SECOND TRANSFER OF LAND IN NEW ZEALAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3593, 23 January 1923, Page 5

SECOND TRANSFER OF LAND IN NEW ZEALAND

INTERESTING DOCUMENT IN HOCKEN LIBRARY. It is over ICO years ago since the second transfer of land in Now Zealand was made. The transfer was from Chief Ilongi to the 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 48 felling axes. The original deed bearing Hongi’s “Mako” (tatoo design) is now in the Hocken collection. Mr Marsden hoped that the land would grow sufficient crops to support the whole mission, but in this he was disappointed, and in 1824, when Mr Davis, a practical farmer, arrived, he reported that the land was not suitable for wheat-growing, the crop of six acres hardly yielding more than the seed sown. Later the land was divided amongst the children of the missionaries—Messrs Clarke, Davis, Kemp, Hamlin, Shepherd, and Baker —and was known as the Children's land. Mr Kemp bought the other shares up and sold the block to Mr Williams, and he sold it to its present owner, Mr Riddell. It is interesting to note that Kerikeri was named Gloucestertown by the missionaries, but the old Maori name has luckilf survived. The first transfer of land was a piece at Oihi, where now the Marsden memorial stands. ANOTHER LAND DEAL. Mr George Church, the local antiquarian, supplies the Observer with the following translation of a land deal with the Maoris, signed, sealed, and delivered on July 29, 1841:--[Translation.] Province of Auckland, October 20, 1840. Listen all people to this book written by Kawau Tinana Tamaki, and other chiefs of the (tribe) Ngatiwhatua on the one side, by George Clark, Protector of the Maoris for the Queen of England, on the other side. They have consented to give up to sell a portion of land to the Queen of England for ever and ever. The Boundary of the said piece of land we have now soid is this—the Boundary to the North is the River of the Waitemata, from the river named Mataharehare reaching the river called Opou and from the extremity of the Opou in a straight line to Mangawhau up to the rise or extremity of Mataharehare up to the river of Waitemata. The extent of this piece of land is this: Three thousand (3000 acres) more or less. The payment of the said land is this: Fifty (50) blankets; fifty (£SO) pounds; twenty (20) trousers; twenty (20) shirts; ten (10) waistcoets; ten (10) caps; four (4) of tobacco; one (1) box of pipes; one hundred (100) yards of gown pieces; ten (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 the 20th day of October, in the year 1840 of our Lord. Signed: The Mark of Kawau. The Mark of Tinana. Ko Te Reweti Tamaki. Ko Te Tohu X O Te 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. -Th. Northlander.