CURIOUS OLD LAND PURCHASES.

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 49, 20 August 1881, Page 566

CURIOUS OLD LAND PURCHASES.

Some curious stories are often related of the easy terms upon which enormous tracts of country were obtained from the Maoris in the early days. An idea prevails that among those who took advantage of the native simplicity the missionaries were the biggest sinners, and there is a tradition extant of a missionaiy in the North, who got for a bundle of tracts as much Land as he could see from the summit of a considerable eminence, on the pretence that the ground -was wanted as sites for churches and schools. Whether or not the story must be regarded as apochryphai we do not pretend to say, but certain it is that in the first years of settlement the Maoris set small value on their lands, and were induced to part Avith extensive tracts for the merest bagatelles. In the year 1842, during the Governorship of Captain Hobson, an attempt was made by the Government to investigate all the early land purchases, "with a view to confirming by a Crown title those that were shown to be legitimate and indisputable, or setting aside those that had been dishonestlynegotiated. Europeans were invited to send in claims on account of alleged purchases, and particulars of the claims were published in the Gazettes. From these we have selected the most singular claims. In many cases the consideration given by the purchasers is not specified, or is set down as " merchandise, value not stated." William Partridge, 200 acres at Whangaroa ; consideration, 2 blankets. B. Turner, allotment at Kororareka — 28 yards of print. P. Hodginson, Sydney, 2 roods, 37 perches, Kororareka ; consideration, 4 guns. Wesleyan Church Mission Society, 50 acres, Whangaroa ; 2 blankets, 3 red cloaks, and 15 axes. Church Mission Society, 15 acres, Whangaroa ; 15 axes. Same, 2 acres, Pararoa; 1 fowling pieces, and 2 pair blankets. C. J. Crof ton, Sydney, on behalf of the estate of Thomas Mitchell, claim at Hokianga, piece of land about two miles square ; consideration, 4 cases tobacco, 4 pairs blankets, 6 muskets, and 2 iron pots. John Lander, 150 acres at Whangaroa; 6lbs. tobacco, 4 blankets, and £6 in money. Ranulp Dacre, Sydney, 20,000 acres ; goods to value of £87. Ditto, piece of land at Underwood's Harbour, called "Tom Kain's Bay," taking in a range of mountains and the whole water frontage; 1 cask of powder, and 1 cask of tobacco. David Mackay, 14, 000 acres at Kororareka (Russell) ; 1 double-barrelled gun, and quantity of tobacco of the value of about £6 17s. Christopher Harris, 5000 acres, more or less, being all that portion of laiid situate on the son tli side of the River Motukaraka ; Five Shillings ! James Stack, Tauranga, 300 acres on the banks of the River Awaroa, known as Poetawa ; consideration, 2 spades. Hugh McLiver, 2000 acres, Whangaroa ; £10, and 1000 acres £14., Joseph Matthews, 1500 acres, Whangaroa ; £20. T. H. Ford, Bay of Islands, 2000 acres at Doubtless Bay ; £5 and a mare. W. C. Puckey, 100 acres, Okinaiti ; £3. H. It. Oakes, 300 acres, Hokianga ; 1 mare. W. D. Brand, Bay of Islands, 300 acres River Thames ; 2 double-barrelled guns and 2 blankets. Rer. John King, 80 acres, north side Bay of Islands ; 12 axes. Rev. John King, 10 acres, Bay of Islands ; 1 case hoes, spades, scissors, knives, and fishhooks. We find by reference to subsequent issues of the Gazettes of those times that the majority of these claims were recognised, and that in some cases, where the nature of the "merchandise " was not specified, it consisted of rum, gunpowder, and arms. The Maoris in this generation are wiser than their fathers. The Patetere Company have been obliged to pay as much as 2s an acre for their land. Like the old land buyers, however, they gave principally "merchandise" in ' the form of food and spirits. The reason they did not buy iae land with guns and powder was that the " Arms Act" rendered it illegal.