Pre-Treaty Land 'Transfer' in New Zealand, 1839

Rare, pre-Treaty of Waitangi, Land 'Transfer', 1839 in 1839, William Barnard Rhodes (1807-1878), entered into partnership with the Sydney firm Cooper and Holt. He left for New Zealand on the Eleanor in October 1839 to acquire vast amounts of land from the Maori. The Treaty of Waitangi was being drafted at the same time. Taking supplies of guns and tobacco, he travelled to New Zealand attempting to secure deeds that eventually purported to give title to nearly two million acres in both islands. The document offered what can be considered both shameful and ridiculous. Mr William Barnard Rhodes attempted to secure 256,000 acres, the Waikan' block, in exchange for 150 pounds sterling, supplied in arms, ammunition, tobacco and various merchandise. Many of Mr Rhodes' land claims from this period were disallowed by the Lands Claims Commission following the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. A fascinating reflection of the times is the use of self-illustrated moko by the signatories; the moko was a powerful signifier of personal identity. Chiefs 'A'ready and Tuanini and marks of Te Ropera alias Robulla, Eko of Eiko and Rangihero are self-evident. The document reads: 'To all Chieftains and others of New Zealand and to all Christian people we 'A'ready & Tuanini, Chiefs of New Zealand send greeting Know Ye that we the said 'A'ready & Tuanini for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds sterling supplied to US in arms, Ammunition, tobacco and various merchandize to me in hand paid and delivered by Daniel Cooper of London, Merchant, James Holt of Sydney, Merchant, and William Barnard Rhodes of Sydney, master mariner before and at the time of the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge we the said 'A'ready & Tuanini have granted, bargained, sold aliened, enfeoffed and confirmed by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, alien, enfeoff and confirm unto the said Daniel Cooper, James Holt and William Barnard Rhodes, heirs and assigns for ever. All the tract of land on the North Island of New Zealand bounded on the West by the waters of Cook's Straits near the Isle of Capiti commencing at the mouth of the or entrance of the Wikinie river Capiti bearing N.W. By W. By S 1/2 S. Magnetic thence in a Northerly direction about twelve miles along the Coast to the entrance to the Otaikie river, and from thence turning to the Eastward along the banks of the Otaikie so far as it runs, bounded on north by the said river to its source or to the termination of an Easterly line forty miles from the mouth of the said river. ...'(etc.), dated Sixth day of November one ThoUSAnd eight hundred and Thirty-nine. (signed) Tuanini his mark x and tattoo, 'A'ready his mark x and tattoo. The above document was signed, sealed and delivered by the said 'A'ready and Tuanini, Chieftains, having first been read over and explained to them in the presence of Te Ropera alias Robulla his mark X, (signatures of) Jas Cole, W, Burton Interpreter, John lemon, Wm Shearer, James Bain, Robert Johnson, George Coglan; (also) Eko or Eiko his mark X, Rangihero his mark x (followed by three separate, but related, signed agreements, receipts and memoranda, including an agreement that one-tenth of the land should be reserved for the use of the within-mentioned chiefs and their dependents, signed by William Barnard Rhodes). The legal document measures 48 x 61 cm, is drafted in clerical hand in four sections and is originally folded, with the cover title: 'Conveyance, dated Fifth day of November 1839, Tuanini and 'A'ready, Registered in the Supreme court of New South Wales20 May 1840, Daniel Cooper, James Holt and William Barnard Rhodes 256000 Acres, Conveyance of Lands at New Zealand, D Poote, Soliciter, George Street Sydney, New South Wales'. Note and attached receipt signed by Alfred Elyard from the Registrar's office Sydney N.S.W. Dated 20th May 1840 - 12-oclock (numbered) 937 BR. Cover title annotated top right: 'Registered in N.