SECOND TRANSFER OF LAND IN NEW ZEALAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18764, 18 January 1923, Page 4

SECOND TRANSFER OF LAND IN NEW ZEALAND

<f . INTERESTING DOCUMENT IN HOCKEN LIBRARY. It 13 over ICO years ago since the second transfer of land in Now Zealand was made. The transfer was from Chief Hongi to tlia Church Missionary Society, and the land concerned was at Kerikeri. The Rev. Samuel Marsden walked over the block, and estimated it at 13,000 acres, but on subsequent measurement it was found to contain only 5350 acres. The price paid was 43 felling axes. The original deed bearing ...Hongi's "Mako" (tatoo design) is now in the Hockcn collection. Mr .Mai'sden hoped that tho land would grow sufficient crops to support the wholo mission, but in ' this he was disappointed, and in 1824, when Mr Davis, a practical larmer, arrived, ho reported that the land was not suitable for wheat-growing, the crop of six acres hardly yielding more than tho seed sown. Later tho land was divided amongst the children of tho missionaries—Messrs Clarke, Davis, Kemp, Hamlin, Shepherd; and Baker—and was known as the Children'3 land. Mr Kemp bought the other shares up and sold tho block to Mr Williams, and he sold it to its present owner, Mr Riddoll. It is interesting to note that Kerikeri was named Gloucestertown by the missionaries, but the old Maori name has luckily survived. Tho first transfer of land was a pieco at Oihi, where now the Marsden memorial stands. ANOTHER LAND DEAL. Mr Georgo Church, tho local antiquarian, supplies the Observer with the following translation of a land deal with the Maoris, signed, sealod, and delivered on July 29, 1341: [Translation.] Province of Auckland, October 20, 1840. Listen all people to this book written by Kawau Tinana Tamaki, and other chiefs of tho (tribe) Ngatiwhatua on the one side, by Goorgo Clark, Protector of tho Maoris for th<» Queen of England, on tho other side. Thoy have consented to give up to sell a portion of land to the Queen of England for ever and ever. The Boundary of tho said picco of land we have now sold is this —tho Boundary to the North is the River of tho Waitemata, from the river named Mataharehare reaching the river called Opou and from tho extremity of tho Opou in a straight line to Mangawhau up to the rise or extremity of Mataliureharo up to the river of Waitemata. The extent of this pieco of land is this: Thieo thousand (5000 acres) moro or less. Tho payment of tho said land is this: Fifty (50) blunkets; fifty (£SO) pounds; twenty (20) trousers; twenty (20) shirls; ten (10) waislcoms; ten (10) caps; lour (4) of tobacco; one (1) box of pipes: one hundred (100) yards of gown pieces; ton (10) iron pots; one (1) bag of sugar; one (1) bag of flour; twenty (20) hatchets. (Receipt for £SO and Goods.) This writing with our signatures in this Book is true, signed by us-on tho 20th day of October, in the year 1840 of our Lord. Signed: Tho Mark of Kawau. Tho Mark of Tinana. Ko T<; Reweti Tamaki. Ko Te Tohu X O To Horo. (Signed) G. Clark, P.A. (Receipt for £6.) I have received six pounds (£6) in money in addition to the money named above from Captain Symonds. Witnesses: Edward Shortland. J. Coates. 29th July, 1841. —The Northlander.