were landless and were each entitled to only a fractional portion of an acre in the block, and two other owners who were entitled to succeed to other blocks. He concluded that ‘none of the said owners have ever resided on the said Block and that the said land is never likely to be a material means of support to them.’45
Despite this rather damning report the Waiariki District Maori Land Board met on 20 October 1920 and confirmed the resolution passed by the assembled owners, subject to the purchase money being paid to the board within two months.46 The £350 was deposited with the board on 15 December 1920.47 However, it was later discovered that the purchaser was due a refund because the actual area of the block was only 46 acres 2 roods 32 perches. This was because land had been taken from the block for a road line, which was surveyed in 1886.48 However, the proclamation taking the land for the road had not been registered on the title.49 As a result, the memorandum of transfer for lot 211 recorded that £326:18:0 had been paid to the board by William John Francis for 46 acres 2 roods 32 perches.50
Lot 214 Parish of Te Puna
On 22 December 1908 Mere Taka signed a deed transferring lot 211 to Herbert Pasquale Clarke for £9.51 The Deed had a Maori translation attached and was explained in Maori by a licensed interpreter, J.E. Dalton. The government valuation for the 6 acre section was £5.52 At this time Maori land alienations had to be confirmed by the local Maori Land Board, which was supposed to check, among other things, that the price was fair and the Maori owners would not be rendered landless by the sale. The Waiariki District Maori Land Board confirmed the alienation on 21 March 1912, subject to the payment of the purchase money and proof that Mere Taka had other lands.53
The requirements of the board were not met at that time, and it was not until 1920, after Mere Taka had died, that the sale was finally confirmed. In March 1920 solicitors for the purchaser wrote to the Maori Land Board:
We now enclose our cheque for £9 in payment of the purchase money, and as the owner Mere Taka has since died, we presume that you will not require a schedule of “other lands”.54
45 Declaration by George Moore, 13 October 1920, BCAC A187 Box 217 2754 Te Puna Lot 211, NA Auckland
46 Confirmation of a Resolution passed by Assembled Owners, 20 October 1920, BCAC A187 Box 217 2754 Te Puna Lot 211, NA Auckland
47 Urquhart and Roe to Registrar Waiariki District Maori Land Board, 15 December 1920, BCAC A187 Box 217 2754 Te Puna Lot 211, NA Auckland
48 SO 5222
49 Sharp Tudhope &Wilson to Registrar Waiariki District Maori Land Board, 7 February 1921, BCAC A187 Box 217 2754 Te Puna Lot 211, NA Auckland
50 Memorandum of Transfer, BCAC A187 Box 217 2754 Te Puna Lot 211, NA Auckland
51 Copy of Memorandum of Transfer, 22 December 1908, BCAC A187 Box 215 1909-2 Te Puna Lot 214, NA Auckland
52 Application to recommend His Excellency the Governor to consent to the Sale of Maori Land, BCAC A187 Box 215 1909-2 Te Puna Lot 214, NA Auckland
53 Urquhart & Roe to Registrar Waiariki District Maori Land Board, 19 March 1920, BCAC A187 Box 215 1909-2 Te Puna Lot 214, NA Auckland
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