THE MOKAU INQUIRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1043, 14 September 1911, Page 2

THE MOKAU INQUIRY.

The Mokau inquiry was resumed by the Native Affairs Committee on Wednesday morning. Poiroroka Rikihona, of Otaki, whose wife had an interest in the Mokau block, said he visited the Mokau just after the sale. Th« Natives were then lamenting to him that the lands had passed from them. There was a proportion of owners who refused to lift the purchase-money, while others were being influenced by rumours that they would probably lose both the land and the money unless they accepted the money. His wife’s share of the purchase was while the rent previously received by her was £2 los 3d per annum. Witness understood from MacDonald that the purchasers of the block would pay all expenses in connection with the sale. Witness thought, if the leases were invalid, that the block was well worth 35s an acre. Witness knew of written proxies to vote at the sale having been given. Witness held six himself. All the proxies were against tli? sale, but witness and other objectors were advised by MacDonald and Hardy that selling was the only course practically open to them. Witness had been asked by several other native objectors to come before the committee and express their dissatislaction with the sale.