THE MOKAU INQUIRY

Southland Times, Issue 16840, 16 September 1911, Page 6

THE MOKAU INQUIRY

(Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 15. At tlio Aiokau inquiry Mr Dalziol .continuing, said that the transaction practically was that Air I,owls bought for £30,000 and sold for' £71,000, and -150 shares in the company, and for thirty years would receive rent for 7000 acres at present leased. The alienation clause in the Act provided that the block might he disposed of only in area; complying with the requirements of the Native Land Act, Mr Bowler would receive a small remuneration from the company while he acted as trustee. This had been done after consulting witli tiie under-secretary, Mr Usher, and the Solicitor-General. The remuneration was to be £5 per -month! To Mr Massey: That the written statement handed in at the opening of tlie enquiry was correct, except that it was in pursuance of and not an avoidance of the provisions of the Act that the Order-in-Council was applied for. Witness admitted that without the Ordrr-in-Council Mr Lewis could have obtained only 3000 acres. The Board did not confirm tiie sale until after the Gazette authorising it was issued. When the Company acquired the estate they had then acquired Stubbs's estate of 1-1,000 acres, including coal rights on the opposite side of the river. To Mr Dive: If the Company did not subdivide in three years they could apply for an extension of time.' The fact that. Mr Bowler was being paid by ilie Company would not influence him as president of the Land Board in extending time. There was no question of payment when Mr Bowler first became trustee. It was tiie SolicitorGeneral who suggested that Mr Bowler should be paid. Hermann Lewis, whose evidence was interrupted earlier, in the week by his illness, continued his testimony. Replying to Mr Merries, witness said that some of the Natives came to him in RIOS and wanted to sell for £15,000. That was wiliie-s' first connection with the affair. Witness was prepared two years ago to sell to tiie Government for £2S,O(m. Witness retained 7000 acres for himself. To -Mr Massey: Witness said lie had been paid by the Company for 16,0,00 acres. Ho did not attempt to sell ills 7000 acres, nor had lie received an offer for it. Witness's shares in the Company cost him £I2OO. The Committee adjourned till next Wednesday.