THE MOKAU TRANSACTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10402, 24 August 1911, Page 6

THE MOKAU TRANSACTION.

JOSHUA JONES EXAMINED.

By Telearanh — Tress Association.

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The iMokau transaction was further considered by the Native Affairs Committee this morning, when Joshua Jones was cadled. In reply to a question by Ma- Jenningsl, he said he was only there to answer questions, and would have more to say Hater. Replying to 'Mr Massey, who examined wiitnesis, he 'said the area, of the Mokau block was 56,500 acres. Some of the valleys. <w*ire very rich, the hilly country was fit for sheep, and. coal was plentiful there. He did not know of any richer country in New Zealand.

He was- proceeding to describe the coal seams on the banks' iof the Mokau, riven-, when the chairman interjected that some of the coal he was referring to was not in the Mokau (black.

Mr Joules thereupon got up and refused to give further evidence, 'slaying he was not ibeing treated in a proper manner, and that ha was Ibeing examined by Mr Masisey, and not iby the chairman. After isome words with the chairman he refused to go km l , and. left, the roam, hut returned a little later after Ibeing pacified by Mr Massey. who continued his/ examination of witness.

Mr Jones said thei .syndicate would have a monopoly over the coal bearing country on the West Coast of Taranlaki. He had. received on offer from London in April, 1910, ol £IOO,Oou for his interests in' the 2ea,se. The intending purchasers were going (to make elaborate harbour works at Mokau. TJie Premier was interviewed, and stated that if Mr Jones' people would build a, harbour 'it iwould be a good thing for the Nat-: ives a,nd the country. He was given to understand that the Government would sanction the sale,, but <wias subsequently informed that Cabinet had decided; not to go on with the deal. Mr McNab, on behalf of the Government, declined to have anything to do with the purchase of his interests in the block in March, 1908. At. this time Mr Herman Lewi si was negotiating for the ,pu<reha,se of the property from: the executors of Flow-, era, wWo 'held mortgages over - the land. .Witness stated that he understood /from Sir James Carroll in 1908 or 1909 that the Government was anxious to purchase-the block, the'price' imentioned being £15,000. He asked for ia Royal Commission. The Legislative Council approved the setting up of an enquiry, and referred the ■ matter to the Government for consideration. He instructed liis solicitor to .see Dr.Findlay, and request the setting up of the Commission Iknmediately. His solicitor did iso, and he (witness.) was informed that* Dr iFindlay had refused to• ■ set the Commission, and he hiad iso far been unable to get the Commission. The Order-an-Council .permitting the sale of the Mock was issued', by Cabi- , net on December'sth, and on Decern- j ber Bth he met Sir. Joseph Ward, ] who told Mm he (Sir J.G. Ward)'] would put the matter, right for him. Sir Joseph Ward said, further, that there wasi public feeling against the fee simple of mineral rights being parted with. This finished Mr Ma,ssey's> examination of the witness, and the Committee 'adjourned till' to-morrow.