MOKAU LAND INQUIRY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 18, 6 September 1911, Page 6

MOKAU LAND INQUIRY.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, September 6. At the Mokau inquiry the cross-ex-apiination of Hardy , was continued. To Mr Dive; Although he thought the land was not worth £25,000 he did not advise the natives to sell, as his advice had not been asked. The coal on the block was below the river level and witness thought, it could not be worked economically. To Mr Herries: If the natives could have asked for £SOO to carry on witness did not think they would have sold the block. To Mr Jennings: Prior to the sale the natives were receiving Is 4d per acre for the lease of the land. The native owners had other lands besides this block. He noticed that the only suitable locations for homesteads were already taken up under 27 years’ lease and the company could not shift, these lessees. The opening of the block would )>e a fine thing for To Kuiti and neighbouring places. Exclusive of sub-leased land and other encumbrances the block was worth on an average not more than a pound per acre. To Mr Massey: Witness had never heard of any negotiations with the natives by the Government for the purchase of the block. The area of the Mangapapa block, which was on the other side of the river to the Mokau block, was 14,000 acres. To Mr Dal si cl: The natives laid been since advised to claim £IO,OOO damages for non-compliance with the agreement. Mr R. McNab said the first knowledge he had of the matter was an agent calling on him asking him to take shares in a company. Ho took 1000. The capital of the company was £IOO,OOO. The price to be paid for the freehold was £85,000 and for leasehold £56,000. The company had no dealings with Mr Herman Lewis. They bought from Mr Mason Chambers. Ho never communicated with any Ministers of the Crown on the matter. To Mr Massey: The company had come to no decision regarding the minerals on the block. To Mr Jennings: Surveyors had been working for the past three months on the block. The company intended quitting the land. At 1 o’clock the committee adjourned.