COLONIAL ITEMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 84, 3 September 1873, Page 2

COLONIAL ITEMS.

Melbourne. Mr. Francis, the Premier of Victoria, offers Neve Zealand £15,000 as a subsidy for the San Francisco service, provided that the steamers go to Melbourne. Mr. Francis also sends despatches by this mail, naming the contribution required towards the Suez service. Mr. Vogel offered £5OOO. Mr. Samuels telegraphs to Mr. Parkes that the Californian service promises well. The ship beating about Otway in distress on the 18th proves to be the Dallam Tower, from London to Otago : she is now being towed up the bay under jury-masts. She has lost all her masts and sails, and even the signal flags. The Dallam Tower left London on May 11. The steam tug left her off Seaford next day. When 3000 miles from Australia she encountered a fearful hurricane. Auckland. The New Zealand Herald acknowledges the receipt of a solicitor’s letter, threatening an action for libel for strictures on Mr. Dargaville. The Herald corrects one statement but reiterates the others and declines to apologise. Tauranga. Native matters are quiet in this district. A half-caste has been fined £5 for assaulting Mr. Hamlin, Resident Magistrate. Mr. C. O. Davis telegraphs threatening a libel action against the Times for publishing a report that Mr. Davis was expelled from Rotorua by the natives.

The Times refuses to retract its statement. Wellington. In the Upper House, in reply to Tairoa, the Native Minister said that the Government, intended to call a Middle Island native to the Legislative Council. The Hawke’s Bay Superintendent’s Election Bill has passed. In debate on the Native Reserves Bill, Mr. Luckie, in answer to Mr. Sheehan’s opposition, said “he must congraf ulate him upon the manner -in which he had kept his pledge to the Paki Paki natives, to see their wrongs righted. He alluded to the disastrous results which late telegrams from Poverty Bay showed had -sprung from the agitation he (Mr. Sheehan) had then fomented. Mr. Sheehan said he would shortly bring the whole matter before the House, as a petition from the Hawke’s Bay Provincial Council, containing reflections on him in connection with the matter, had been presented to the House and received.

The wreck of the Rangitoto is stationary. The Civil Service Club has been opened. Mr. M'Lean moved the second reading of the Native Lands Bill, which had been prepared carefully, after obtaining the advice of Judge Richmond, whose experience in Hawke s Bay gave his opinion value. Mr. T. B. Gillies thought favorable of the Bill some of its provisions being good. Takamoana objected to the Bill; he approved of what Mr. M'Lean had said in its support, but he was not clear ; he said one thing and did another. The administration of the East Coast Titles Commission was unsatisfactory. Mr. Fitzherbert objected to the exemption of native lands from local taxation.

Sir C. J. Wilson objected to natives being free from taxation, while the value of their lands was increased by the energy of Europeans. Parata supported the Bill, as did also Mr. Reader Wood, who hoped that native lands would not be taxed if peace was to be maintained. Mr. Sheehan generally supported the Bill. The Bill was read a second time. Mr. Bryce moved the second reading of the Wanganui, Rangitikei, and Patea Shires Bill. The Premier considered that if a change took place it should be in the direction of the unity of Wellington with Taranaki. He would not move that the Bill be read that day six months, but he would support such amendment if moved. Mr. Fox while criticising the action of the Government opposed the Bill. Mr. Shephard moved that the Bill be read that day six months. The Native Minister opposed the Bill. The amendment was carried and the Bill thrown out by 24 to 12. The Government will stand on the Provincial Loans Bill, and if defeated, will ask the Governor to grant a dissolution. A notice of motion has been given by Mr. Sheehan that he will move that a sum of £2,500 be placed on the Estimates as a subsidy for a steam service between Wellington and Auckland, via Napier and Poverty Bay. In Committee of Supply the Premier said, in reply to Mr. T. B. Gillies, that £40,000 would be sufficient to cover the cost of the Suez and Californian services. There would be a Californian service in a few months, and, probably, on the arrival of the Hero at Auckland, arrangements would be completed for the Suez service. In reply to Mr. Rolleston, the Premier said no time would be lost in endeavouring to arrange a Fiji service being extended to other islands of the Pacific, and other provinces than Auckland. Wanganui. A split has occurred, in the Presbyterian Church here on the question of having instrumental music in churches.

SYNOPSIS OF PROPOSED NATIVE LANDS ACT.

