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Admission of deceit

An admission by a Crown agent of his own deceit was yesterday presented to the Waitangi Tribunal in Crown evidence. The admission concerned the Crown Land Purchase Commissioner, Walter Mantell. A Crown historian, Dr Donald Loveridge, had earlier presented evidence that indicated Mantell had lied during the

Banks Peninsula negotiations. Another Crown historian, Mr Graham Sanders, read an excerpt from a letter that contained an admission of deceit by the commissioner. The letter, from Mantell to the Premier, Alfred Dommett, said Ngai Tahu “expressed a fear they would again be deceived, as they formerly were by me at Akaroa and else-

where.” Mantell assured the tribe that their fears were “groundless.” Mr Sanders said the tacit admission showed a “reformed Mantell.” The Crown was attempting to show that the commissioner had a clean record of conduct in the purchase of Southland in 1853 and Stewart Island in 1864.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19881109.2.84

Bibliographic details

Press, 9 November 1988, Page 14

Word Count
151

Admission of deceit Press, 9 November 1988, Page 14

Admission of deceit Press, 9 November 1988, Page 14