ALEXANDRA.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4295, 6 October 1882, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

This day. A Shady Transaction. There is a considerable amount of an* noyance in the minds of the King natif es, or some portion of them, about the lease at Mokau lately obtained by Mokau Jones, and by many hopes are entertained that a rehearing will Tbe granted. It is unfortunate this discontent should have arisen, as tending to restrain others from having their lands put through the Conrt. There can be no£doubt whatever that it will have a deterring effect. The natives do not know positively the terms of the lease, but they understand' them to, be as follows:—Area, 40,000 acres, with a promise of additional acreage, rent £25 per annum, term of lease as in accordance with the judgment of the Native Lands Court, 56 years; ten per cent, on the net profits of the working of the coal to be given to the natives as royalty ; an improvement clause in lease by "which improvements are to be taken at valuation.; patches of 400 and 500 acres; in a patch, and well grassed. The country is rich in other minerals beside coal, but there is no royalty on other than coal.. Such are the terms the King natives have, > been told the lease contains. Others have been told that ten per cent, profits on the (Joal working will mean fully £1000 a year, [and thus hold the lease made at least £1000 a year. The better informed in* quire whether the fraud commissioner will pass tbe lease. It is stated that Grace, who negotiated the lease, has found £5000 as payment for his services. How true this is, of course, is unknown. The feature of public interest in this matter is the deterring effect on the King lands going through Court.

[Peb Pbess Association.]