Mokau Committee.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 September 1911, Page 3

Mokau Committee.

— & [P«R PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1 WELLINGTON, This Day. The Mohan Committee met this morning. Mr . Archibald William Blair, partner of Mr Skerrett. K. 0., said that his firm, since 1909_, acted for the natives in the Molcau transactions. All accounts for costs were sent to Mr Eketone and others, and they were not acting for Government. Witness had stated to Mr Bell that Mr Skerrett was not then representing the majority of the native owners, meaning that non-scl-lers were then in a. majority but not that he had ceased to act, as he was still acting, for Mr Eketone and «• few others. Witness took responsibility for unintentionally conveying a wrong impression to Mr 801 l concerning Mr Skerrett's position. Mr Kensington, Under-Secretary for Lands, said in 1907, when Mr .Tones' interest in the block was ordered to be sold by the Supreme Court an effort was made to induce Government to arcpiire tho block for closer settlement, hut as it was native land this could not bo done. A .little Inter Mr A. R. Hislon. noting for Mr Jones, offercl to soil to the Government for £150,000, but this was not accepted. Enrlv in 1010 tho natives offered the land to tho Government fcr a pound per acre. The Gorernment had. a valuation made by some of tho Crown officers.