MOKAU LAND INQUIRY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 26, 15 September 1911, Page 6

MOKAU LAND INQUIRY.

(Per Press Association.l Wellington, September 15. At the Mbkau inquiry, Mr Dal/.ioll continuing, said the transaction practically was that Mr Lewis bought for £39,000 and sold %ir £71,000 and -150 shiifes hr the company, and for thirty year's will receive rent for 70,000 acres ’at’ present leased. The alienation clause‘ in the Act provides that the block hvaj- 'only be disposed of in areas complying ; with the requirements of t’ne Native Land Act. Mr Bowler will receive a small remuneartion from the company while he acts as 'trustee. !l This had been done after consulting with the Under-Secretary (Mr Fisher) and. the Solicitor-General. Tile remuneration is to bo £5 per month.

Mr Dalziell, replying to Mr Massey, said the latter’s written statement handed in at the opening of the inquiry was correct, except that it was not in accordance with the provisions of the Act that the Order-in-Council was applied for. Witness admitted that without the Order-in-Council Lewis could only have obtained 3000 acres. The Board did not confirm the sale until after the Gazette authorising was issued. When the compant' 51 acquired the estate they had then acquired the Stubbs estate of 14,000 acres, including coal rights dll'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 Bowler was being paid by the company would not influence him as president of the Land Board in extending the time. There was no question' of payment when Bowler first became trustee. It was the SolicitorGcnferal who suggested that Bowler should be paid. The examination of Lewis, which was 'thterihipted ,! eaitief ! in' tlic week by his illness, was f, contihued. Replying to Mr Hurries witness said that some of the natives came td’lifni in 1908 and wanted to sell for £15',000. That was witness’s first connection with the affair.' Witness was prepared two years ago to sell ttf the Government for £28,000; Witness retained 7000 acres for himself. To Mi' Massey: Witness said lie had been phid by the company for 46,000 acres- He had not attempted to sell Ids 7000 acres nor had he received an offer for if... Witness’s shares in the company cost him £I2OO. The ■committee adjourned till next Wednesday.