Commissioner's Report.
In the Court of Claims.
1861. 14 September.Waiheke Island (Opako). In the Matter of the Claim of John Logan Campbell under Pre-emption
Certificate No. 76.
J. L. Campbell.On the 20th November, 1844, Brown and Campbell applied to the
Governor for the waiver of Pre-emption over a piece of land at Opako Bay, in the
Island of Waiheke, between the points Oruaiti and Opuki. The Governor consented on
the 3rd December, 1844, and the Pre-emption Certificate No. 76 was issued on the
5th December.
The claim was disallowed by Governor Grey upon the advice of the
Attorney-General, and the disallowance was published in the New
Zealand Gazette of 10th April, 1848. A correspondence subsequently took
place between Messrs. Brown and Campbell with a view to obtaining a reversal of
the disallowance, but without success.
Payment made. In January, 1857, Mr. Bartley, on behalf of Brown and Campbell, put in a
statement showing that the payment to the Natives had been a Boat, value £30, Cash
£8, and two bales canvas £5, total £43; and that the chief Ruinga, when selling a
block of land to the Government at Waiheke, reserved the piece of land comprised
in this claim as having been sold to Brown and Campbell. In this statement the
grant was requested to be issued in the name of John Logan Campbell.
The Native Deed is dated 20th November, 1844, and is signed by Ruinga Kahukoti,
Te Rangi, Ngakete, and Taiko; or rather it is not a deed but a statement that they
desired to sell the land, and asking the approval of Government. The Government
Plan of Waiheke shows the position of the land in the claim, which has been
surveyed, [67 acres.] 67 acres. On the 30th June, 1859, the formal notification of the claim was
filed by John Logan Campbell.
It is hereby directed that a Grant be issued to John Logan Campbell for
sixty-seven acres at Opako Bay, Island of Waiheke, on payment of the sum of £8 7s.
6d., being at the rate of two shillings and sixpence per acre.
(l.s.) F. D. Bell, L.C.C.
Auckland, 14th
September, 1861.
No. 76.P.C. A True Copy of Original Deed and Commissioner's Report.
H. Hanson Turton.
Wellington,29th July, 1880.