Laying Out the Township.

According to Colonel Porter, Turanganui No. 2 was not then considered quite a suitable spot for the town. It was really desired that the town should be founded on the Kaiti side, but its ownership was in serious dispute as between Riperata Kahutia and her people and Hirini Te Kani and his people. Otherwise Gisborne might have been founded on the other side of the stream.

In 1870 the town was surveyed and was found to contain approximately 1200 acres. It was the late Mr. Munro who surveyed the town and laid it out, and the land was offered by auction, the upset prices being very low in February, 1873.