MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1940, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

LAND CLAIMS. (Recorded by J.H.S., of Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.”) Official correspondence between the Governor and the Archdeacon led to a personal difference in which each party unconsciously discoloured the argument in favour of his own plea. Sir George blamed unjust missionary land purchases for the war; the Archdeacon said the accusation was unjust, and quoted the utter surprise with which it was received by the colonists as a proof of this.

At an early date it was admitted by many observers that a few of the early members of the church mission had unwisely indulged in land sharking. From a statement of the claims made by certain church members of various denominations between the years 1814 and 1837, it will be seen that many honoured names, including those of Maunsell, Ashwell. Chapman. Morgan, Colenso and other early missionaries, resisted the worldly temptation.

According to Parliamentary papers of 1838, and the New Zealand Gazette of 1349, the claims made, by the missionaries and catechists with the relative acreage awarded by the Government Commission, was as follows: —Rev. R. Taylor, acres claimed 50,000, acres awarded 1704; Rev. H. Williams, 22,000, 9000; Mr C. Baker, 6242, 2560; Mr G. Clarke, 19.000. 5500; Mr R. Davis, 6600, 3500; Mr W. T. Fairburn, 20,000, 2560; Missionary Society, 11,665, nil; missionary families, 6200, 3100. Including 15 other churchmen, the total claimed was 216.753 acres, and the total awarded 66,713 acres.