DEED OF CONVEYANCE
5TH NOV 1839, PELORUS RIVER. [CANCELLED]
Addressed to ‘To all Chieftains and Others of New Zealand and to all Christian People we Eko, Tunia, Rangihero [and in pencil] Mako, Pukeko and Kariwa Chieftains. Send Greeting, Know Ye that we …. for and in consideration of the sum of ten pounds sterling and a good vessel about thirty-five tons to be considered as an equivalent for the sum of six hundred pounds to be delivered within eight months to us in hand by Daniel Cooper of London, Merchant, James Holt of Sydney, Merchant, and William Barnard Rhodes Master Mariner…' Manuscript land conveyance transferring ‘all that tract of land extending fifteen miles in the Interior, from and on each side on the Banks of the Oeria, Osery or Pelorus River, Sound or Inlet from its entrance in Cook Strait, near Cape Jackson in the middle island of New Zealand…. Together with all rivers, waters, streams of water, Creeks, Bays and Harbours and together also with all mines and minerals… ' Signed with the moko signatures of Eko, Tunia and Rangihero, with two seals and witnessed with seven signatories including John Cole, Robert Johnson, G.H. England, James Bain …. Bifolium 620 x 475mm, twice folded, docket, on verso of second leaf reads ‘Dated 5th Nov 1839. Eko, Tunia, Rangihero to Daniel Cooper, James Holt and W.B. Rhodes, Conveyance of Land at New Zealand.
At the top of the document it reads, Cancelled and in pencil Void.

From the pivotal year of 1839, a historic document recording one of the attempts by Sydney merchants to do land deals with Maoris while they thought they still could. In 1839 William Barnard Rhodes entered into partnership with the Sydney firm of Carter and Holt, he left for New Zealand on the Eleanor in October 1839 to acquire land from Maori and establish cattle runs and trading stations. He secured deeds purporting to give title to nearly 2000 000 acres in both islands. Te Ara.
This deed one of the pre annexation claims which were disallowed.