THE MOKAU LANDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 66, 8 September 1911, Page 2

THE MOKAU LANDS

.' THE ENQUIRY CONTINUED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. (living evidence before the Mokau | Committee k-day, Frank Ratenbury, storekeeper at Tongaporutu, said his wife and other relatives were interested in the Mokau block. Witness was present at each meeting of owners. At the sccoh<l meeting, at which about 150 owners were present, nearly all opposed the sole. To Mr. .Lewis: They instructed Mr. Hardy to that effect, and paid his expenses to Auckland to investigate, but they had noit heard from Hardy since until the payment of the money for the block. Witness and others were very much dissatisfied with Hardy's conduct. To Sir James Carroll: Some of the owners objected to the sale on the grounds that the lease was not valid. Witness .knew four of the owners who hud not ..yet been paid. A section oil the owners still opposed the sale, even after Hardy had been unsuccessful in his mission to raise money to contest tho leases. The To Kuiti owners wanted to sell, but the Mokau natives objected. The greater part of the blockwas worth 25s to 30s an acre if the leases were valid, but with the lenses lie would say the land was only worth 10s an acre.

Tcoro Waitihi, the next witness, said lie and several others, after being advised to sell, refused to do so." and signed a document stating I,hey intended to hold the land, but would hand over for sale SOO acre; to clear off the costs of the action, paying the agents and the liabilities on the block. Witness throughout refused to sign the agreement to sell the whole block. Witness was on of the .signatories to the original lease of the block to .Tones. Regarding tho sale, witness thought that if he objected to the sale he could have his area, cut out and could keep it himself. IkTdy appeared for witness at the salo negotiations with written instructions to oppose the sale. When the representatives came back from Te Kniti they placed money before the owners, and told them the land had been sold, and they should accept the money, a,s tliev might not jjet it a?ain. They were very nngrv at, their agent's action. He would not have sold, no matter what price was offered.

To' Mr. Jennings: He was always adverse to the disposal of the Mokati land. Ilerrnuin Lewis, examined bv Mr. Masscy. said his first dealing with Mokau lands was in October. 1007. He bought a lea.se from Flower's executors in 10OS for £14.000, and sold it t« Mason and Chambers for £23,000 and a one-eighth interests. The natives were anxious to sell the freehold to him for £13,000. The latter offered it to tho Government, for £22,300. He thought Mr. Skerrctt applied for the Order-in-Comicil on behalf of the natives, and paid the natives £23.000 and £2300 pounds' worth of shares for the freehold. He sold the same to Mason and Chambers for .€71.0(10 cash and 4000 fully paid shares. He retained 700 acres of properly. The committee adjourned till Tuesday.