instalments: £700 on 10 December 1866; £3000 on 24 June 1867; and £3000 on 23 January 1868.⁴⁴

Documentary evidence suggests that paying Ngai Te Rangi in full was impeded by confusion amongst local Crown officials about payment procedure and confusion amongst Maori about what exactly had been promised to them by the Crown. On 4 May 1867, H. T. Clarke wrote to the Agent for General Government in Auckland informing him that ‘at a meeting held at Motuhoa on the death of Tomika Te Mutu, – the natives interested in the Katikati-Te Puna land purchase, strongly urged the completion, at once, of the transaction’.⁴⁵ Clarke, too, thought that it was ‘important that the balance of the purchase money … be paid with as little delay as possible ⁴⁶ However Clarke had not completed that payment because a Native Office circular that he had received in January 1867 had given him the impression that he was barred from doing so because of his position. Clarke, therefore, requested that ‘a proper person’, be appointed to complete the transaction.⁴⁷

Clarke mentioned this problem again in June, as well as the ‘earnest request of the United Ngaiterangi chiefs’ who were ‘anxious to receive the balance … as soon as possible’⁴⁸ Clarke did not go into why the money was needed so urgently. In June, however, he explained that since this last communication:

the Natives interested have been clamorous for the money I need, and at the earnest request of the United chiefs, I have been led to modify my opinion as to the correct reading of your instructions. … I therefore on the 24^th inst. paid over to the parties interested Three thousand pounds. The subdivision was made by themselves and the remaining Three thousand pounds not yet received has been allotted. I hope that in this matter I have not exceeded my instructions.⁴⁹

Another factor that influenced the payment process was advanced by Mackay in his report of June 1867:

The natives although pressed to have the land surveyed, and the area ascertained before permanently fixing the amount of each payment to be made for it obstinately refused to do so. I think they did this for two reasons:- first, they did not wish any longer delay and secondly they found they had in their first arrangement with Messrs

⁴⁴ Turton, ed. Maori Deeds, pp. 638-641.

⁴⁵ H. T. Clarke to Agent for General Government, Auckland, 4 May 1867, IA 14/35, NA.

⁴⁶ Ibid.

⁴⁷ Ibid.

⁴⁸ H. T. Clarke to Agent for General Government, Auckland, 25 June 1867, IA 14/35, NA.

⁴⁹ H. T. Clarke to Native Minister, 26 June 1867, IA 14/35, NA.