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Wellington District Deeds - No. 1 Port Nicholson Block (Original Purchase)

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Digitisation source


A number of North Island purchase deeds were reproduced in Māori Deeds of Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand — two volumes, by H Hanson Turton, in 1878. These are commonly called Turton's Deeds, and those that relate to Te Whanganui-a-Tara are what we've represented in text form in the Deeds pages on this website. Original source:

An Epitome of Official Documents Relative to Native Affairs and Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand, compiled and edited by H. Hanson Turton. Maori Deeds of Land Purchases in the North Island of New Zealand. Vol. II, Provinces of Taranaki, Wellington, and Hawke's Bay. [1878]

You can also find Turton's Deeds with original scanned pages on the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection.

Content note:

Compiles two documents — the 1839 Port Nicholson Block Deed, and the 1844 'deed of release'. For further context around these documents we refer you to WAI 145 (start with Chapters 3 and 8 which relate directly to the documents below).

Deeds — No. 1.


PORT NICHOLSON BLOCK (ORIGINAL PURCHASE), WELLINGTON DISTRICT

Tenth part to be allotted as Native reserves

KNOW ALL men by these Presents that we the undersigned Chiefs of the Harbour and the Lands tenements, Woods, Bays, Harbours, Rivers, Streams and Creeks within certain boundaries as shall be truly detailed in this Deed or Instrument.

Be it therefore known unto all men that, We the Chiefs whose names we signed to this Deed or Instrument, have this day sold and parted with all Right Title and interest in all the said Lands, Tenements, Woods, Hays, Harbours, Rivers, Streams and Creeks as shall be hereafter described unto William Wakefield Esquire in trust for the Governors, Directors and Shareholders of the New Zealand Land Company of London, their Heirs, Administrator, and Assigns for ever, in Consideration of having received as a full and just payment for the same One hundred red blankets, one hundred and twenty muskets, two tierces of tobacco, forty eight iron pots, two cases of soap, fifteen fowling pieces, twenty one kegs of gunpowder, one cask of ball cartridges, one keg of lead slabs, one hundred cartouche boxes, one hundred tomahawks, forty pipe-tomahawks, one case of pipes, two dozen spades, fifty steel axes, twelve hundred fish hooks, twelve bullet moulds twelve dozen shirts; twenty jackets, twenty pairs of trousers, sixty red night caps, three hundred yards of cotton duck, two hundred yards of calico, one hundred yards of check, twenty dozen pocket handkerchiefs, two dozen slates and two hundred pencils, ten dozen looking glasses, ten dozen pocket knives, ten dozen pairs of scissors, one dozen pairs of shoes, one dozen umbrellas, one dozen hats, two pounds of beads, one hundred yards of ribbon one gross of Jews' harps, one dozen razors, ten dozen dressing combs, six dozen hoes, two suits of superfine clothes, one dozen shaving boxes and brushes, twenty muskets, two dozen adzes and one dozen sticks of sealing wax, which we the aforesaid chiefs do hereby acknowledge to have been received by us from the aforesaid William Wakefield

And in order to prevent any dispute or misunderstanding and to guarantee more strongly unto the said William Wakefield, his executors and administrators in trust for the said Governors Directors, and Shareholders of the New Zealand Land Company of London, their Heirs, Administrators and Assigns for ever, true and undisputed possession of the said Lands, Tenements, Woods, Bays, Harbours, Rivers, Streams and Creeks, We the undersigned Chiefs for ourselves, our Heirs, Administrators and Assigns for ever, do hereby agree and bind ourselves individually and collectively to the Description following which constitutes the Boundaries of the said Lands, Tenements, Woods, Bays, Harbours, Rivers Streams and Creeks now sold by us the Undersigned Chiefs to the said William Wakefield in trust for the said Governors Directors and Shareholders of the New Zealand Land Company of London, this twenty seventh day of September in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty nine, that is to say: -

