THE PURCHASE OF THE OTAGO BLOCK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4168, 28 June 1875, Page 3

THE PURCHASE OF THE OTAGO BLOCK.

The following translation of a paper showing the business transacted at the recent Maori meeting at the Heads, has been forwarded to us for publication by Hori Kerei Taiaroa, M.H.R. :— The council of Native chiefs summoned by Hori Kerei Taiaroa, M.H.R. f<.-r the Southern Maori Electoral District, to meet at Otago Heads on the 24th May last, concluded its sittings en the 10th June, IS7">. To this council Taiaroa had summoned all the old men and chiefs of the Ngaitahu tribe. All the principal old men were assembled at this meeting. The real business of the council began on the 26th May, at 7 o'clock. It began by examining those who sold the laud, taking First, Tiiose who were present at the buying of land by Colonel Wakelkld. came singly before the Chairman during two ckys and two nights, to give evidence of what passed between him and the Natives at the purchasing of the Otago Block. Next, evidence was taken with respect to the promise that one acre should be set aside for the Maoris for every 10 acres taken for the settlers, and copies of the letters of Captain Symons and Colonel AVakefiehl to the New Zealand Company in London were produced. Next, the evidence of those who sold the land to the commissioner, Kemp, in IS4S was'taken. They did not consider they had sold the country inland, but only that contiguous to the sea shore, because the purchase was made on board a man-of-war, where the land was not seen, besides which they were bad with the spirits which the soldiers (?) of the ship gave them to drink. The council considered that Kemp's deed was not in accordance with the laws of Eng land, and that it must fall. Next, Mr M.-in-tell's purchase was considered ; and it was decided that the land was not absolutely parted with by the negotiations with Co'onil Wakefield, Mr Kemp, and Mr Mantell, that the deeds were deceitful, and that the Maoris were beguiled into selling the land. After much discussion it was proposed by Hoki Kerei Tatkoa— "1. That a collecti.-n should be made to contest the validity of the purchase deeds of 1544, IS4S, and IS[>3. 2. That one or more Maoris should bo sent to England with a luvyer to petition the Queen and Parliament for justice." Carried unanimously. Teom Ton Patcki proposed—"That, in the fist-place, the sum of five thousand pounds be raised for the purpose, and if that should be consumed before the matter is settled, another five thousand pounds should be collected." Carried. Henerjj Mahcika, of Kaiapoi, proposed— "That the Maories who go to England shall be paid one guinea a day in New Zealand, whilst engaged in this work ; and two pounds three shillings a day in England ; that the Chairman arrange with the lawyers, and that the passages of all, both ways, be paid by the tribe." Carried.