Mackay considered this greatly excessive; in his view, most of the good land had been reserved or sold and much saleable timber already cut off the remainder. He stated that when the cash or goods was paid over to Maori it was understood that the price would be the established price for land of similar description in the vicinity. That, he said was on average 2s 4d an acre, as in the Waikawau-Moehau area. The bitter debate continued, with many Maori debtors agreeing to give up their interests in Ohinemuri, and Te Moananui, Tukukino and the Kiriwera hapu still refusing. Mackay told waiting settlers that if these chiefs did not agree to settle their debts he would ignore them and take much of Ohinemuri anyway, within certain boundaries.

However, on 3 December 1874 Mackay reported to McLean a possible solution. The ‘Hauhau’ and ‘neutral’ parties proposed that the right to mine for gold should be ceded, the revenues to expunge the £15,000 debt charged against Ohinemuri: ‘In the event of the country not proving auriferous, then land equivalent to the amount advanced to be conveyed to the Crown.’ Mackay remarked that ‘The only person making any strenuous objection to the above scheme is Te Moananui’. Mackay argued that a mining lease could be obtained sooner than a purchase completed, and without the serious difficulties that still stood in the way of the latter.⁸³ It is not entirely clear from whom the proposal emanated. Te Hira had been suggesting that the debts be paid from timber and kauri gum revenue, but Mackay rejected that as impracticable, and later claimed that he had suggested payment via the gold revenue.⁸⁴

McLean replied immediately, revising Mackay’s previous instructions:

The Government recognising the importance of opening the Ohinemuri country as a Gold Field and finding that the Native owners do not desire to alienate the fee simple are prepared to accept the cession of say 60,000 acres in that district as a Gold Field, the natives receiving the fees from miners rights and other revenue after advances made by Mackay have been recouped.⁸⁵

Mining arrangements now began to fall into place. On 7 December another large meeting was held, and the issue of redeeming the debts again brought up:

Considerable discussion ensued as to whether the land or the gold should be given up. It was put to the meeting, and decided unanimously that the gold should be given up, and the land be placed in Te Hira’s hands, as trustee for the tribe.⁸⁶

83. Mackay to Native Minister, 3 December 1874. MA-MLP1881/246 (doc a10, pt 3, p 4)

84. Thames Advertiser, 21 December 1874 (doc o6, p 262)

85. McLean to Mackay (memorandum), 4 December 1874, ma13/54b, Archives NZ (doc o6, p 257)

86. Thames Advertiser, 8 December 1874 (doc o6, p 258)