RECEIPTS UNDER THE “NATIVE LANDS ACT.”

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 148, 30 March 1872, Page 3

RECEIPTS UNDER THE “NATIVE LANDS ACT.”

One of the papers we have lately received from the Government printer iB a “ statement of the receipts under the Native Lauds Act, and the expenses of the Native Lands Court and Surrey Department, for the six years ending the 30th June, 1871.” The expenses of the Native Lands Court and its Survey Department are rapidly increasing. In 1865-66 the whole expenses of this Court were £3,545 2s ; and in 1870-71, they had increased to £6,906 Is 9d. During the same period the travelling allowances increased from £422 12s in the former year to £1,027 5s Id in the latter year. In the six years the Court expenses footed up a total of £36,131 lls 6d. The expenses of the Survey Department during the same period increased at even a greater ratio. In 1865-66, the whole cost of the Survey Department amounted to £179 Is 8d; and during 1870-71, the gross expense of this department was £3,158 7s 4d. For the six years the Survey Department ,cost £14,159 12s 6d, making a total cost between the Court and Survey Departments of £50,291 4s. The receipts during the same period showed even a far higher ratio of increase. The receipts consist of “ duties,” “ court fees," and “license fees.” In 1865-66 these amounted to a gross total of £403 19s ; in 1866-67, to £2,564 6s ; in 1867-68, to £3,014 Is Id : in 1868-69, to £5,747 17s 5d ; in 1869-70, to £5,895 Is 7d ; and for the year ending the 30th June, 1871, to £8,659 14s 6d. It will thus be seen that a steady and rapid increase of the revenue from this source has been obtained, during both dull and prosperous times. The total receipts from this source during the six years under notice are £26,284 19s 7d. These receipts would indicate that a considerable amount of native land is changing hands. —D. S. : Cross.