MOKAU CASE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 34, 4 November 1907, Page 5

MOKAU CASE.

ANOTHER PHASE OP AN OLD SUIT. Br TELEGRAPH—MESS ASSOCIATION— COPTMGHT. London, November 1. In the Mokau estato caso the judge refusod. to stay tho action Joshua Jones vorsus executors of tho Into Mr. Flower, declining to recognise the action brought by Mr. Jones frivolous. He directed tho case to proceed. . • •

The Mokau leasehold property, containing liboiit 50,000 acres, and. associated with the name of Mr. Joshua Jones, lias passed through many legal vicissitudes during'the past fourteon vent's. The litigation between Mr. Jones ami the lute' Mr. Wickham Flower some years ago was of considerable interest, partly because of the principle involved in the issue, but mainly because Mr. Labouchere in "Truth" championed tho cause of Mr. Jones. The latter won tho law suit, and Mr. , Wickham Flower was directed to pay the costs of proceedings, a .largo sum, and the decision of the Divisional Court was upheld by '.he Court of Appeal. Mr. Wickham Flowor ■ died some tinio afterwards. The history of the estate has beon full of incident to Mr. Jones. On August 10 last tho estnto was submitted to auction at New Plymouth by order of the Kegistrar, and was knocked down to Mr. 11. IC. Welch. Whether Mr. Welch bought tho estate on his own behalf or on behalf of some ono olee is not known. However, prior to tho sale in August,- a notice appeared in tho papers warning people against buying the property. The latest development is'the issue of a writ from the Chancery Division of the High Court, Joshua Jones being plaintiff, and Snrnh Jane Lcfroy. wife of tho lioverend Anthony William Ham on Lofroy, Archibald Bonce Uence-Jonce, Henry Kemp Welch, and Sir Colin Campbell Scott Monorioft defendants, who arc sued as executors of Wickhani I'lowcr deceased. The pliiintilV's claims are emliodied in six paragraphs, and No. 0 rends: "An injunction restraining the defendants, their servants and agents from selling the said estate, or any part thereof, or offering or advertising the same, or any part thereof, for sale, and in particular from offering the said estate, or any part thereof for Bale by auction or " otherwise in New Zealand oii August 10, 1007, or otherwise carrying into effect :i snlo of the said estate advertised to take place on the date last aforesaid." The writ, dated August 7, was issued by F. M. Spencer Lowin, of No. 32 Southampton Street, iStraml, London, solicitor for the plaintiff.