MOKAU LANDS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1572, 16 October 1912, Page 4

MOKAU LANDS.

MR, JOSHUA JONES'S PETITION. EXTENSION'OF TIME KTCQUIUKD. The rarliamenlary Committee set up to inquire into tho jietition of Mr. Joshua Jones in respect oi certain lauds at Mohan resumed its sessions yesterday, mornijig. Tho Hon. J. I!igg presided. ■Mr. Joshua Jones, the petitioner, continued his evidence, tie produced a map and documents to .support his statement that tho Natives from whom he acquired his land in the first instance hail any amount of Innd at that time; He added that they were still among the most influential Natives in the Island, and tluit they still lield much land that was n« very valuable. It was therefore not fair to 533-, as had been stated in the Stout-Pidmer report, that he had sought to take iand unfairly from the Maoris. All through the morning he made frequent reference to such documents as he had—inc-stly extracts from Hansard and newspaper cuttings—and he also read long extracts froiu tho evidence given at the previous Parliamentary inquiry. He sought to impugn the action of the Government in JiiOS in refusing him an inquiry, and ho had already spent some time in so doing when Mr. W. H. ]). Bell suggested that the question ofivlif.ther the Government had acted rightly or wrongly did not affect any rights he might have at present. The Chairman said he had asked petitioner privately to close his statement as soon as. possible, leaving the members of the committee to extract by their questions such evidence as would fill up any blanks, if such existed, in the petitioner's statement.

Mr. Jones thanked the Chairman and tho committee for their patience in hearing his evidence, and .said lie would finish his'evidence as .soon as possible. He did in the end finish, at 12.20 p.m., and the members of the committee proceeded to ask question!. To Mr. Seymour Thorno George: The Atkinson Government had given him the titlo to his land, which tile previous Minister, tho Hon. John Sheahan, had promised him in consideration of services rendered.

Mr. \V. 11. D. Bell, who should have asked questions next, desired lo bo allowed some time in which to get the main facts of the caso in order. The other members of the committee wished to do likewise, and it was agreed that the adjournment be taken. It was decided to make application to both Houses for a ten days' extension of time in whic.li to report.

The extra ten days was subsequently granted by tho House of Representatives, on the motion of Jtlr. F. Marnier, and in ■".he Legislntive Council on the motion of the Hon. J. Uigg.