New Zealand Parliament.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 134, 5 September 1868, Page 4

New Zealand Parliament.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19th, 1868. Marlborough Reserved Lands Bill. Mr. Eyes moved, For leave to introduce a Bill to declare certain lands in the Province of Marlborough, set apart as reserves by Superintendents of that Province, open, for sale as waste Lands of the Crown, and to i-ender valid the sales of certain parts of such reserves. He pointed out that previous to assuming office as Superintendent of Marlborough, certain lands were set apart by his two predecessors, but the lands were never granted, and as it appeared from a communication addressed to the Commissioner of Crown Lands in Marlborough by the Secretary for Crown Lands that, although the Superintendent had power to set aside land as a reserve, it was not compulsory on the Government to grant any, the consequence was that these lands were placed in the peculiar position of being neither Crown lands nor reserves. Acting on advice received in the province, he had issued a proclamation declaring them to be Crown lands, and open for sale rxnder the legulation then in force; and, in accordance with the proclamation, cei’tain portions of those lands were sold ; but on application being made for issue of grants to the purchasers, such was refused on the ground that his proclamation was illegal. It became, therefore, necessary for him to ask The House to render valid the proclamation issued by him, and also the sales, and to give authority to the Governor to issue Crown Grants. The Provincial Council of Marlborough had unanimously passed a resolution at its last session asking him to introduce this Bill, and he trusted, therefore, the House would- allow him to bx-ing the measure forward. Leave was granted. The Bill was brought in, ■ read, a first time, ordered to be printed, and the second reading made-an Order of the day for the .following Wednesday.