The Hon. the Surveyor-General to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary.
Surveyor-General's Office,
12th September, 1843.Sir,—
I beg leave to forward a letter from the Ngati Whatua tribe at Orakei respecting the land between Mataharehare and Orakei Bays, which they state they did not intend to include in the purchase effected by Mr. Clarke for the Crown. The subject having been recently brought before the notice of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor in an interview with these Natives, they were told that any communications they might wish to make to Mr. Clarke should be forwarded for them, but that in the opinion of His Excellency they had failed in establishing their claim, as the land was included in the boundaries of the deed of sale signed by them; and that they should have brought their claim forward some years ago when they saw the land surveyed and laid off in small portions for sale, or when they saw the Europeans taking possession of it by fencing and building thereon.
I have, &c.,
C. W. W. Ligar, Surveyor-General.
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, &c., &c., &c.