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
The Definite Areas Granted
The Definite Areas Granted.
The following letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin, defines the grants made:
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Sketch map showing the Native Reserve and the grants to Willsher and Russell. Russell's grant was sections 1 and 2 of VII, while Willsher's comprised the small sections at the mouth of the Karoro Creek.
“I have been able to trace grants of land to Messrs. George Willsher and Thomas Russell as follows:—
George Willsher.—A search shows that the above–named selected an area of 20 acres at Willsher Bay, the grant being dated 10th February, 1854. The area was later numbered as Section 16, Block VII, South Molyneux S.D. Some years later the section was subdivided as follows:—
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1 of 16, area 1:1:30p.
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2 of 16, area 3:0:33p.
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3 of 16, area 6:3:27p.
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4 of 16, area 3:3:30p.
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Road, area 2:0:22p.
In 1902 Sections 1, 3 and 4 of 16 were acquired by His Majesty the King, and they now comprise the Willsher Bay Domain.
Thomas Russell.—The records in this office show that the above–named selected Sections 1 and 2, Block VII, South Molyneux, area 103:1:07p. The grant was dated 1867.
I have been unable to trace any grants to either William Bessant or Robert Conning.”
We know, of course, that Bessant and Conning left after a few months, and there is some grounds for believing that Bessant, the writer of the letter on page 11, was killed by natives in the South Sea Islands in 1841.