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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

Lands Sold and Price Paid

Lands Sold and Price Paid.

A search of the records available in the Lands Department in New Zealand discloses the nearest we can get to the facts.

The original deed of sale is not included in the New Zealand records, but may be in existence in Sydney. Bearing in mind that there were no typewriters in 1840; that the New Zealand copy is a hand–written copy of the original; and that in some parts the papers are torn—bearing all these things in mind, the following facts emerge:—

The seller was “John Toawack.” The purchaser was “Thomas Jones, of Sydney, merchant.”

The land was “a tract of land … adjoining by Molyneux Harbour or Bay”; and the boundaries were described as “from the commencement of Point Tuguttar in Molyneux Bay extending in a South–westerly direction as far as Port Owarker Lower, which adjoins Mr. Edward Cattlin's purchase, and land extending ten miles on each side of Mataw River which disembogues itself into Molyneux Bay and running back twenty miles into the interior, thus forming a tract of land four hundred miles square.” (Really twenty miles square, or four hundred square miles.)

The date was “the seventh day of January, 1840.”

The purchase price was “thirty pounds sterling money of Great Britain, and other goods.” It appears that these other goods were of the value of £13 9s, according to Sydney prices. This is a total of £43 9s. There is also mention of a £20 annuity to John Tohowick, but there is apparently no documentary evidence that an annuity was paid.