( Continued.) Memorials of Ownership. — After enquiry completed Court shall cause Memorial of Ownership to be inscribed on separate to him (?) on Court Rolls, describing land and owners and (if required) the proportionate share of each owner. Plan of land to be annexed and memorial signed by Judge and Court seal. Condition annexed to memorial that owners may make no disposition of land except a lease for not more than twenty-one years in possession without fine or forfeit without agreement for renewal or future purchase. Condition not to prevent sale when all owners agree or to prevent a partition of land Decisions on hearing to be gazetted in the same manner as notices of claims. Decision as to ownership final unless amended or reversed on rehearing. Certified copy of roll to be conclusive evidence of ownership. If application made within six months from date of such publication, Governor in Council may order rehearing and case shall commence de novo. At end of one month from time allowed for rehearing, and if no rehearing ordered, certified copy of enrolment to be sent to the Native Minister and recorded. Memorials of ownership to be exempt from stamp duties. Owners under Disability.—These may be enrolled, age of minor or nature of disability to be also entered. Intimation of such cases to be sent to Governor, and interests of persons under disability to be dealt with under “ The Maori Real Estate Management Act 1867.”

Succession. —If native interested die during proceedings, Court shall ascertain the successor under native custom, and inscribe name in lieu of person deceased. If native holding under memorial die, the Court may, on application of person claiming, ascertain successor, and ord<r who ought- to succeed. Order to have legal effect of a will. Sales and Leases—Partition. —All sales and leases of land, title to which hasbeen obtained through Native Land Court, shall, while such land remains the property of natives, alone be subject to the “Native Lauds Frauds Prevention Act 1870.” In case sole owner or all collective owners under memorial desire to sell, the Court shall enquire into fairness of transaction, of assent of owners, and payment- of purchase money, and on being satisfied shall make endorsement on memorial that no difficulty exists as to the alienation. Form of transfer given in schedule. Before completion of sale Court to explain transaction to natives. When transfer signed, and judge satisfied that duties are paid, judge shall endorse on memorial a certificate of completeness, and a declaration that purchaser shall hold the freehold. Memorial endorsed to be sent to the Governor with recommendation that grant be is-rned to purchase. No lease to be valid unless all owners assent. Court to enquire as to fairness of lease, and if satisfied shall enter on roll memorandum of particulars of lease, and a'so enter a t ranscript of memorandum on memorial of ownership. Leases to be signed by all owners. Form given. Rents.—Court, on application of owners, may appoint receivers of the rents under lease. Power to Court to summon receivers, investigate accounts, change receivers, order rents to be paid into Court, and distribute rent to owners. If all owners not desirous to sell or lease, Court may enquire, and if majority desire to sell or lease, may at cost of purchaser or tenant, cause a proportionate partition of the land to be made. Court may make further subdivision of shares of dissentients at, their request and cost. Upon partition, fresh memorials of ownership to be issued, and original cancelled. Land so held to be held under same tenure and custom as in original memorial. Surveys.—Government may undertake surveys, to be made under control of inspector of surveys. Survey regulations to be made, and duplicate maps certified by inspectors, shall be deposited in Court before issue of any memorial. < ertified maps to be impressed with the Court seal as approved, and shall be evidence of survey. Onecopy of map to be kept in district office, and the other to be sent to Native Minister for record. Agreement for surveys between natives and inspector to be in Maori and English, stating rate of cost and agreement as to mode and time of payment by natives : agreement to be executed as deed. Defined portion of land, on applicat ion of inspector may be received as payment for survey of land. Court may so order with natives’ consent, and such land shall be transferred to the Crown. No surveyor to undertake survey without authority of inspect or in each case, nor to recover for work unless such authority proved. Crown Grants.—On completion of lona fide sale, Court may declare land to be held in freehold tenure. Native title shall then be extinguised. Governor may then issue grant for land. Order of Court made in favor of the Crown shall extinguish native title and vest land in Crown. Legal estate in land held under memorial of ownership to vest one month after time allowed for rehearing, In grants issued under repealed Acts, grantees if more than one to be deemed tenants in common ; their estate not equal unless so stated in grant. 1 his not to apply to any former grantees who may already have alienated the land comprised in such grants.

Commutation of Native Titles. — Where not more than ten natives held original partition, natives may apply to Court for extinguishment of native title and upon hearing Court may declare that land shall be held in freehold tenure and shall endorse order on memorial. Memorial with endorsements to be sent to Governor with recommendation that grant be issued. Grant may issue. Not more than ten names to be inserted in grant. Land to be held as tenants in common in undivided shares of defined proportion. (To be continued.)