THE MOKAU BLOCK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3322, 14 September 1911, Page 3

THE MOKAU BLOCK.

INQUIRY COMMISSION CONTINUES MR DALZIELLGIVES EVIDENCE. LPEE PBESS ASSOCIATIONS WELLINGTON, Sept. 13. The Mokau inquiry was resumed this morning. Pairoroka- ltikihana, of Otaki, whose wife had an interest in Mokau, said that in June, after the sale, the Natives were then lamenting that the lands had passed from them. A proportion of owners declined to lift the purchase money, others being influenced by a rumor that they would probably lose 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 MacDonald that the purchasers of the block would' pay all expenses in connection with the sale. Witness thought if the leases were invalid the block was worth 35s per acre. He knew of written proxies to vote at the sale having been given, and be i six himself. All the proxies were against the sale, but witness and other objectors were advised by Messrs MacDonald 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 Dalziell, partner in the firm of Findlay and Dalziell, said that Lewis agreed to sell to a company for £25,000, and an. eighth share in the block. Mr Lewis and his solicitor agreed to pay off Mr Flowers when Mr Lewis’ name‘was placed on the register of owners. When the mortgage <n £14,000 became due, Mr Lewis consulted witness, who thought that although the title was good it was not such as could be forced on an unwilling purchaser. Mr Lewis could not then finance the purhease of the leases, as the title was not secure enough to borrow on. Witness approached the other solicitors interested —-Messrs 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 1908 witness wrote to the Native Minister asking for special legislation with a view of the settlement of the block, and then Mr Treadwell on behalf of Mr Jones, intervened, and said' Mr Jones- would oppose the legislation unless his inteiests were fully provided- for. Witness tiien negotiated with Mr Treadwell, but nothing cam© of it, and witness fel sure all along that they had nothing to fear from the appointment of any commission. They spoke to Hr. Emdlay, who said that after the Meilde Commission the Cabinet was sick, of Commissions, and advised 1 them to settle the matter, if they could, between- themselves. In February, 1909, the Native Land Commission, comprising fell* Eobt. Stout and Judge Palmer, inquired into the position of the block and found) some of the owners had not .signed the original lease, and that the lease was illegal,and that the covenants mit had not been performed. Messrs Bell and Skerrett, however, thought the only defect in the lease was regarding the performance of covenants. -I hen Andrew Eketone wrote stating 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 tui-t-her negotiations between witness ancl Air Treadwell fruitful. A little later witness was told if the . Government valuation bore out the price placed on the block by the Natives, Cabinet would consider its compulsory acquirement. The valuation was unsatisfactory so the Government would not acquire tl e bl The Committee adjourned till 10.80 to-morrow.