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Star (Christchurch), Issue 19267, 2 January 1931, Page 10

In mediaeval times feudal lords often found it necessary to part with portions Of their estates so far as all receipt of rent was concerned, but to reserve to themselves the many other advantages pertaining to the vassalage of the people living upon them.. The simplest way of accomplishing this was to grant a perpetual lease of the land at a mere nominal rent. . Generally, the nominal rent was a kind likely to impress itself upon the attention of all parties concerned. For this reason the rental of a pepper-corn was chosen, because when it was first adopted pepper-corns were curiosities.