151

I.—3a.

It seems to me, however, that the better way to deal with the matter would be to adopt the course that 1 previously suggested to the Hon. -Mr. Carroll and, 1 think, to yourself in connection with the matter. That course would be as follows :— (1.) The Government to purchase the interests i>l the Natives. I understand that this can be done for about £15,000. That was the original amount suggested, and if a little more was required I do not see that that need stand in the way of a settlement. (2.) That the Government should then take under the provisions of the Native Land Act the interests of the lessees compulsorily. Ihis could be done under section 375, and the position then would be that the lessees and the mortgagees of the leases would then be in a position to claim whatever the values of the leases were in the Compensation Court. (3.) That the Crown should make a grant to Mr. Jones of the minerals on and under the block, and give him an area of the surface, that area to lie determined by the Crown. It seems to me that in this way the whole of the difficulties in connection with the matter might be got rid of, and I do not doubt, if the Crown were to put the matter to Mr. Jones in something of the way that 1 suggest, thai a reasonable enough arrangement could be made with him. There is no doubt, apart from all questions of sympathy whatever, that Mr. Jones is entitled to consideration at the hands of the Crown, and 1 understand from you and also from Mr. Carroll that yon would be willing to do anything in reason to bring the matter to a head. You will remember that I showed you, without disclosing the figures, communications from England which, if this arrangement hail been carried out some two months ago, would have put Mr. Junes is an independent position and practically assured a settlement of this troublesome matter. May 1 ask you to bring the matter again before Cabinet as you suggested, and see whether something cannot be done to bring the business to a close. I have, &0., C. H. Treadwell. The Right, Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, K.C.M.G., Wellington.

No. 2. Awakino, 15th March, 1911. Received a registered letter addressed to " The President, Tuwharetoa Maori Land Board, Te Kuiti," from J. Jones. W. A. Tuse, Sub-Postmaster. Mokau, Taranaki, 11th March, 1911. Sib, — Mokau-Mohakatino Block. On the 29th December, 1909, I wrote to the Honourable James Carroll with respect to certain parties endeavouring to obtain titles adverse to my interests in these lands, and he replied through the Under-Secret ary, Mr. Fisher, advising that I should bring the matter to your notice, and on 17th January, 1910, 1 adopted this course, but you did not see fit to acknowledge my letter. I have heard indirectly that Mr. Fisher is a member of the Board. No Gazette or official intimation reaches me or this neighbourhood; I have, however, heard incidentally that some dealings are being attempted with these lands through the Board. This may or may not be correct, but I would remind you of the before-mentioned letter, and again state that no legally constituted Court of law, upon competent trial, has decided that my lights in this estate has become void. The I'mler-Secretary, Mr. Fisher, cannot but be aware that the Legislative Council Committee in 1908, and the Committee of the House of Representatives, 1910, both reported in effect that I had been defrauded with regard to the title to the lands, and recommended the Government to set up inquiry into the facts, which I have not yet obtained. Please take notice. I have, Ac, , Joshua Jones. To the President, Maniapoto-Tuwharetoa Maori Land Board, Te Kuiti.

Office of the Waikato-Maniapoto District Maori Land Board, Auckland, 25th March, 1911. Dead Sib, — Mokau-Mohakatino Nos. lv, Iβ, In, Is. 1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant, which reached me on the 22nd idem. Yesterday an application was made to the Board, then sitting, for confirmation of resolutions passed by the meetings of assembled owners held at Te Kuiti on the 22nd instant. The resolutions provided for the sale of all lour blocks to Mr. H. Lewis for the sum of £25,000 in cash, besides £2,500 worth of shares in the Mokau Land and Coal-mining Company (Limited), to be formed. Mr. Dalziell* appeared in support of the application and pointed out that any rights which you might have as against the present lessee would be in no way prejudiced by the present proceedings, which affected only the owners' reversionary interest. He was prepared to take confirmation on this understanding. The Board therefore decided to affirm the owners' resolution to sell, and it is proposed that the transfers will be executed as soon as the purchasemoney has been paid and the shares delivered. Yours faithfully, J W. H. Bowler, Mr. Joshua Jones, Mokau, Taranaki. President.