MAORI MEMORIES.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1938, Page 8

MAORI MEMORIES.

<> LAND SHARKS. (Recorded by “J.H.S.” for “Times-Age”) To the newcomers, land in New Zealand was like gold to the early Spaniards in Mexico. Out of the scramble there was evolved the “land sharks,” who took advantage of the child-like Maori in all matters of selling or buying, value or money. The practice, however, was not confined to those who were known by that name. A few missionaries, an eminent lawyer, and even the British Official Resident, were deeply involved. When Captain Hobson arrived here, nearly half of New Zealand was claimed to have been purchased thus:— 1815 to 1829 1,016,000 acres 1830 to 1838 960,000 acres In 1839 12,000,000 acres In 1840 12,000,000 acres N.Z. Co. 1839 20,000,000 acres Total 45,976,000 acres Captain Hobson put an end to this unholy traffic, when the price paid up to 1824 was shown to be 6d per acre; 1829, 8d; 1835, Is 6d; 1839, 6s. A Government commission disclosed the secret bargains between the guilty ones and their victims, blank deeds of elaborately engrossed conveyances in English were sold to these land grabbers at £5 each, without any attempt to interpret them; boundaries were inserted after the Maori ripaka (cross) was made, land was sold for powder, bullets, guns, pots, nails, pipes, jew's harps, etc. In one case a bright brass farthing was paid for 100 acres. The commission in England found that the N.Z. Company had spent £250,000, and were, therefore, awarded less than 1,000,000 acres in place of half New Zealand claimed by them. Their decision was based upon a valuation of 5s per acre.