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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 32

[George William White declaration]

I, George William White, of Mercury. Bay, in the Province of Auckland, in the Colony of New Zealand, freeholder, do solemnly and sincerely declare that I believe the document hereunto attached, [unclear: and moder with the later.] page 17 thereto, to be a true copy of the original Deed executed by Koenaki and other Native Chiefs of New Zealand, in favour of Mr. William Eppes Cormack, on the 31st December, 1839. That the sale, transfer, and consideration, as therein expressed, constituted as fair, open, and bona fide and honourable transaction of business, as ever was effected between buyers and sellers.

That there was not any intoxicating liquor given to the natives to induce them to sign away their land, as has frequently been resorted to by agents and others since that time.

That the sale was purely voluntary on the part of the said Native Chief and others; that they were perfectly aware of the Deed and the extent of the tract of land alienated thereby, the boundary marks being well known and defined among them.

That the said Native Chief, Koenaki and others were perfectly satisfied with the consideration then delivered in my presence, for the said tract of land, which was ample at the time, and much prized and coveted in New Zealand, whereas the land, of which they entirely extinguished the the Native title, was comparatively useless to them. That money was at the lime utterly valueless to the natives of New Zealand. That I was well acquainted with the said William Eppes Cormack, and with his land transactions in New Zealand, and he informed me at the time, that the money which paid for the goods given in consideration for the land, described in the said copy of the original deed, came from Arthur Willis, or Willis' House, and I make this solemn declaration, conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand, entitled "The Justices of the Peace Act, 1866."

(Signed)

G. W. White.

Made and declared at Nercury Bay, this 24th day of February, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, by me, Robert Wegmore, J.P., a Justice of the Peace for New Zealand.