MOKAU JONES ESTATE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 127, 21 July 1911, Page 6

MOKAU JONES ESTATE.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, July 20. In reference to a statement by Mr. Massey concerning the sale of what is known as tire Mokau Bio3k, Sir James Carroll states that the official position is, briefly, as follows:

“The Mokau-Mohakatino blocks comprise an area of 50,000 acres. In the'month of July, 1882, Mr Joshua Jones arranged a lease for a term of 50 years at a very small rental, also certain royalties being payable on products. In or about the year 1888 a special Act was passed by the then Government (Atkinson), which practically confirmed Jones’ lease, though it was incomplete. “After many years’ litigation (in England principally) in various forms by Jones and assignees, the estate finally passed to Mr Hermann Lewis by mortgagees’ sale tor a sum oi £14,000. At this time certain sub-

leases, given thereunder for the preceding period, were granted and duly registered under the Laud Transfer Act, so that the sub-lessees got an indefeasible title, but as the leasehold conditions were not favourable in so far as protecting any improvements placed thereon during the currency of the leases, many of the lessees could not afford to spend large sums for improvements. The laud being,* therefore, under lease at a very low rental and having almost thirty years to inn, made the position one outside of the lessee in which two interest's were paramount, namely, the interests of the native owners, and also of the public. “Taking the interests of the native owners, they had but very small sums to receive for a period of almost 30 years, and no prospects of any extensive improvements being effected to give them enhanced value, while increasing liability, such as laud tax, left them what might lie considered for. that period something of infinitesimal value.

“As to the public interest, to the north, south, and east of the block settlement was going on apace, and this block in its unsatisfactory position was hampering settlement generally, and in the public interest it was necessary that something should be done to promote the same.

“As to the value of the lands, in 1805 the Valuer-General said the valuation of the native owners’ interests was £11,337. The number of owners was approximately 200. The special valuation of owners’ interests for the recent proposals gave a sum of £14,881, and arrangements for the sale between owners and purchaser was ti sum of £25,000. A considerable hum her of the owners do hot te-

aide in the district, many oi them living at Oraki, New Plymouth, and To Kuiti, and haA'ing no direct interest in retaining their rights in this block, while, on the othci hand, they required funds to assist them in their respective holdings in which they were

now settled, so in their interest the proposal of ready cash was very satisfactory.

“Corning more directly to the question of public interest., it should not require much argument to decide time point. The laud had boon locked up for twenty-five years, no satisfactory settlement was pending, and no probability of any advance being made in tno remaining tuii fy-five years. Therefore, as the holder of the leasehold interest had arranged what to the Government' was considered a satisfactory price to be paid to the native owners,. and, further, had given the Government a guarantee that on an Ordei-in-Council issuing the land in question would be sub-divided into sections in accordance with the limitation of areas as provided by part 12 of the Native Baud Act, 1909, and that no delay would take place in proceeding therewith, the Government lias further guarded the public interest by allowing the president of the Board for the district to accept the title to the land on the terms proposed, and which provided that ii the parties’ interested in the purchase of the land did not within three years from the date of the sale sub-divide and open for competition the block with limitation of areas as previously mentioned, then the Board had an absolute right to proceed Avitii the subdivision and sale of the land on its OAVn initiative.

“Ac the transaction Avas a private one, the local authority Avould see that the requirements of the Public Works Act were fully complied with, and, therefore, that question could be left to that body, as until roads arc duly proclaimed no registered title can be issued.

“At the present time, two or three survey parties arc, and. have been since negotiations were completed, pushing ahead with the sub-division work and reading, so that before next year's bush-falling season the larger portion of this block should be submitted to public competition. “15y the action of the Government settlement of this large block of ou,000 acres is assured, and that within the limitations provided by tire Native Land Act, which limitation is con-

siderably under the area allowed by part 113 of the Land Act, 1008. This block of land is to bo settled without the Government being called upon in any way to assist in Lie scheme in question by why of finance. ’’ Palmerston North, July 21.

In letters to the local press, dir. R. McNab. chairman, of the Mokau Company, and Mr. C. Loughuan, solicitor to the company, each deny the accuracy of Mr. Massey’s remarks at Auckland regarding the acquisition of die pi op a , «»,