The Mokau Inquiry

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 September 1911, Page 3

The Mokau Inquiry

[rsn t'UEas ajjsoo .thjn.] WELLINGTON This Day. At the lliikiiu iii<|i:iry. -Mr D:ilziell, continuing his imc >t. .-aid that he and Mr S'xonott ci'rol'.illv went into the validity of the title, and having f^t'^'i- , - 1 I'p---sl'p---s 'Ives. opplied for an Or<:!er-in-Coi!iicil. Both witness and Mr Skerrott attended r mecii , of ;r:.s:r>:!>!ol rwver.s i ; i the 6th .January. -Mr Skerrctt advised th.? natives thot they ltiii.st either hold on to the hind or go in for expensive litigation, which invst ensue. "Witness offered them £25,000 for the block. Mr Bowler, w,bo presided, said thai tho attendance was not large- enough to decide except oi!i an alnif.«t umuimoiis vote. So the meeting was adjonmo'.!. Both Mr Skerrctt and Air Hell advised the natives that the looses were dofoctive nnd that th-\v cusild claim damages for ikki-j ■■? f-tiriiiaii-.-e of covenant. 1.-'ter ivr ive :l word that th<? carry!:: < of thr re.swliitii.n was clnubtfnl, so he advised'his client to withdraw tlio tiii'er a:vl test the yali'iitv of t-!i-j !c".::*.s. Mi- Masking, K.C., advised witucs-, that Mr Law is was ii"t !i"!> ln foi ••on-])erfiM , - inance of ai:y tn.e";r.t 'jofore his tvkino- up tlio 'o sc. M? Lewis !lia:1, at this stage, entered i';t • a contact to sell, w.lnerebv V-o. wa-s t.; gr.t £■)(>,- GOO for leases' lu-.il G2i",000 for the < •■• if W-. voii'd not tlie freehold, the leases wero to be sold for a pric? mentioned at a meeting on March 10th. Mr M"c Donald said tlie natives were arriving at tlie opinion .that t'liey ou.g.l;* to soil, 'but asked, for aljoanu.-ie-.it to arrange foa* a oonsii'ltntio-'i with the Mokau natives. This was agreed to, and at a meeting on M.arcli 20th a. resolution r;irpieii"'g to the sa'e was passed without dissent.