AN IMPORTANT REPORT. MILITARY LAND CLAIMS. THE FINAL SETTLEMENT. Wellington, August 23.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 397, 28 August 1889, Page 4

AN IMPORTANT REPORT. MILITARY LAND CLAIMS. THE FINAL SETTLEMENT. Wellington, August 23.

Eahly in tho session a Select Commibtoe was appointed to consider and report upon all petitions relating to claims for grants of land by naval and military settlors and volunteers. No less than 86 petitions and many letters on similar subjects, besides many petitions held over from last sesoion, were refened to the Committee, and considered by them. Their report was made yesterday afternoon. The Royal Commission, ot which Colonel Haultain and Major Gudgeon wero Chairmen, shows that tho total number of claimants amounts to nearly two thousand. The Committee felt that it was quite imposible to examine proporly into the merits of each individual case ; and determined, therefore, not to inquire into the prayer of each petitioner, but to limit tho inquiry to general principles, which should, in its opinion, guide in recommending the House as to what course should be adopted to make a final settlement of tho various claims.

CLAIMANTS UNDER ACT 01? 1856. With regard to the claimants under the Naval and Militaiy Scrip Act of 1856, tho Committee resolved that such persons lato of Her Majesty naval and military foiees who wore entitled to scrip under tho Naval and Military Sciip Act ot 1856 and whose claims havo not been satisfied, arc still entitled to a certificate for the remission of twenty pounds in the purchase of Crown lands within the provincial district of Auckland.

OTHER CLAIMANTS. With regaid to the claims of the naval and military settlers, the Committee had some difficulty iv arriving at a conclusion. It recognised that by a strict interpretation of the law these men forfeited jtheir rights, but cannot think that the Government of the colony has been without blame. The men were led to believe they would be given land, but as a matter of fact they found it practically impossible to obcain it unless in such ,« remote or dangerous locality that occupation and sub&istence would be impossible. After due consideration the Committee thinks it fair that any officers or men who were discharged in the colony, and who having retired irom Her Majesty's service, arrived in New Zealand on or before tho 31st December, 1868, should be considered as though they had become entitled to land claims prior to the passing of the Auckland Waste Lands Act, 1867, which repealed the then only existing Act granting land to naval and military settlers. To compensate these claimants with money would perhaps be unwise, but the Committee is of opinion that all officers, non-commissioned ollicors, privates, seamen, and marines, who retired from the service with a good character for the purpose of settling in the colony and who have remained therein, are equitably entitled to the grants of land, according to their respective ranks, they >vould have been entitled to had they pub in their claims, as theprovincial statutes provided they should, within 12 months. Regarding the claims of the Forest Rangers, the Committee recommended that all men who were enrolled under the conditions set out in the memo of the 6th August, 1863, be granted such land as they were entitled to according to their rank. The Committee is also of opinion that all those men who served in the original Forest Rangers, "who enlisted under the conditions of the memorandum signed T. Russell, and dated 9th November, 1563, are not thereby debarred from the land they earned by their previous services in the Forest Rangers ; as that was a distinct and separate enrolmenC, There is no evidence to show that any man earned grants of land for distinguished service between August and November, 1863, and tho Commitee holds that Major Jackson has not established his claim to a grant of land for distinguished service. Volunteers enrolled prior to thepas?ing of the Waste Lands Administration Act, 1576, should have all rights respected which had been acquired previous to the passing of that Act. It is satisfied that all members of the defence force who completed the conditions of their enrolment are entitled to the same grant of land as the officers and men of the volunteer and militia settlers. In conclusion, the Committoc tccommends that power be given to the Chief Commissioner of the Waste Lands Boaids in the vaiious provincial districts wheic any of the before-descub3d claimants were entitled to select land, to inquire into the equity ot each case which may be brought , before him, and to grant the applicant the area of land to which his former rank entitled him without further refeience.