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by Parliament. The report contains several material statements that are not true, and in other instances the truth is concealed. The so-called inquiry was held and report concocted unknown to me ; there are no names or evidence of the witnesses given ; the report is not written in good faith, but with evident malice. I allege that this illegal Commission was set up at the instigation of Dr. Findlay. I was threatened with it beforehand consequent upon my refusal to agree to certain terms put forward by him on behalf of one Herrman Lewis, the client of his business firm of Findlay and Dalziell, while he as a Minister refused the inquiry recommended by the Legislative Council Committee. The story respecting the leases being illegal, voidable, or improperly obtained, that has gained such notoriety, is untrue, and was only concocted by the Stout-Palmer Commission. No Court of law has decided that the leases were void, voidable, or improperly obtained. It is only the slander of an unauthorized Commission that has raised the story. I have never been able to obtain an open inquiry into the case ; the inquiry recommended by the 1908 Committee, I repeat again, was blocked by Dr. Findlay. Sir Joseph Ward informed me and the solicitor that was with me some twenty months later that he was not in accord with Dr. Findlay's refusal of the inquiry. The inquiry now before the Native Affairs Committee, let it be remembered, is not on my behalf nor at my request: lam only a witness. But I submit this memorandum in view of the day when an open and independent inquiry may be obtained, when those inquiring shall not be interested parties, and Government influences shall be barred. Joshua Jones.

No. 101. 19 Majoribanks Street, Wellington, 26th August, MM I. To the Chairman, Native Affairs Committee, House of Representatives. Wellington. Mokau Land Case. The Committee are aware that at present I am only a witness in the premises, merely to answer questions, and although largely interested in the inquiry I have not the right to submit evidence of my own position or claims. What recommendations have been made by the two Committees of 1908 and 1910 have been entirely ignored by the Government. I therefore beg leave to request that I have leave to appear as a principal in the inquiry, and place my own facts, through counsel, for consideration of the Committee. My attendance by this course will, I believe, be of assistance to the Committee as well as secure a measure of justice to myself. I submit there can be no legitimate reason why this request should not be granted, and would mention that at the A to L Committee of 1910 —where neither the claim or assumed righi to be heard existed, as in this instance—the Natives and the alleged purchaser of the leases were permitted without leave or consultation of me, whose petition only was being considered, to both appear and with counsel apply that the Committee would recommend the Government to issue an Order in Council enabling the alleged purchaser of the leases to obtain the freehold of the estate without competition or the expenditure of a farthing, or the performance of any public service entitling him to such consideration from the State, which request was granted and acquiesced in without hesitation by the Committee. . I should be glad (f an early reply in ordei to prepare for the inquiry. Joshua Jones.

No. 102. Sir,— Wellington, 28th August, 1911. I have the honour to request that you will kindly return to me at the earliest possible moment the copy of the evidence forwarded to you for signature on Friday last, the 25th instant. I have. <fee, H. W. Harris, Clerk of the Native Affairs Committee. Joshua Jones, Esq., 49.Majoribanks Street, Wellington.

No. 103. 29th August. 1911. Gentlemen, — Mokau Land Case. Upon being requested this morning by the Clerk, Mr. Harris, to sign the evidence given by me a few days ago, I intimated to him that I would prefer to delay signing the same until the matter had been again referred to the Committee, for the reason that an important omission has been made therein that I considered should be supplied and inserted. I informed the Committee on the hearing that the Chairman, Mr. Jennings, was the agent of the people who had defrauded me, and that he had no right to be in the chair ; that the Committee should put a stop to it— i.e., his being in the chair and improperly interfering with the evidence. The newspaper reports state that the Chairman absolutely denied the allegation, and asked the Press—in justice to himself —not to give it publicity. I ask that this circumstance be placed on the record. Yours, &c, Joshua Jones. To the Committee on Native Affairs, House of Representatives, Wellington.