Land Act Amendment.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4212, 1 July 1882, Page 2

Land Act Amendment.

[Bf Telißgbaph.] (]?B0M OTTB OWN COBEESFONDENT.) Wellington, Last night.

The Land Act Amendment Bill was circulated to-day and copies, were sent to members as they got on board the steamers to go south, to study en voyage, and to ponder over while they are in Christchurch. It will give them more to do at all events. There are two or three parts of the Bill that I shall deal with only today, and the importance of the measure can be guaged from the eagerness the Government displayed in its distribution. The Auckland land district is thus defined :—Bounden towards the north-east by the ocean, to the Hawke's Bay land district; towards the south-east by that district to the thirtyninth parallel of south latitude; towards the south by that parallel to its intersection by the Ngarae river (a tributary of the Wanganui rirer), thence towards the west by a right line to the source of Mokau river, again towards the southeast by the said river to the ocean, and again towards the west and towards the tauth west by the ocean. It will be seen the East Coast district is left oat of Auckland. This district is supposed to come in force on the Ist November next. Board h not defined in the bill, and means, doubtless, Waste Land Board. Clause 62 provides the Board may, on the application of any sawmill proprietor, set aside any block or blocks of timber land not exceeding in the whole 600 acres, of which licenses will be granted from time to time to such applicant of sections, having regard to the quality of the timber, not exceeding 200 acres each in terms of section 90 of " The Land Act, 1877." No licenses beyond those first shall be issued unless on the certificated of the Crown Lands Banger, or such other person appointed in that be* half, that the timber has been properly cut and cleared off the section previously licensed.

The following clause protects the mining industry ;■—When any lands leased have a frontage upon any stream of water, the leasee shall have no claim or right of action against the Crown or any other person whomsoever for damage caused by the fouling or pollution of the waters of such stream by any tenants or licensees of the Crown or the Board, or of any public authority in the prosecution of gold mining or any other industry.