MOKAU ENQUIRY

Southland Times, Issue 16844, 21 September 1911, Page 6

MOKAU ENQUIRY

(Per United Press Association.) AA’ELLTNOTON, September 20. Before the Mokau Lands Enquiry Committee this morning, Archibald AVilliam Blair, partner of Mr Skerrett, K.C., said that his firm, since 1909, had acted for the natives In the Mokau transactions, and all accounts for costs were sent to Eketone and others. They were not acting for the Government. Witness had stated to Mr Bell that Mr Skerrett was not then representing a majority of the native owners, meaning that non-settlers were then in a majority, but not that lie had ceased to act, as he was still acting for Eketone tmd a few others. Witness took tiie responsibility for unintentionally conveying a wrong impression to Air Bell concerning Air Skerrett’s position. Air Kensington, Under-Secrotary for Lands, said that In 1 907, when Jonos’ Interest in the block was ordered to bo sold by the Supreme Court, an effort was made to induce the Government to acquit*- the block for closer settlement, but as it was native land this could not be done. A little later Air A. R. Hlslop, acting for Air Jonos, was ordered to sell to the Government for £150.000, but this was not accepted. Early in 1910 the natives .offered (he land to the Government for £1 per acre, and the Government had a valuation made by some of the Crown officers. The result of Hie valuation showed that t Ho Government could not give more than £.15,000 for a block of 50,100 acres then owing to the number of claims of interest in the blocks. The Government declined to take further action until doubts as to ownership were removed. To Mr Jennings: He bad put in all the correspondence In connection with the block. Ho laid no personal knowledge of the block, but he knew the cost of roading it would be very heavy. To Air Ngatu: The dip in tHo coal scams went the wrong way to make the working profitable. To Air. Merries: The anomalous difference between the valuations by "the Department and the companies interested in the block wa.s probably a question of the value of the minerals. Ho had recommended not more than £115,000 for the freehold, free of any mortgages or encumbrances. To Air Massey: Ho did not know that the block had been offered to the Government at tiny sot price. His estimate did not take minerals into consideration.

The Committee adjourned till tomorrow '