Maori Deeds of Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand: Volume One

[Declaration of John William Richard Guilding]

[Declaration of John William Richard Guilding]

Declaration of J. W. R. Guilding.

I,

John William Richard Guilding

, of Shortland, in the Province of Auckland, Colony of New Zealand, a duly licensed Interpreter, do hereby solemnly and sincerly declare—
1. That I was present, together with John Elliers Dodd, of Shortland aforesaid, solicitor, a male adult, and did see Tu Karamaene, Reihana Poto and Weka Toheriri, mentioned and described in the within-written Deed, duly sign and execute the same in my presence and in the presence of the said John Elliers Dodd.
2. That the signatures "Tu Karamaene, "Reihana Poto, and Weka Toheriri to the said deed subscribed are of the respective proper handwriting of the said Tu Karamaene, Reihana Poto, and Weka Toheriri.
3. That I was present with Dudley Robert Eyre, of Shortland aforesaid, Surveyor, and did see Hone Ropiha in the within-written deed mentioned duly sign and execute the same in my presence and in the presence of the said Dudley Eyre.
4. That the signature "Hone Ropiha" to the said deed subscribed is of the proper handwriting of the said Hone Ropiha.
5. That I was present with the said Dudley Robert Eyre, and did see Miriama Pehi Pukukauri, mentioned and described in the within-written deed, duly execute and sign the same by adhibiting her mark or cross thereto, she being an illiterate person.
6. That the mark or cross "x," set opposite to the name of the said Miriama Pehi Pukukauri on the said deed, was made by her in my presence, and in the presence of the said Dudley Eyre.
7. That the signatures J. W. R. Guilding, J. E. Dodd, and Dudley Robert Eyre, to the said deed subscribed as those of the attesting witnesses to the due execution thereof by the said persons hereinbefore mentioned, parties to the said deed, are of the respective proper handwriting of the said John Elliers Dodd, Dudley Robert Eyre, and of me this declarant.
8. That immediately before the execution of the said deed by the said parties I did Interpret the same to them and each of them, and that my translation was correct, and was understood by all of them. And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of "The Native Lands Act,1865," "The Native Lands Act, 1867," "The Native Lands Act Amendment Act, 1868," " The Native, Lands Act, 1869," "The Native Lands Act Amendment Act, 1870," and "The Justices of the Peace Act, 1866."

J. W. R. Guilding.

Made and declared at Shortland, in the Province of Auckland, Colony of New Zealand, the twenty-fifth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and seventythree, Before me—

E. W. Puckey,
One of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand.