THE MOKAU LANDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81856, 3 October 1906, Page 2

THE MOKAU LANDS.

(To the Kdil.gr.) Sis, —Vour issue of the lGth June last con. ains a rcpoit oi the proceedings of the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce in which Mr J. J}. Connctt is reported to have "explained" that some of this land was leased and was being profitably worked. As this statement, which by the way, is a slander of my title, lias been brought to my notice, any Malice on my ftart might possibly be construed to imply thai I acquiesce in the same. Will you therefore permit mt to say that, with one exception, no person has any lease or license from me to occupy any of those lands, nor has any one else ever had authority from myself or a competent Court or any other source to grant any such lea'o or licenses. The present oecupan a of the lands Hie mere trespassers as far as I am

concerned 1 . Tll°y 'themselves admU ' they have no legitimate iic!c!' n 5 by not paying' any money to any one for their occupancy. I have more than 1 uncc given public warning liiroufch 1 the Taranaki ''News'' to intending 1 purchasers and lessees. 1 once"cab- ' led a iviiniing from London winch w'as quoted in King'o auction, room and rendered the sale of portions of the properly abortive. 1 have sent notices to the "occupiers" of some of Hie seclinns, and taken every reasonable .step to prevent intending purchasers or lessees being misled. it is a matter of public notoriety in the leading Press of the Colony that none of those supposed sub-tenancies have any validity. it wottM )>o idle to assume that Mr Connett does not know (he true position of mailers, as well as the occupiers and the majority of people in Taranaki. and if he considered it necessary to open his mouth about mv business a; a public board he should have slated what he well knew to be the lint!), namely, thai there are no leases. A lease can ordv be a lease when it is a valid one and obtained from proper persons or by proper authority. 1 say at once that any leases obtained in the past, even if registered, woubl have been obtained in fraud of me—therefore valueless. Thanking you in anticipation for tin- same favour of publicity to 'his note as wbui you accorded to the statement of Mr Ouneu.— 1 ~oi. ele.. J. JONES, London. August :2nd. kjoG.