I.—3a.

No. 104. Wellington. 9th September, 1911. Gentlemen, — Molrcvu Land Inquiry. On the 26th August I addressed a note to the Chairman asking permission of the Committee to appear a> a principal in the proceedings and submit my facts through counsel for your consideration, and naming a precedent in this case for my application. I requested an early reply in order that I might be prepared by instructing counsel and producing papers, &c. I mentioned the matter informally to Sir James Carroll, who stated that probably I would be permitted to make a statement before the Committee, but that I would receive a reply "to my note. The Chairman, however, has not seen fit to send me word or line. As this is the most important case of the kind that has ever occupied the attention of a colonial Legislature, I ask your early and earnest consideration. Yours, &c, The Native Affairs Committee, House of Representatives. Joshua Jones.

No. 105. Wellington, 12th September, 1911. Sir, — Re Parliamentary Paper No. 6.-1, Mokau-Mohakatino Block. With reference to your letters dated the 26th August and 9th September, I have the honour to inform you that the Committee have decided that they cannot give you permission to appear as a principal or by counsel in connection with the above-named paper. T have. A.T.. Wμ. T. Jennings," Chairman of the Native Affairs Committee. Joshua Jones. Esq., 49 Majoribanks Street, Wellington.

No. 106. Wellington, 19th September, 1911. May it please the Honourable the Speaker,— I ask permission to submit to your notice a matter of injustice that I have no means of rectifying except by an appeal to yoursslf. The Mokau case is now under investigation by the Native Affairs Committee, in so far as certain questions betwixt the Government and Mr. Massey, M.P., are concerned. I have, however, made the request of the Committee to be permitted to appear as a principal and tender evidence through counsel, upon the grounds that the Government has ignored the recommendations of two parliamentary Committees —one of 1908, the other in 1910 —that the Government should set up inquiry in the premises ; and, secondly, that in any dealings with the Mokau property my claims to equitable consideration should be clearly defined. This request has been refused ; but there may be a possibility of my beingallowed to make some statement in reference to the case, although I have as yet received no intimation to that effect. In the event of my attendance before the Committee being permitted, I would inform Mr. Speaker that the Chairman, Mr. Jennings, has already endeavoured to materially prejudice the case in the House during the last and present sessions by making statements that I question, but have not had the opportunity of replying to, and that during the present sittings of the Committee he has put forward statements and questions that require explanations, and replies from me. He has been, and I believe still remains, the agent of the people in London and in this country who, I allege, and who the Committee of 1910 found, had defrauded me. I have mentioned some of the circumstances to the Committee by letter, and verbally, at one of the sittings, but Mr. Jennings remains in the chair. Under such circumstances I have no alternative but to lay the matter before Mr. Speaker, with the request that he may see fit to intervene with the view of my getting a fair and impartial hearing. In support of this request I would ask attention to the evidence given by Mr. Jennings in this case before the A to L Committee, 1910, page 20 of the report on the Mokau lands petition, and to his statements in the House — Hansard, 1910, pages 648, 650, 1255, and Hansard, 1911, pages 184-86. I submit that his evidence before the Committee, likewise his statements in the House, are such that I should have the opportunity of answering in order to have a fair decision arrived at. The Honourable the Speaker's most respectful servant, Joshua Jones. The Honourable Sir Arthur Guinness, K.C.M.G.. M.P.. Speaker of the House of Representatives.

No. 107. Sir, Auckland, 29th April, 1879. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your 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 correspondences. 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 allow and encourage European settlers amongst them. (PAH assistance which the Government can lawfully render will be given to you in respect of survey and investigation of title. T have, &c, Joshua Jones, Esq., Victoria Hotel. Auckland. John Sheehan.

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