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An Epitome of Official Documents Relative to Native Affairs and Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand

[No. 2.]

No. 2.

The Chief Commissioner to His Excellency the Governor.

Cormandel and Thames.—General Report. Native Land Purchase Department, Auckland, 5th June, 1857.

Sir,—

I have the honor to report, for your Excellency's information, the result of my late visit to the Thames and Cormandel Harbour Districts.

1.After leaving Auckland, I proceeded to the Thames, where I had a conference with the Ngatipaoa tribes respecting the purchase of the Piako district. The Ngatipaoa chiefs followed me in their canoes to Pukorokoro (a small river to the west of the Piako), where I found Mr. Drummond Hay and a party of Natives. I held a meeting with the whole of the claimants, who agreed to proceed with Mr. Hay to point out the boundaries of their land and settle their conflicting claims and differences respecting such portions as were claimed by other tribes. This being completed, Mr. Hay was instructed (a copy of which is herewith enclosed) to furnish a plan of the district about to be ceded—estimated at about 140,000 acres—and a date was to be fixed on which all the claimants should be assembled at Auckland to effect a final settlement of that long-pending question.
2.From Pukorokoro I proceeded up the Thames in the expectation of meeting Taraia, who had left there some days previously; consequently I have not been able to see him in reference to the purchase of some land he offered to the Government in the Coromandel district near Cape Colville.
3.From the Thames I cams back to Waiheke for the Chief Puhata, who has offered to give up a space of land containing about Four or five square miles for the purpose of gold digging, which offer may be availed of by the Government, if necessary, although I conceive it would be more prudent to discourage the search for gold until negotiations connected with the purchase are more matured.

There is, at present, a general indisposition on the part of the Natives to alienate their lands at Coromandel Harbour; and with the exception of the unsold portions at Mercury Island and a few small blocks on the main, there is nothing else open for immediate purchase in that district. These places they offer should be purchased as a means of leading to more extensive sales; but this must be done with caution, for if the Natives find an eagerness on the part of the Government to acquire their land, the opposition of the Natives to sell will increase in the same proportion as the eagerness of the Government to purchase is manifested. As far as I can ascertain, it is not so much a question of price that will weigh with them in this matter as a national feeling which prevails among many of the New Zealand tribes by which they enter into leagues and confederations against the sale of their country. Moreover, at Coromandel they are apprehensive that the discovery of gold in any quantity would lead to such an influx of disorderly Europeans as might annihilate or exterminate them.

Under all the circumstances, I did not deem it prudent to press negotiations during my stay, considering it more advisable to acquire information and disabuse the Natives of some of the fears they entertained, and to lead them to a more favourable consideration of the question.

In furthering this object, the Government would be very much aided by securing the services of Mr. Preece, who has been resident in the Coromandel as a missionary for the last twenty six years, having lived the greater portion of the time in the Thames District. Mr. Preece is now retired from the mission service. He is thoroughly acquainted with all the tribes, and knows the extent and general position of their claims. I would, therefore, recommend that he should be employed to carry on preliminary negotiations for such lands in the Coromandel District, where he is residing, as the Natives may from time to time be disposed to alienate, and that, in the meantime, until the work accumulates, he should receive pay at the rate of £100 per annum.

I have, &c.,

Donald McLean,
Native Secretary.

His Excellency the Governor.

page 300

Enclosure.
The Chief Commissioner to Mr. Drummond Hay.

Schooner "Tere," Taupo, 13th May, 1857.

Sir,—

I have had a consultation with Takurua, Hoera, Te Poihipi, and other chiefs at Taupo, respecting a settlement of their Piako claims, and have advised that they should point out to you the external boundaries of their claim, so as to prevent any future questions or encroachments by the Ngatipaoa or other tribes on the Ngatipaoa boundary; when the external boundaries are clearly marked off, it does not appear to me that it will be necessary to enter upon a subdivision of their own internal tribal claims, as this can be arrived at with sufficient accuracy for all the purposes of this Department without incurring the loss of time, delay, and expense of such a subdivision.

When you have completed this duty, you will furnish a map of the several large blocks you survey, and of such reserves, if any, beyond a swampy place called, which the late chief Hauauru wished to retain for eel fishing.

I intended to go on to Piako to see how the work on which you are employed was progressing, but find that it is needless now for me to do so, as you have not yet reached that place.

The Government feel anxious that this long pending question should be brought to a speedy and satisfactory termination, as otherwise the time and money expended upon it will amount to more than the land is worth after its acquisition.

I shall be in the vicinity of the Thames and Coromandel Harbour for some weeks, if you have any reference to make to me respecting the work on which you are engaged.

I have, &c.,

Donald McLean,
Chief Commissioner.

G. W, Drummond Hay, Esq., &c., &c., Thames.