SYNOPSIS OF PROPOSED NATIVE LANDS ACT.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 83, 30 August 1873, Page 3

SYNOPSIS OF PROPOSED NATIVE LANDS ACT.

We are indebted to the Napier Telegraph, for the following-outline of, the Native Land Act, our own oopy not having ’ come to hand. Reeent advices inform us that the Act has since become law:— Repeals previous Acts, except portions relating to duties: Repeal not to affect acquired rights or proceedings completed under repealed Acte.; Proceedings commenced under repealed Act may be perfected under new Act so far as possible. Dis-tricts-to-be established, and chief judge, judges, and assessor! to be appointed. Ah interpreter to be attached to each district as clerk to the judge. .Court .rolls to J>e'kept in each district. Transcripts of district rolls, and subsequent enrolments, with tracings of maps, to be transmitted to chief judge. District ’officers to be appointed to prepare skatetoh map of district; distinguishing lands in possession of different tribes of hapus at date of Waitangi treaty: also to compile information as to intertribal boundaries, acreage of tribal land, ripurse of rivers, and features of country. Information to be recorded in local reference book. Officer to produce book before Court when required; Natives Reserves Copimissioners to assist With ihforinatioh. 1 r - 3 3, J 1£ A W i : , Reserves. —District officer, with consent of natives, to set apart reserves, and endowments. Such reservesin the aggregate to equal fifty acres fob eablf native 'matt, Woman, find child intne districto i. Officer to, report reserves to Governor. After approval qf reserye, officer-may direct j survey s by authorised surveyor.. Upon completion of- may give notice to ehief judge, and apply for investigation of title. Ch jpf judge shall notify a sitting Mihe investigate. •tfcfe'tfHfc’ •After-enquiryyamemeristetdwnership to be in scribed'Oh Com* roHs. Oopy<rf«bffi6rialj sealed by the Court, to be sent to the Governor. At the tad of six mtaths the Governor willpub-

lish notice in the Kahiti, that the lands described in -extract will be inalienable for sale, lease, on mortgage, except with Governor’s consent in etolr ctese. ’ Aftet publication of such notice, such land-shall be'held by the owners, under native custom and usage, and shall not be subject to new Act or wj future Land Ata r' ■ Invrstjqa's ipjf o» TixiJs»-—Survey? imperative in every case. Natives on applying for investigation of title to state the boundaries of land, and name’ of tribes or persons interested in land, and shall be signed by three claimants at least. Copy ol ] application fo be served upon all interested persons or tribes, arid proof of service given to Court at hearing. Copies of notices of : Haims’,-ndtides of “sifting’ of. Court, and list of cases to be sent' to> Gomurissioners of Crown Lands, Inspectors of surveys, and Natives Reserve* |n jwlyjse j district land is situate. Also to claimbrit, counlfer-clafiriant, ahd. objector, and slntjl bp published in the Kahiti in - Maori, and in the Provincial Gazette in Maori a id English. Officers ad' notified to report to the ch e£ judge, whether land alienated or npt, or apy,di ficUlty or cduriteYclaiftia they inky be aware of, and in such case, the judge shall suspend proceedings until objection’ removed. The judge to make preliminary enquiries, and if satisfied, that claim is btiria fide, airiithkt 1 hbattog ik riot likely'to cause disturbance, he ’shall require land to be surveyed, aridYriuMbries iriarked’on the ground. Applicants to satisfy inspectors of surveys ; that cost bf Biirvey ta’d J maps will bb paid in money or Itfnre td uie 'frausftared to Her •Mijektf’.^Wi|en: siirvey cctarpldfe, chief fudges 4)o riritify - sitting of Court. Notices to be circulated in same manner as notices of claims: On due proof of service of notide, Court At' next’ kitting ib investigate title, require attendance of witnesses, and production of docunjeptjs; ;: presiding; judge to carry jon investigation without intervention of counsellor otherAgtat’Z ICffiriiharits maylippoint one of thjeir number as spokesman. If applicants desire I it, Court shall ascertain the proportionate undivided share of each owner, andJ in such-dase did rtifetira-, tion of owners shall be.-made until such amount is discovered, which in every’ case shall be cleairly set forth in memorial of ownership. ; 11 ‘ - .1 <.< O>l ‘ “