Robert TOD
National Archives Wellington
Partial Transcript: Order IA 1 1840/157
see Register Room

1840 May 06	Port Nicholson: "Preparing complaint against 
		Col. WAKEFIELD for ejecting him from land at Port 
		Nicholson"

"Sir, As an individual suffering under the oppression of the 
NZ Land Company's officers here I have the honour to lay before 
your Excellency the following details:

A stranger to your Excellency I might be classed among the 
Adventurers who come to these Islands - but holding in my hand 
the Commission of Auditor General for South Australia I venture 
to... on a patient hearing.

The ill health of my family decided me to leave that Colony for 
New Zealand, and I arrived here on the 5th December last. Some 
weeks afterwards I learned from unanimous testimony that two 
natives of this place possessed a small portion of land here 
which they had never sold to Colonel WAKEFIELD. The names of 
these two individuals are MOTUROA and MANGATUKU of Pipitere, and 
as they expressed a desire to cede me their land, I purchased 
from them about four acres for about 48 pounds, they signing 
regular title deeds in due form on the 3rd and 4th of last 
January.

On the return of Colonel WAKEFIELD during the same month I 
notified to him on the 30th January that I had purchased and 
possessed this land. He did not return any answer in writing but 
commenced a system of persecution the more dreadful, because 
living with my family among natives and... the distance of seven 
miles from the Company's settlement I was duly subject to the 
caprice and violence of New Zealanders thirsting for the plunder 
of Goods in my House valued at 1500 pounds and inflamed by the 
discourse of the Company's Officers. They accordingly made 
several attempts to rob and burn my premises but without effect.

At length I commenced building on my own land. Colonel WAKEFIELD 
on the 30th March sent his servant Richard BARRETT to pull down 
the erection - which he effected in presence of an English 
witness.

The same individual Colonel WAKEFIELD has also forcibly located 
on my land a body of Emigrants in spite of my protest. These 
charges I am prepared to substantiate by evidence and now appeal 
to your Excellency for protection."