MORE MOKAU MYSTERIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 192, 27 August 1901, Page 2

MORE MOKAU MYSTERIES.

FRESH COMPLICATIONS. [Auckland Herald Correspondent.] Lokdov, July 12. A new complexity has now been intro(luied into the terrible Mokau case by the action of Messrs Oadman and E M. Smith. I mentioned in a recent letter that Mr. Joshua Jones had claimed as a part of his property at Mokau a portion of the lands and minerals include! in the scheme which is now being ottered to the British public by Messrs Ondman and Smith, and that tboie gentlemen declined to recognise Mr. Jones at all in the mat'er. More lately Mr. Jone*—and I believe also M<". Courtney, of New Ply. mouth—urged upon Messrs o«dmao nnd Smith that they should not endanger the success of their scheme by attempting to dfal with property claimed by himself. It was suggest-d, [ understand, that in order to avoid the rise of wrecking an enterprise which might be b sneßciil to the colony Messrs Oadman and Smith should joint their scheme to that which Mr. < Jones is now promoting, with a strong city backing, so that the two, amalgamated into one big affair, with proportionately increased eopita', might be submitted under greatly improved conditions of probible success. This proposal, I. nm informed, was not accepted, Messrs Cadman and Smith pr.fes*ing entire satisfaction with the tit'e which tbey believed themselves to hold. Next Mr. Jones inserted in the London Financial Newt the following advertisement:— " New Zealand. The Mokau-Moha-katario Lands. Public Notice. It having come to my notice that certain persons are endeavouring to effect dealings with these lands and the minerals thereon, and exhibiting samples and photographs of the same in London, all and sundry are hereby required to take notice that I have not given any title or authority t> any persons to deal with the said lands or the minerah thereon.

" Whereas certain dealings with tbs title to these lands were the subj ct of a decision of the High Court in London io April last, it is hereby notified that proceedings are being tiken in Courts of competent jurisdiction to i'.quira info such said dealings and m itters incidental thereto. Joshua Jonbs, Owner of the Said lands, 59, Birnam Road, ToUingtou Park, N. Jul/ 9, 1901."

He also issued a circular setting forth that " A portion of these lands and minerals form part of a echeme that is now being submitted to the , English public by tbe Hon. Mr. Oidman and Mr. E. M. Smith, at 13, i Victoria-street, Westminster," and adding that a London so'ioitor had be?n convicted by the High Oourt on i 23rd April last of " unprofessional con- , due 1 ; in dealing with the title of th«sa lands, the property of his client, for his 1 own use and benefit"—the olieot, of ! course, being Mr. Joshua Jones, who adds a complont that Messrs. Oadman and Smith have not disclosed the fact 1 in their pripcgil*. i Finally, tho day before yesterdiy Mr. Jones addressed a letter tn the Ageat- ; General, calling attention to this advertisement and circular. Mr. Jones says: " I submit to you that the fact of two members of the New Zetland Legislature, one of them an »x Min<V.er, , attempting in this country to deal with property to which they oan h.v* no legal ti*la and not disclosing the fact to ' the public from whom tbey *re solicit , ing funds for their enterpri-e can only have a demoralisine effect, espncially as their headquarters is at the office of the ' Agent-General. You may deem it your duty as the representative of this c lony to takfl som* action"—to prevent the fane o c New Ze.lmd ba'ng prejudiced by the proceedings to which he takes excep'ion. Mr. Jones prooeeds: "lam in a position to stats that son l * wel'-wishers of New Z aland have pe sonally out to Messrs. Oadman and Smith cha' 'their endeavouring to deal with a proper y of doubful title in England, c to b« mixid up in sueh a transition ac the Mokaii ca°e is historically known to bo, can only prove fatal to the object of their mission as well as of damage to the colony. I should state that I wro'.e to the Hon. Mr. Cadman under date May 20 Kb*, warning him against having any dealing* with my inter.s's at Mokau, but he did not deem it necessary to acknowledge my let'e \" Subsequently, Mr Jones got on to say he saw Messrs Oadman and Smith personally at the A?«n'-Geneml's Office, and warned them, but was told that th»y had certain assurances from a New Zealand solioitor, to whim Mr, Jones mak*B some, further reference,] and who, he says, "itnifiotntly, "his] yet to be dealt with by me!" As an additional reason why he submits this matter to the Agent-General, Mr Jones states thntim'nedia'ely upon the judgment of the Oiurt bMng pronounced upon thee mductof his form <r solicitor, he (Mr Jws) "re-enterel nega'ia'ione with reliable parsons fur the informat : on of a company to work bis mineral* and e r eet la ge cment works at and to provide a numb r of suitibl'i steamers for corvaying the coal, lime, cement, etc to markets; but," h* saw, "these two representatives of New Z aland, having claimed a most impor'ant part of th* property, has prevented me comploting the negotiations " Observe, I am s : mply giving the facta as d'scloaed to me by specific written documents, withoit expressing any opinion of my own upon a question which will have to rome before t,hn New Z mland Taw Oaurts,

In' conversion to-day wih Mr. J-sHua Jones he expressed mu -h regret tint anv enWprise ben*fioi >1 to New Zeahnd in goneral, and to Taranaki in particular, should bi in danger of delay through what had tak-»n place, vut he remarked that this could have bpen avoided hid his suggestion been adopted or his ofier accepted, and be points out tint in any «siae he cannot be etppcted to sit down cnltn'y and submit to the seizure of what heclainn to be a portion of his own property. I