MR. SUTTON'S LETTER.

Wananga, Volume 4, Issue 6, 10 February 1877, Page 1 (Supplement)

MR. SUTTON'S LETTER.

In the month of june, 1870. I had some negotiations with Mr. M'lean in reference to this block; wanted the rent paid which was then due. Mr. M'lean informed me that he had seen Mr. Manev.

i who hod cautioned him against paying any money to me. Nothing was settled at that time. Mr. Ormond - undertook to see what Maney's title was, and to arrange with me. Four days afterwards, I found that a deed had been prepared by Mr. Carlyon, Mr. M' Lean's Solicitor, which purported to be a mortgage in favour of Williams and M'Lean, signed by five Natives, who ackuowledged that they owed the mortgagees over £SOO. This deed was not signed at the time of my interview with the Hon. D. M'Lean. The Natives who signed that deed had previously sold to me, and Mr. M'Lean was advised of ■ that offect. I was informed on most reliable authority, that on the day previous to my interview, Mr. M'Lean had sent for Mr. Maney, and asked him if he could help him in this matter ; Mr. Maney replied possibly he could, but he must have money, and Mr. M'Lean then gave him his p. n., for £250. Messrs. Williams and M'Lean admitted that at that date tho rent was overdue to the amount of over £9OO, a large portion of which was due on the shares of those Natives who signed the mortgage deed. [ received a memo from Mr. Ormond, showing what deed it was, and the particulars, and I subsequently saw the deed, and read it in his office; that deed has not been registered. I cautioned Mr. Ormond against registering it, and told him if I found it registered, I should take immediate steps to remove it from the registry. Mr. Ormond said he should not register it; the transaction was evidently a very questionable one, and the most disreputable transaction he had ever known ; it was, he said, disgraceful, and he would have no more to do with it. During the interview referred to above, Mr. M'Lean said the rent was much too high, and that he never expected or intended to pay it. He always considered he should be able to occupy tho land for a few years, till he coulld buy it for .some £3,000 which he considered its full value, and he suggested to me that the matter had better remain in that state. I imformed him that I would agree with him as to the ultimate disposal of tho hind and drafted an agreoment by which I was to bind myself to sell to him the freehold of the 900 acres he was interested in for £3,000, and the money to be either paid or left on mortgage for five years at 10 per cent., but the rent up to date of conveyance was to be punctually paid. This agreement Mr. M'Lean declined to sign, as lie said Mr. Maney migth trouble him if he settled the rent with me. About the begining of tho present year I sued the Hon. 1). M'Lean for the j rent due to me, and after getting considerable time to plead to the action, lie confessed judgment for the amount and costs. lam fully aware that from that time every step has been taken that was possiblo to upset my title. Mr. Carlyon has told me that he is instruetad to use every means in his power to keep up an excitement about it. I have very good reason for saying that Natives have been incited to repudiate their transactions some four weeks since. I was informed by two Natives that a letter had been received from Mr. McLean, telling Paoro Torotoro that there was something wrong with his sale to me, and advising him to see Carlyon, who would put him right. The Natives said that in consequence of this letter and the advice he had received , Paul would repudiate everything. Karaitiana, who holds a share in the block unencumbered, .said before he left Napier that he received a letter from Mr. McLean requesting him to commence proceedings, and that in consequence lie signed a document which he would not otherwise have done. Ileferring to the share of Tareha, which was sold some two years since to Mr. M'Lean for £3OO, at least an agreement for sale was made at that time. When Mr. M'Lean was last in Napier, I instructed Mr. Maddoek, who was doing some business for me with Mr. M'Lean, to oiler to take over Tareha's share, paying Mr. M'Lean what sum he had expended, ami making up the amount in cash to Tareha. Mr. Mad dock subseqiiehtly informed me that he had seen Mr. M'Lean, who said he intended to give Tareha his land back. He would not allow Tareha to receive the same as the others, who had each received £SOO tor their share. Had Mr. M'Lean acceded to my proposal, Tareha would have received .rJOO more for his share, than has been paid to him by Mr. M'Lean. (Signed) l'\ Sn'TON, 9th October, I*7l.