A GREAT GIFT

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 116, 11 May 1932, Page 8

A GREAT GIFT

By Governor-General HISTORIC WAITANGI PRESENTED TO THE NATION (Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, Lust Night. New Zealand’s most historical spot, Waitangi, where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, together with 1000 acres of land belonging to the estate whereof it forms part, has been purchased by Lord and Lady Bledisloe and presented to the nation. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed 92 years ago by Governor Hobson, on behalf of Queen Victoria, and by leading Maori chiefs.. It not only established British sovereignty in New Zealand, but safeguarded for all time the rights and privileges of the Alaori race.

The property includes the old British residency, and will be administered by a national trust, of which Lord and Lady Bledisloe arc members. It is hoped to restore the residency building which has fallen into disrepair.

In a letter to the Premier Lord Bledisloe says. ‘CI trust the gift may be accepted as a humble token of our sincere appreciation of the friendly kindness we have everywhere experienced from all classes of warm-hearted New Zealand people since it has been our happy lot to sojourn amongst them.” Tho members of the trust board arc Lord and Lady Bledisloe, the Prime Minister, tho Minister in charge of Scenery Preservation, the Minister of Native Affairs, a member of tho family of Archdeacon Henry Williams (at first Mr K. S. Williams, ALP.), a member of the Hoke or Kawhiti, or Waaka None, or Pomare family as signatories of tho treaty (one of each description), the Northern Alaori members of Parliament (at first Air Tan Henare, M.P.). one member of a Maori tribe outside North Auckland, one representative of the Bay of Islands residents (at first AIT Vernon Rood), one representative of the South Island cither British or Maori (nt first Sir Heaton Rhodes), a representative of the family of Edward Gibbon Wakefield (at first Sir Francis Boll) ami the Rt. Hon. .T. G. Coates.