MOKAU LAND INQUIRY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 30, 20 September 1911, Page 2

MOKAU LAND INQUIRY.

(For Press Association.) Wellington, September 20. The Mokau Committee resumed tins morning. Mr Archibald William Flair, a partner of Mr Skerrett, K.C., said Lis firm since 1909 acted for the natives in the Mokau transactions. All :;c----counts for costs wore sent to Eketone and others. They were not acting for the Government. Witness had stated to Mr Bell that Air Skerrett was net then representing a majority of the native owners, meaning that nonsellers were then in the majority, hut not that he had ceased to act, as ho was still acting for Eketone and others. Witness took the responsibility for unintentionally conveying a wrong impression to Mr Bell concerning Mr Skcrroti’s position. Mr Kensington, ,Under-Secret ary for Lands, said that in 1907, when Jones’ interest in the block was ordered to he sold by the Supreme Court, an effort was made to induce the Government to 'acquire the block for closer settlement, but as it was native land this could not bo done. A little later Air Hislop, acting for Jones, offered to sell to the Government for £150,000, but this was not accepted. Early in 1910 the natives offered the land to the Government for £1 per acre. Tiic Government had a valuation made bv some of the Crown officers. I lie ' suit of the valuation showed that ilia Government <ou!d not give marc than £35,000 for tlm block of 50.1 W acres. Thenj owing to the number. of via inks of interest in the block. i!m Governihent declined to’take further action until all doubts as to ownership Jud been removed. To Air Jennings: Ho had put in all correspondence in connection with the block. lie had no personal knowledge of the block, but lie knew the ccst of reading it would be very heavy. To Mr Ngata: The dip on the coal seam went the wrong way to make its working profitable. To Mr Hornes: The anomalous difference between the values of the dip and the companies interested in the block was probably a question of the value of minerals. He had recommended not more than £35,000 for the freehold, free of any mortgages or encumbrances. To Air Massey: He did not knnw that the block had been offered to the Government at any set price. His estimate did not take minerals into consideration. The Committee adjourned till tomorrow.