95

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EXHIBIT E. New Plymouth, 19th May, 1885. To the Chairman, Public Petitions Committee, Wellington, 1885. Re Mr. Joshua Jones and Mokau. I beg leave to state that in January, 1876, when I was Superintendent of the Province of Taranaki, Mi , . Joshua Jones called upon me with the desire that I would aid him in opening the Mokau country for the purpose of developing its mineral and pastoral resources. I thereupon entered into a conversation with him on that subject, and pointed out as clearly as I could the difficulties which at that time barred my interfering in the Mokau question. Having done so, I remarked to him that I considered the opening of the Mokau district in a quiet and peaceful way would be one of the greatest boons which could be conferred on this part of New Zealand; that I should be delighted to hear of its being done, as I have no doubt would the General Government also. Mr. Jones told me then that he thought he saw his way to attain this much-desired object, when 1 further remarked, " If you do you will be deserving of the consideration and thanks of all who really desire the well-being of the Natives and the prosperity of this part of the colony." Fred. A. Carrington, Late Superintendent of Taranaki. EXHIBIT F. Sir, — Auckland, 29th April, 1879. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of j-our letter of the 26th instant on the subject of the arrangement made by you with the Natives for the lease of a block of land at Mokau, and to inform you in reply that in accordance with the promise already made to you the Government will not interfere with yourself and partner in the acquiring of a lease of the block of land on the south side Mokau River now under negotiation by you. This approval only extends to a leasehold transaction, and must not be deemed to cover a larger area than that already mentioned in previous correspondence. This concession is made in recognition of the many important services rendered by you and your partner in aiding in the opening up of the Mokau River for settlement and inducing the Natives to allow and encourage European settlers amongst them. All assistance which the Government can lawfully render will be given to you in respect of survey and investigation of title. I have, &c, Joshua Jones, Esq., Victoria Hotel, Auckland. John Sheehan. EXHIBIT I. Tiati Wirihana : Tena koe. Mokau, Ist March, 1887. Kote moni mote Riihi a Tione Mangapohue kite Heeti ,£125; kua mutu te korero o mua. Me tui tui c koe kite pukapuka. Hoki mai tau pukapuka kia mohio au. Heoi ano. Wetere Tβ Rerenga. Translation. Judge Wilson : Greeting. Mokau, Ist March, 1887. The money for Mr. Jones's lease, Mangapohue to the Heads, is £125; the old negotiations have been abandoned. Do you insert this in your document, and reply so that I may know. Ended. From Wetere Te Rerenga. EXHIBIT K. 1904.— J.— N0. 523. In the High Court op Justice, King's Bench Division. Writ issued the 11th day of March,. 1904. Between Joshua Jones, plaintiff, and Wickham Flower, Charles CjESar Hopkinson and the said Wickham Flower, Antony Foxcroft Nusset, and Evelyn Napier Fellowes (now or lately practising as solicitors in copartnership), defendants. Amended Statement of Claim. 1. At the beginning of the year 1893 the plaintiff was possessed of an estate in New Zealand (hereinafter called " the Mokau Estate ") comprising upwards of 56,000 acres for a term of fifty-six years from the year 1883, at a rent of .£194 for the first twenty-eight years and of £392 for the residue of such term, subject to two mortgages (videlicet), one for £7,600 including interest in favour of one John Plimmer, and the other for £1,550 including interest in favour of one Walter Johnston. At the expiry of the said term of fifty-six years all buildings upon the estate, for whatsoever purposes the same may have been erected by the plaintiff, to be valued, and the value paid by the Native owners to the said Joshua Jones. 2. The said lands were and are of very great value, and subjacent thereto are the richest and most extensive coal-beds in New Zealand.