THE MOKAU LANDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 71, 14 September 1911, Page 2

THE MOKAU LANDS

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, l 7 esterday. The Mokau enquiry was resumed this morning. 1 Pairoroka Rikihana, of Otaki, whose I wife had an interest in the Mokau lands, said he visited Mokau in June after the sale. The natives then, lamented that the lands had passed from them. A proportion of the owners declined to lift the purchase money, and the others were influenced by the rumor that they would probably lose both the land and the money unless they accepted the money. His ■wife's share of the purchase money was £373, while previously the rental received by her was £2 10s 3d. Witness understood from Mr. Mac Donald that the purchase of the block would pay all expenses in connection with the sale. Witness thought that if the leases were invalid the block was worth 35s an acre. Witness knew of written proxies to rote at the wile bavins; boen given. I Witness held six himself. All the proxies were against the sale, but wit- ■ ness and other objectors were advised . by Messrs. Mac Donald and Hardy that selling was practically the only course open to them. Witness had been asked by several other native objectors . to come before the committee and express their dissatisfaction with the sale. •Mr. DalrieH, partner in the firm of •Findlay and Dalzicll, said that Mr. I Lewis Agreed to sell to the company - for £25,000, and eight Rhnres in the block. Mr. Lewis' solicitors ngreed • to pay off Mr. Flower* when Mr. Lewis' 1 name was placed on the register of owners. When the mortgage of • £ 14,000 became due, Mr. Lewis consulted I witness, who though that, although the title was good, it was not such as could be forced on an unwilling purchaser. Mr. Lewis could not then fi.n----f ance the purchase of the leases, as the

title was not secure enough to borrow on. Witness approached the other ' solicitors interested (McLean and Campbell) and pointed out the advantage of combining with a view to having the leases perfected or of purchasing the whole property. In 1008 witness wrote to the Native Minister, asking ' for special legislation with «i view to ■) the settlement of the Mock. Then. Mr. Treadwell, on behalf of Mr. Jones, 1 intervened, and said Mr. Jones would oppose the legislation unless his interests were fully provided for. Wit- ■ ness then negotiated with Mr. Tread--1 well, but nothing came of it. Witness felt sure all along that they had nothing to fear from the appointment of any ■1 commission. They spoke to Dr. Find--1 lay, who said that after the Meikle Commission, Cabinet was sick of commissions, and advised them to settle >■< the matter if they could between them- ■ selves. In February, 1000. a Native Land Commission, comprising Sir Robert Stout and Judge Palmer, enquired into the position of the block, and found some of the owners.had not signed the , original lease, that the lease was illegal, I and that the covenants in it. had not ; been performed. Messrs. 'Bell and , Skerrett, however, thought the only defect in the lease was regarding the performance of the covenant. Tlie.ni Andrew Eketono wrote stating that the natives were willing to sell for £15,000, but the report of the commission followed a little later, and the natives withdrew their offer. Mr. Jones lodged a, fresh petition, but the Government did not then move in the matter, nor were further negotiation* between witness and Mr. Treadwell .fruitful. A little later witness was told if the Government valuation bore out the price placed on the block by the natives, the Cabinet would consider compulsory acquirement. The valuation was unsatisfactory, so the Government would not acquire it. The natives wanted £2-2,500, which was £7500 too much if the leases were valid. Another reason was that the Government did not care to compulsorily acquire a coal-

mine. The committee adjourned till 10.30 tomorrow.