W. C. KENSINGTON.j

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it for settlement. So when I heard that a syndicate had acquired the block I said to Mr. Dalziell, who was their representative, "We must have some security for our survey costs. You will have to deposit with us a cheque for the amount of the Crown's survey lien and interest, and that will be held in the Deposit Account of the Receiver-General, and we will ask the Native Land Court to reopen the case in October." The Crown, therefore, will not lose its money. I have a memorandum here by the Chief Accountant regarding these liens, which I will read and put in. [Letter read —Exhibit 92.] I put this letter in so that you may see the position, because Mr. Skinner did not quite understand it. There is no handing over to the syndicate. All that I wanted to insure was that the Crown should not lose its survey costs. 6. The Chairman.] Is that all your statement, Mr. Kensington?— Those are all the papers. I have nothing further to say, unless it is in reply to questions. 7. Have you any personal knowledge of the country? —No, I have never been over the block. I have been to the back part of it, and seen the country from the Awakino side, and have also seen the block from the sea, but have not been over it. 8. You know what the cost of reading is, generally speaking, in thai class of country?— Yes. 9. It is very heavy?— Very heavy indeed. 10. Both the Rangers report that a good deal of land is covered with black briar and other noxious weeds? —They also report that a good deal of the cultivated portion is so covered. I mean, it has been grassed, and then blackberry allowed to grow up on it. 11. Could you furnish the Committee with a map showing the nearest point of this block to the Stratford—Ongarue Railway? I personally know the country, and I would like the Committee to get the information. I know that in a direct line with what is called the Waita-anga Survey Block, sixteen miles from Mangaroa, is a portion of this block : the Mohakatino Valley runs right up near it, and the opinion of the settlers there is that the Mohakatino Valley is about fifteen miles from the railway. Can you furnish a map showing that) — The map that I put in, showing the coal-outcrops, gives the whole of that. 12. Does it give the distance?—No, but I can easily have that marked. 13. I should be glad if you will do so, showing also the nearest point on the property to what is called the Waitewhena Valley deviation—a deviation of the Ongarue Railway that was at one time suggested?—l understand the Committee want a map showing how this block would lie in connection with the railway. I will get that done. 14. Hon. Mr. Ngata.] You have recently undertaken the purchase of the Moerangi Block? —Yes—that is, we are concluding the purchase, commenced prior to 1909. 15. How is that block situated with regard to the Main Trunk Railway and means of access as compared with this Mokau Block? —As far as the Main Trunk line is concerned, there is very little difference —I mean, as regards the back part of the block. Of course, the position of the two blocks is quite different. 16. At the present time the Moerangi Block is much more accessible? —Oh, yes. We reckon it to be much more fit for settlement than this one. 17. What value was put on Moerangi? —From £1 15s. to £2 an acre, as far as my memory serves me. Some parts would be a little more, running up to £2 55., I think. 18. Moerangi is a block of close on 50,000 acres?— Yes. 19. I noticed, in listening to you reading the reports of the Rangers, that there is no mention in either of those reports of the minerals?— Oh, yes, they mention the minerals. They both mention the coal-deposits and limestone. 20. I am confusing their reports with Mr. Skinner's. Mr. Skinner, I think, deals in detail with the propertv?—But both Rangers mention the coal-outcrops—in fact, Mr. Twiss mentions that one seam is 10 ft. across in one gully. 21. Do they take the minerals into account in their valuation? —No. They take into account the fitness of the land for settlement purposes. 22. Hon. Sir J. Carroll.'] But they say that on the Mokau Block there is a dip in the strata? —Yes, and that dip is the wrong way. 23. Hon. Mr. NgataJ] The position is that the Rangers and the Commissioner of Crown Lands advised that for the freehold of the land the Crown should offer .£29,000? —They totalled it up to £25,000. 24. Mr. Skinner, I understand, went as far as £29,000? —Yes, that was his opinion. 25. You took the responsibility of advising the Government to offer £35,000? —Yes, up to £35,000. 1 was anxious not to pay so much for it, but in view of the complications I would go up to £35,000. 26. Mr. Dive.] During the course of the negotiations did the Government make any advances in the way of money, witli the ultimate idea of purchasing this land?— Not that I am aware of. Ido not know of a penny being advanced. Any advances would lie made through our Department. 27. Mr. Herries.] Aboul these survey liens: when were the surveys done?— The liens have been standing about ten years. I think. I think I gave you the interest in that statement. Yes, the interest is for five years. That is all we can claim under the Act. I think some of the surveys were made eight or ten years ago. 28. For whose benefit were the surveys made —for the lessee's or the Natives' ?—-For the Natives only —for the Native Land Court. 29. For partition purposes?— Yes. The first survey of all was made to enable the block to be brought before the Court in order to ascertain the title; and further surveys were made after that. 30. When was the land first brought before the Court to get the title? —I do not rojnember. 31. Did these liens date back to then?— No. I can get the date of the charging order. 32. When were the surveys done?—l do not remember exactly. I know they were done a number of years ago.

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