Second Edition. MOKAU LANDS ENQUIRY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 24, 13 September 1911, Page 6

Second Edition. MOKAU LANDS ENQUIRY.

.7 ; . £Por. Press Association ) i k’. . ,a. M DalziqUj.a partnerßn. the firm Findlay and % -Halzicll, said .Lewis greed to sell to the company for -r6>PQo,and eight shares in the block. uei V rs!s : solicitor agreed to pay off ‘Vf£f''i‘ 2rs when Lewis’s name was the register if'-' owners, mortgage of .- £14,000 be-tt-ame. 1 due , Lewis, ; consulted witness, thought that although the' title £jps.:gbod,; it was hot. such as could be .■tot.cgd, on an unwilling purchaser. Uewi.s could not, then finance the.purafia'se of the - leases,' as .the title was got secure enough to borrow on;• Witless approached the other solicitors uiteijested—McLean and Campbell—--hcl pointed out the advantage of mm bming with pi .view to,; having 'the ioasqs perfected, or of purchasing the Whole property’.- yin .1008" witness wrote to the Native Minister asking :or special legislation with a; view to the Settlement of the.block. Then Mr ireadwell, on behalf of Jones, inter-, v'ened,*.- and saffl Jones' would oppose legislation unless his interests wore -ally provided for. Witness, then negotiated .jwith Mr. Treadwell; but nooning'dime of it. Witness felt sure all along that they had nothing to wear from the appointment of any J.omfnission. They, spoke to Sir John riildiay, who- said Cabinet was sick of Commissions, and advised them to settle the matter if, they , could be\r'v:ocp,.tiiems.elv.es. la February,' 1909, me Land Commission, comprising Sir Robert Stout and Judge calmer, enquired into the position of .the Block, and found some of the owners had not signed tile original lease, that the lease ' was illegal, and that covenants in it had nob been performed. Messrs' Bell and Skorrott,; however:') 'thought tire, only do- I ,loot "in the case was regarding :s6ffqrmaiiCG cf covenants. Than An- ' Ji cw Eketone wrote,' stating that Lie .natives were willing to sell for f Sip,ooo, but report of the Com- . mission followed a little later, and tiie natives withdrew their offer, ibnes lodged a fresh petition, hut theGovernment did not ton move in the matter, nor were further negotiations Iqlween witness and Mr,' 1 Treadwell fruitful. A little later witness was tdld if the Gpyernrqeut .valuation bore tlirfc'tho price placed on the block by the native's, Cabinet would consider its. ciqm'pulsofy acquirement. The valuation was unsatisfactory,' ! so the Govenim'ent would of acquire. The' natives wanted £22,000, which was £700(1 too much if the leases wore valid; Another reason was - tli:it‘ the Govoi-hinent did not rare to compulsorily acquire the coal mine. '■’Tlie Committee adjourned till 10.30 to-morrow.