THE MOKAU COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9120, 31 July 1888, Page 6

THE MOKAU COMMISSION.

The Commission opened its sittings at Otorobanga on Saturday, 21stJuly, when a number of Mokau natives were in attendance. Wetere Te Rerenga, chief of the Lower Mokau natives, was the principal witness examined. His evidence was to much the same effect as that given by the natives at VVaitara, except that he denied the prevalence of • drunkenness in the settlement at the time of the signing of the lease. He admitted that two 36-gallon casks of beer had been brought up by Jones, and were drunk by the natives in celebration of the event. Like the natives at Waitara, those at Otorohanga, denied that they had understood the terms of the lease, and thought it was only a right for Jones to take coal until sufficient money had been realised to enable them to pay the cost of surveying the Poutama Block and putting it through the Land Court. Wetere admitted that until recently he had been favourable to Jones, and had endeavoured to get signatures for him ; but had become disgusted because there was no money coming from it. He was much pressed as to evidence he had given in Jones's favour before Judge Wilson on a former occasion, and which was opposed to his present evidence. Several natives from the Upper Mokau also made their statements. Mr. W. H. Grace, native interpreter, who had acted as agent for Jones in getting the lease signed at Mokau, was examined, and deposed that the terms of the lease were - settled after discussion with the natives extending over several days, and that they perfectly understood that the lease was for 3 56' years. He had seen no drinking at the settlement whilst the negotiations were going on. The Commission re-opened its sittings in Auckland on Thursday, when Mr. James Holmes gave evidence as to the circumstances under which he had been induced by Shore and Jones to build a steamer for Mokau, and that he had been promised a share in the lease, which agreement Jones afterwards repudiated, and obtained the deed in his own name. Mr. Neville Walker gave evidence to the effect that he had never interfered to upset Jones' negotiations with the natives; also as to the part he had taken in inducing Rewi and the Maniapoto natives to consent to the opening of Mokau. Mrs. Neville Walker and Mr. Henry Brown were examined as to the telegram read by Mr. Hamlin in the House, which it appeared was sent as long ago as July, 1882, by Mrs. Walker and a Mrs. Jane Brown to Mr. - Brown, who was then resident at Waitara. This was at the time when Jones and Grace were getting the lease signed at Mokau. The telegram had no reference to the affairs of Messrs. Morrin and Russell, or of Mr. Walker. She and Mrs. Brown were working against Jones and Te Rerenga in retaliation for their having attempted to get her name kept out of the title to the Mokau block, of which she was one of the owners. Through the interference of Rewi and other of the natives, her rights had been recognised. The person referred to in the telegram as " Maggie," was Mrs. Walker's sister. They were near relatives of Rewi. Mrs. Walker also deposed that she was the person referred to in the telegram sent from Waitara by Wetere to Chief Judge Macdonald in December, 1886, in which he stated that " the people" were waiting to sign Jones' lease. It was not true that any owner of the land was there except herself. She was asked to sign at that time but refused. She had,never any intention of doing so. She was not in any way influenced by the opinion of Judge Macdonald that " it would not be legal." The Commission leaves Auckland this week for Wellington, and will take evidence at New Plymouth and Wanganui. It is expected that the report will be presented in about ten days.