Teaomarama licensed holding recently taken up. 22 miners’ rights issued for same block during last week.’¹³⁶

The transaction could not proceed until the time statutorily allowed for applications for rehearing of title investigations had elapsed, but Cadman advised the under-secretary of the Native Department that everything should be put in readiness to complete the transaction: ‘The amount of consideration asked by Mr Dearie, viz £12-10-od is reasonable. If mining breaks out in the interim the Natives will double the amount now asked for.’¹³⁷ By the end of August, the increase in mining activity had in fact been such that Rihitoto Mataia had withdrawn her portion from sale and was asking nine shillings sixpence per acre. This price the Crown refused, and in January 1893 Rihitoto Mataia accepted seven shillings sixpence per acre. The sole owner of Ohinemuri 20a2, Merea Wikiriwhi, likewise accepted seven shillings sixpence in March 1893, after having her offer at nine shillings sixpence refused.

The upper part of the Waitekauri Valley, containing the Golden Cross mine, was located in the Ohinemuri 20 parent block, still in Maori ownership. By March 1895, all interests in Ohinemuri 20 and 20c – the vendors wanting to link the transactions – had been purchased at seven shillings per acre save for the interests of Tareranui Tutana. Tareranui’s successor, Haora Tareranui, held out for a higher price, writing that ‘more gold than ever is being obtained from that land’.¹³⁸ His interest was partitioned out, he being allowed to choose the location of his share but having to bear the cost of the subdivision survey. The Crown’s part of Ohinemuri 20 received the designation Ohinemuri 20E when it was awarded to the Crown in April 1896. Haora Tareranui’s chosen ground was given the designation Ohinemuri 20f. In 1906, after a number of claims formerly held by the Waitekauri Goldmining Company were again taken up, Haora offered the block for 12 shillings sixpence per acre. He subsequently asked for 15 shillings per acre because he had had paid for the subdivision survey, but in 1907 agreed to sell at his original asking price.¹³⁹

10.4.5 Maratoto mining and Crown purchases

The Maratoto gold deposits lie to the north of the upper Waitekauri Valley in the upper reaches of the Maratoto Stream, a tributary of the Hikutaia River. Major reefs were discovered in 1887. In 1888, a New South Wales syndicate acquired the reef claim and formed the Maratoto Goldmining Company which ceased operations in 1891. In 1909, the Silverstream Company and the Tellurides Proprietary Company undertook serious reinvestigation. The area was worked until 1972.

136. Dearie to Native Minister (telegram), 18 August 1891, d20.51–52 (doc a10, pt 3, p 129)

137. Native Minister to under-secretary, Native Department, 18 August 1891, d20.53 (doc a10, pt 3, p 129)

138. Haora Tareranui to land purchase officer, Thames, 1 July 1895 d20.97–99 (doc a10, pt3, p 134)

139. Document a10, pt 3, p 137