MOKAU LAND INQUIRY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 37, 28 September 1911, Page 6

MOKAU LAND INQUIRY.

(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, September 28,. , The Mokau land inquiry was resumed tills morning. Joshua Jones said the 31st March, 1908, was tho date of his interview with Mr McNab. Witness did, not mean to convey that Mr Jennings was there on that date. Witness wished the production of letters written by him to tho committee during the course of tho inquiry, and this was agreed to, and letters were put in. Witness then road a lengthy statement. He contended that two previous Commissions reported in witness’ favour, yet the Government ignored their recommendations. "Witness considered that tho Government which so acted would stop at'nothing to defeat witness in his demand for justice. Witness would have been able to sell his interests in London in 1907 but for damaging reports circulated in London by those interested. In 1906 Lewis told witness as there might be trouble about the title he had specially engaged Sir John Findlay and Mr Halxicll, as lie thought this engagement would prove worth while. Witness considered subsequent events had justified this action of Lewis’s. Witness contended that Sir John Findlay had spoken in tho Upper House in a manner that was practically in advocacy of Sir John’s own firm’s client’s case. In the 1908 Commission, Lewis stated lie had not paid any money for the purchase, as he had not a clear title, but he or someone else would pay when a clear title was obtainable. tet.tlus statement did not appear in the report of the Commission. Witness could not account for this omission. In witness’s opinion tiie Stout-Palmer Commission had no legal authority to deal with the Mokau ease. After dealing with the Order-iu-Cmincil witness complained that this inquiry would not give tho country any idea of the importance of this transaction. Witness concluded by saying that when lie began negotiations regarding the Mokau land in 1882, tho Native Land Court had never sat in the King Country. He could assure the Committee, that there had been no improper conduct on his part all the way through the proceedings. Tins concluded the whole of the evidence.