The whole of the Bay, Harbour, and District Boundaries of Wanga Nui Atera, commonly called Port Nicholson situate on the North Eastern side of Cook's Straits New Zealand. The summit of the range of mountains known by the name of Turakirai from the point where the said range strikes the sea in Cook's Straits, outside the Eastern headland of the said Bay and Harbour of Wanga Nui Atera or Port Nicholson, along this summit of the said range called Turakirai at the distance of about twelve English miles, more or lose, from the low water mark on the Eastern shore of the said Bay or harbour of Wanga Nui Atera or Port Nicholson until the foot of the high range of mountains; called Tararua, situate about forty English miles, more or less from the sandy beach at the North Eastern extremity of the said Bay or Harbour of Wanga Nui Atera or Port Nicholson, is the Eastern boundary of the said Lands, Tenements, Woods, Bays, Harbours, Rivers, Streams and Creeks. From the point where the Eastern boundary strikes the foot of the aforesaid Tararua range of mountains along the foot of the said Tararua range until the point where the range of mountains called Rimarap strikes the foot of the said Tararua range, is the North Eastern boundary of the said Lands, Tenements, Woods, Bays, Bays, Harbours Rivers Streams and Creeks. From the said point where the Rimarap range of mountains strikes the foot of the Tararua Range, along the summit of the said Rimarap range of mountains, at a distance of about twelve English miles, more or less, from the low water mark on the Western shore of the said Bay or Harbour of Wanga Nui Atera or Port Nicholson until the point where the Rimarap range strikes the sea in Cook's Straits outside the Western headland of the said Bay of Wanga Nui Atera or Port Nicholson is the Western boundary of the said Lands, Tenements, Woods, Bays, Harbours, Rivers, Streams and Creeks. From the said point where the Rimarap range of mountains strikes the sea in Cook's Straits in a direct line to the aforesaid point where the Tuiakirai range strikes the sea in the said Cook's Straits in a direct line to the aforesaid point where the Turakirai range strikes the sea in the said Cook's Straits is the Southern boundary of the said Lands, Tenements, Woods, Bays, Harbours, Rivers, Streams and Creeks; Be it also known that the mid Bay, Harbour, and District of Wanga Nui Atera or Port Nicholson does include the island of Makaroa. and the island of Matiu, which islands are both situate in the said harbour of Wanga Nui Atera or Port Nicholson as well as all other Lands, Tenements, Woods, Bays, Harbours, Rivers, Streams, and Creeks situate within the aforesaid boundaries, and now sold by us the aforesaid Chiefs to the said William Wakefield in trust for the said Governors, Directors and Shareholders of the Zealand Land Company of London, their Heirs, Administrators and Assigns for ever.

And we do hearby acknowledge for ourselves, our Heirs, Administrators and Assigns for ever, to have this day received from the said William Wakefield full and just payment for the said Lands,Tenements, Woods, Bays, Harbours, Rivers, Streams and Creeks situate within the aforesaid Boundaries of the said Bay, Harbour and District of Wanga Nui Atera or Port Nicholson in Cooks Straits in New Zealand. And he the said William Wakefield is to have and to hold the Lands, Tenements, Woods, Bays, Harbours, Rivers, Streams, and Creeks as aforesaid and all the above bargained premises, unto the said William Wakefield, his executors and administrators in trust for the said Governors Directors and Shareholders of the New Zealand Land Company of London, their Heirs, Administrators and Assigns, to and for their own proper use and uses and as and for their can proper Goods and Chattels, from henceforth and for ever.

And we the said Chiefs as undersigned hereby for ourselves our Heirs, Administrators and Assigns for ever, do covenant, promise and agree to and with the said William Wakefield his executors and administrators in manner following, that is to say, That the said hereby bargained premises and every part thereof are and so for ever shall be, remain, and continue unto the said Governors, Directors and Shareholders of the New Zealand Land Company of London, their Heirs, Administrators, and Assigns, free and clear, and freely and clearly acquitted, discharged and exonerated of from and against all former and other gifts, Claims, Grants, Bargains, Sales, and lncumbrances whatsoever, and We the undersigned Chiefs do further promise and bind ourselves, our Families, Tribes, and Succeessors individually and collectively to assist defend and protect the said Governors, Directors, and Shareholders of the New. Zealand Land Company of London, their Heirs, Administrators and Assigns for ever, in maintaining the quiet and undisputed possession of the aforesaid Lands, Tenements, Woods, Bays, Harbours, Rivers, Streams and Creeks sold by us to the said William Wakefield, in trust for the Governors Directors and Share-holders of the New Zealand Land Company of London their Heirs Administrators and assigns for ever as aforesaid.

And the said William Wakefield on behalf of the said Governors, Directors, and Shareholders of the New Zealand Land Company of London, their Heirs, Administrators and Assigns for ever does hereby covenant, promise, and agree to and with the said Chiefs that a portion of the land ceded by them equal to a tenth part of the whole, will be reserved by the said Governors, Directors and Shareholders of London their Heirs, Administrators and Assigns, and held in trust by them for the future benefit of the said Chiefs, their families and heirs for ever.

In Witness whereof the said Chiefs on the one part and the said William Wakefield on the other part, have hereunto put their hands and seals this twenty seventh day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty nine.

