THE MOKAU ESTATE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 366, 3 June 1911, Page 4

THE MOKAU ESTATE.

SUPREME COURT DECISION. [ISY TKLKfjBAPII.—PRESS ASSOCIATION".] Wellington, Thursday. Judgment was given by the Chief Justice to-day in the Mokau Estate, an application for leave to issue a summons for service on presons resident in England, or upon their attorney in New Zealand. His Honour said it would be improper for him to grant the leave asked, even if there were jurisdiction, of which he was doubtful, for the Supreme Court of New Zealand . to entertain a question about a contract executed in England, and apparently to be performed in England.

Describing the land to be placed on the market shortly by the Mokau Coal Estates Company, the "Taranaki Herald" says: The Mokau-Mohakatino block contains some 46,000 acres of freehold, with a frontage of about fifty miles on the southern bank of the Mokau river. It will be surveyed and cut up into suitable sections for immediate sale, Messrs Sladden and Palmer, of New Plymouth, have already been instructed to carry out this work, as well as the laying out of the necessary roads to be formed by the company. As soon as about 10,000 or lb,ooo acres have been subdivided into sections, ranging in area from 200 or 300 acres to 1500 or 2000 acres-—according to the nature of the country, this area will be offered for sale, and the whole block will be opened up for settlement in similar areas. It is the hope of the company, if the surveys and plans are completed, to have the whole of the 46,000 acres sold within the next twelve months, and to have about fifty families on the land in that time. There is splendid access to the property. Besides a good road from Waitara and another good road from Te Kuiti, there is the river. At present launches can go up the river for about twenty-five miles, and if some snagging is done at the rapids launches could travel right up to the end of the river frontage of the block, some fifty miles. The block extends almost to the mouth of the river. As is well known, steamers of 150 tons register can go up to the coal mine, about twenty-three miles from the mouth.

PAYMENTS TO NATIVES.

Yesterday morning Mr W. H. Bowler, President of the WaikatoManiapoto Land Board commenced the payment of the Natives interested in the Mokau-Mohakatino Block, recently purchased by a wealthy syndicate. Payment would have taken place a few days earlier, only that a dispute a3 regards the amount of costs cropped up, and several wordy warfares took place among the Natives. Eventually payment commenced at midday yesterday, and fully seventy-five per cent of the £2s,ooo—the amount of the purchase money was paid out. Nearly fifty Maoris received money, the biggest amount being £1072, with three more in the four figures. Other sums ranged to about £2OO. As a rule, when payments are made to the Natives, "those desirous of being thrifty bank their money in the Post Office Savings Bank, but evidently yesterday the sums were too large, and no business was done there. However, it is reported that the banks were very busy yesterday afternoon, and one in particular was engaged from about 3 p.m. till late last evening opening new accounts.