The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, JULY 2, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3732, 2 July 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, JULY 2, 1883.

We have before us a copy of the Bill intituled " The New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company (limited) Empowering Act 1883." The apparent object of the measure is to place in the hands of an association of capitalists the monopoly of purchasing, leasing, holding in trust, and the sale of native lands. Tho registered ofhec of tho company is to be at Auckland. The company may extend its operations and business to the whole or any part of the North Island of New Zealand. The company may amalgamate either wholly or partially witli other companies. The company may acquire lands in this Island belonging to natives, or owned by others than natives, or by the Crown ; and acquire such lands either as agents, or trustees, or by way of absolute purchase. The company may at any time after the conveyance of such land take all steps which may be necessary or proper cither in the Native Land Court or in any other Court in New Zealand to have the shares or interests of tho conveying owners ascertained. And any such Court, having ascertained such shares or interests, shall issue an order to the company vesting tho shares or interests of the conveying parties directly in the company, but subject always to the trusts, conditions, provisions, and agreements expressed in tho said deed of conveyance. And the company, notwithstanding any Rule of Law, of Equity, or Act, may also lawfully hold and administer, or manage and deal with, any such land or interest in land so vested in or conveyed to it according to tho trusts thereof. And such instrument may contain any powers, declarations, conditions, or agreements which the parties thereto may see fit to agree upon and insert therein. The guardians of natives under legal incapacity arc authorised to execute instruments as are referred to above, and the land or interest in land held by such guardians shall vest in the company, subject to the conditions expressed in such instruments. Clause 10 provides that where any land or native land has been or shall hereafter ho vested in the company, it shall bo lawful for the said company, or for any person who previously to such vesting was a native owner thereof or therein, or for any guardians as aforesaid, to apply to the Court to have the shares of each individual native ascertained, and thereupon the Court shall proceed to ascertain and determine the same as in its ordinary jurisdiction. Similar applications may be made and similar proceedings heard when the division or partition relates to money or any other interest of value. If any such application is made by less than all of the owners or persons interested as aforesaid, the Court may nevertheless inquire and make order as to the interests of tho whole of them. When any land or native land becomes vested in the Company upon trust, it shall be dealt with by the company according to tho trusts, tonus, and conditions upon which the same respectively is hold, and tho company shall bear all the liabilities of accounting and of answering in Courts of competent jurisdiction to which ordinary trustees are liable. Tho company is to be deemed a " local body " in respect of any contract or other arrangement with tho Minister of Public Works or Colonial Treasurer, under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act. The company may pay or guarantee the liabilities of natives, and may deduct the money so paid or guaranteed from any money owing by tho company to such natives. The native land duty on any native land vested in the company as trustees or agents shall be assessed at the time of tho conveyance of the said land to the compan}', and shall be payablo on the first alienation thereof by the company. Native owners of any block or groups of blocks of land may in their transactions and dealings with tho natives be represented by a committee selected by themselves. The company and such committee are empowered to make and execute all deeds and instruments in relation to all provisions, conditions, or limitations imposed upon or accepted by the company in any deeds or instruments conveying lands to the company. And any such agreements and instruments executed by a majority of the committee shall bo sufficient and binding as between the company and the native owners represented. The company may account and pay to any committee selected as aforesaid for and on behalf of tho native ownors in any block or group of blocks any money due to such owners, and the receipt of the committee signified in writing under the hand of the majority shall be a sufficient discharge and satisfaction for monies paid tor or on account of each or all or any of the said owners.