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

No. 17. — The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to the Chief Protector

No. 17.
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary to the Chief Protector.

Auckland.—Land purchase arrangements. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 29th December, 1842.

Sir,—

Referring to my letter of the 25th ultimo, No. 85, in which you were informed that, from and after the 31st instant, you will be relieved of that part of your duties which is connected with the purchase of land from the Aborigines, I am now commanded by the Officer Administering the Government to acquaint you that His Excellency purposes making the following arrangements for the transaction of affairs of this nature with the Natives:—

Such lands as may be from time to time required for the purposes of colonization will be reported and recommended by the Surveyor-General for purchase.

These recommendations will be referred to you for your report on the two following points:—

Whether the Natives are disposed to sell the land, and

What reserves you consider necessary to be made for their benefit out of such land.

On the recommendation of the Surveyor-General, and your report being approved, a notice will be published in the Maori Gazette, intimating that such land has been offered for sale by such parties, and calling on all other Natives who have claims thereon to send in a statement of the same by a given period; after the expiration of which, the Natives who have offered the land for sale will, provided no counter claim be substantiated in the interim, be considered the lawful and sole owners of the land, and will be treated with accordingly.

The agent will then be despatched, accompanied by a surveyor, to treat with the owners of the soil on the spot, and these two officers together will furnish the following information:—

A plan shewing the extent, boundaries, and quality of the land, and the estimated number of acres. This plan will also describe any river or particular feature of the country.

An agreement signed by the parties, stating the amount demanded and the time of payment. If barter be required, the document should contain also the value in money of each article.

On the confirmation by the Governor of these preliminaries, the purchase is to be immediately completed, and the signed deed forwarded to the Surveyor-General, in order that the land therein contained may be inserted in the map of the district, county, or parish, as the case may be; and also in a general map of New Zealand, on which all the lands purchased from the Aborigines will be shown, of which copies will be periodically forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

In conclusion, I am directed to say that in cases of long-existing feuds, arising from lands, the ownership of which is disputed by two tribes, it will still be within your province to recommend for purchase by the Government the lands in dispute, as a means of setting at rest such contentions; and it will be equally part of your duty to forward to Government any applications you may receive from the Aborigines on the subject of the sale of land, which will always receive due consideration from His Excellency.

I have, &c.,

William Connell, (For the Colonial Secretary).

The Chief Protector of Aborigines.