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Port Molyneux : the story of Maori and pakeha in South Otago : a centennial history : commemorating the landing of George Willsher and his companions at Willsher Bay, June 28, 1840 : with a programme for the unveiling of the centennial cairn, erected by the Clutha County Council, June 28, 1940

A Land Boom in Sydney

A Land Boom in Sydney

During the closing years of the “eighteen–thirties” a boom in New Zealand lands raged in Sydney. The decision by the New South Wales Governor to finalise the Treaty of Wiatangi in 1840 added fuel to the flame. This land fever has been described as “sharking” or “grabbing,” and “bona fide speculation.” Old official records state:—

“Almost every captain of a ship arriving at Sydney from New Zealand exhibited a piece of paper with a tattooed Native head rudely drawn on it, which he described as the title deed of an estate bought for a few muskets, hatchets or blankets… Other captains were supplied in Sydney with blank ‘Deeds of Feoffment’ for use in these purchases… Among other claimants to land in the Southern portion of the Colony, Mr. Wentworth asserted his right to 20,100,000 acres in the Middle Island; Catlin & Co., 7,000,000; Weller & Co., 3,557,000; Jones & Co., 1,930,000; Peacock & Co., 1,450,000; Green & Co., 1,377,000; Guard & Co., 1,200,000; and the New Zealand Company to 20,000,000 acres… One Company, consisting of four page 16 gentlemen, claimed the Middle Island, excepting all previously sold, in consideration of giving the Chiefs a few hundred pounds in money and a life annuity of £100 per annum.”

In most of these deals an old Port Molyneux boy, Tuhawaiki, the greatest of all South Island land salesmen, played a prominent part.

Sir George Gipps, then Governor of New South Wales, put a damper on these proceedings by issuing a proclamation prohibiting all future purchases of land from Natives and appointing commissioners to investigate all purchases previously made. “Sufficient payment” was fixed at varying rates: Between 1815 and 1824, 6d per acre; 1835 and 1836, 1s to 2s per acre; 1839, 4s to 8s per acre.

As the amount of cash in each purchase had been small, grants for only very small areas were authorised.