NATIVE LAND BILL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1547, 4 June 1885, Page 2

NATIVE LAND BILL.

Wellington, Last Night.

The Native Land Settlement Bill to be presented to Parliament is now completed, and will be distributed shortly The Bill provides means by which] istive lands can be disposed of either by sale or lease, under the laud laws of the colony, after they have passed through the Native Land Oourt. Owners of t. block cf land will have power to appoint from among themselves if they are eight or more in num ber, a committee consisting of seven r arsons, who will have the ri ht to deal with lands, subject to certain powers of control on the part of owners. If the number is seven or less, then owners themselves will have the powers of a committee. The Boards will be constituted for certain defined districts, and will have power up in the recommendation of the committee to take land and nse it for settlement purposes in a way similar to the operations of the Waste Lands Boards. The Commissioners of these Boards will have large powers entrusts t to them, but always subject on one hand to the recommendation of the Committee of owners, and on the other hand to the regulations of the Governor in Council bringing into force land laws under which the land will be administered. Expedition is now being used in putting the lands through the Native Lauds Courts, with the view to bringing them speedily under the operation of the Bill when passed.