Matangi x his mark. L.S. Etueko x his mark. L.S.
Epuni x his mark. L.S. Tingatoro x his mark. L.S.
Bouacawa x his mark. L.S. Tuati x his mark. L.S.
Rongatua x his mark. L.S. Wakaradi x his mark. L.S.
Kariwa x his mark. L.S. Emau x his mark. L.S.
Kaihaia x his mark. L.S. Atuawera x his mark. L.S.
Hawia x his mark. L.S. Ewareh x his mark. L.S.
Tuarau x his mark. L.S. Warepori x his mark. L.S.

Witnesses
Rich. Barrett.
The Lowry Chief Mate.
Nayti.

RECEIPT.

In full satisfaction of all Claims.
1844, 26 February.
Port Nicholson
TE ARO PA
Receipt for 300 pound, final payment.


English Translation
Kua Homai ki a matou i te rua tekau ma ono o nga ra o Pepuere i te tau kotahi mano e waru rau e wa tekau ma wa e nga Kai Wakariterite o te Wakaminenga o Nui Tireni i Ranana he mea utu mai e Wiremu Wekepiri (William Wakefield) e te Kai Mahi o taua Wakaminenga E Toru Rau Pauna moni he tino utunga, he tino wakaritenga he wakamahuetanga rawatanga i to matou papa katoa, i o matou wahi katoa i roto i o matou whenua katoa, kua tuhituhia ki roto i te pukapuka kua whakapiria ki tenei nei ara ko nga wahi katoa i Poneke i nga wahi patata ki Poneke i Nui Tireni ko nga Pa, ko nga Ngakinga ko nga Wahi Tapu ko nga Wahi Rongoa anake e toe ki a matou a ka wakaae matou kia tuhia e matou o matou ingoa ki tetahi pukapuka Tuku. wenua a muri nei me e kiia kia tuhia ki nga kai wakariterite o taua Wakaminenga i o matou wahi katoa, i roto i aua wenua, heoti ano nga wahi e waiho mo matou ko nga wahi anake kua korerotia ra imua ko nga ingoa o nga
(signed)

Te Awhitu x tana tohu Te Teira x tana tohu
Mohi Ngaponga Pukahu x tana tohu
Hemi Parai x tana tohu Pomare
Puihi x tana tohu

On behalf of the rest of the Native of Te Aro.
       George Clarke, Junior. Protector of Aborigines.

Kai titiro i enei tuhinga ingoa - (Signed)

William Spain, Commissioner
George Clarke, Junior, Protector of Aborigines
Thomas S. Forsaith, Protector of Aborigines & Interpreter, Commr. Court.
Saml. Ironside, Minister of the Pa, Te Aro
Arthur T. Holroyd, Barrister at Law, Wellington
Tomas Fitzgerald, Assistant Surveyor attached to the Commissioner.

True copy of the original.
       THOMAS S. FORSAITH. Protector of Aborigines and Interpreter to Commr Court.
       GEORGE CLARKE, Junior. Protector of Aborigines

TRANSLATION


We have received on the twenty sixth of the days of February in the year One thousand eight hundred and forty four from the Directors of the Company of New Zealand at London the payment being made by William Wakefield the Agent of the said Company Three hundred Pounds money, a full payment a full satisfaction, an absolute surrender of all our title to all our claims, in all our lands, which are written in the Document affixed to this Viz., All the places at Port Nicholson and in the neighbourhood of Port Nicholson in New Zealand, and on the other hand The Pas, the Cultivations, The Sacred Places and the places reserved will remain alone for us and we consent ourselves to write our names in a Land conveying document hereafter if asked to write them, to the Directors of the said Company of all our claims within the said Lands. The only places left for us are those above mentioned.

Te Awhitu x his mark Te Teira x his mark
Mohi NgapongaPukahu x his mark
Hemi Parai x his markPomare
Puihi x his mark

On behalf of the rest of the Native of Te Aro.
       George Clarke, Junior. Protector of Aborigines.

The Witnesses to the signatures - (Signed)

William Spain, Commissioner
George Clarke, Junior, Protector of Aborigines
Thomas S. Forsaith, Protector of Aborigines & Interpreter, Commr. Court.
Samuel Ironside, Minister of the Pa, Te Aro
Arthur T. Holroyd, Barrister at Law, Wellington
Thomas Fitzgerald, Assistant Surveyor attached to the Commissioner.

We certify the above to be a correct translation of the accompanying document.
       THOMAS S. FORSAITH. Protector of Aborigines and Interpreter to Commr Court.
       GEORGE CLARKE, Junior. Protector of Aborigines

A True Copy of Original Deed, Receipt and Translation
H. Hanson Turton.
Wellington, December 30th, 1875.

Korero o te Wa I Raraunga I Rauemi I Te Whanganui a Tara I Whakapapa