MOKAU LANDS COMMISSION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 53, 24 August 1911, Page 2

MOKAU LANDS COMMISSION

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. The Mokaii transaction was further considered by the Native Affairs Committee this morning. Mr. Joshua Jones was called, and. in reply to a question by Mr. Jennings, said he was only there to answer questions, and would' have more to say later. Replying to Mr. Massey, who examined witness, he said that the area of the Mokau block was 50,500 acres. Some of the valleys were very rich, the hilly Country was lit for sheep, and coal was plentiful there. He did not know of any richer country in New Zealand. Ho was proceeding to describe the coal ■seams on the banks of the Mokaii river when the chairman interjected thai some of the coal he was referring to was not in the Mokau block.

Mr. .Jones thereupon got up and refused to give further evidence, saying he was not being treated in a proper manner, and that he was being examined by Mr. Massey. not by the chairman. After some words with the chairman he refused to go on, and left the room, I>ut returned a little later, after being pacified by Mr. Massey, who continued his examination of witness. Mr. Jones said the syndicate would have a monopoly over the coal-bearing country on the West Coast of Taranaki. He had received an offer from London in April, MIO, of £IOO,OOO for his interests in the lease. The intending purchasers were going to make elaborate harbor works at Mokau. The Premier was interviewed, and stated that if Jones' people would build the harbor it would be a good tiling for the natives and the country. He was given to understand that the Government would sanction the deal, bilt was subsequently informed that Cabinet had decided not' (o go on with the deal. Mr. McXab, on behalf of the Government, declined to have anything to do with the purchase of his interests in the block in March. 1 '.MIS. At this time Hermann Lewis was negotiating for the purchase of the property from the executors of Flowers, who held mortgages over the land.

Witness stutcd Unit he understood from Mr. Carroll, in 1008 or 1005), that tin- Onvernment was anxious to purchase the block, the price mentioned being £15.01)0. He asked for a Koval Commission; the Legislative Council approved the netting up of an enquiry and referred the mutter to the Government for consideration, -lie -instructed his solicitor to see Dr. Hindlny, and request the setting up of the commission immediately. His solicitor did so, and he (witness) was. informed that Dr. Kinillay had refused to set up the. commission, and he had so far been unable to get a commission. The Order-in-Council. permitting the sale of the block, was issued by the Cabinet on December 3. and on December 8 he met Sir Joseph Ward, who told him he (Sir Joseph) would put matters right for him'. Sir Joseph Ward said further that there was a public feeling against the fee simple of the mineral rights being purled with. This finished Mr. Masaey's examination of witness, and the committee ailjurned till to-morrow.