Some thoughts
Rhetorical
If Robert purchased land in NZ in 1830, who was he purchasing it from, where was he located when he entered into that private arrangement and how was the land described.... I can well understand how his application would have failed. I think Whitehall at one time recognised applications from mid or late 1835 .... or when ever the Declaration of Independence for NZ was ratified in that year.
If Robert was in VDL at that time, perhaps he was with a regiment on garrison duties, and had shared conversations with some of those on the whaling vessels trading between the South Sea Islands and Hobart and Sydney etc.
As his land claim of 1841 was disallowed by the Colonial authorities, had he been stepping outside his authority when he entered into that 1830 agreement to purchase land in NZ
New Zealand was administered by the Governor of NSW until William Hobson of the Royal Navy who was firstly appointed as Lt Governor (with guidance from NSW) and then appointed Governor in his own right .... I think he would be the same RN chap who served in VDL in the 1830s ....
Cheers, JM
Case number 294 published in the NZ govt. gazette reads
Robert Field of Auckland Claimant, 250 acres more or less situated at Paroa Bay in the bay of Islands, bounded on the north by the sea, on NW by a creek called Putu Kokoa, on the SE by Wai Wakarawa, & on south by Johnson's land.
Alleged to have been purchased by the present claimant in 1830 from Native Chief Monau, otherwise Charlie Korokoro for £10 and double barrelled gun. deed of gift.
The claim was not allowed.
We rather thought he was trying to curry favour with the Governer of NZ, The Sir George Gipps (Australia)
Advertisement
The Sir George Gipps Hotel fronting High street and a corner pf Government lane. William Kendell (Kendells were in B of I too. I think they had something to do with appropriating Baron De Thierry's funds.) respectfully announces that he has opened the extensive two storied premises (recently built by Mr. Field)as an hotel and has laid in a stock of wines, spirits etc.
AK Herald & gazette 30 Nov. 1841.
William Kendell ran this hotel for a year and then Robert Field took ownership of it once again changing its name to The New Coffee House. Teetotallers were pretty active in these years.
