LAND ACT PROSECUTIONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4338, 7 February 1893, Page 3

LAND ACT PROSECUTIONS.

Somo littlo time back Ibo Minister for Lands had reason to believe that serious breaches of tho Land Act were taking place in the Taranaki Land District, and MrO'Hara Smith, of the lands Audit, was sent up to conduct investigations, assisted by the departmental and other Government officers. Mr Smith obtained a urns of information, which was submitted for tho consideration of the Minister, and it was ultimately decided that proceedings must be taken, both to punish the present offenders and to act as a warning in similar cases. Accordingly, tbo investigations being completUdr O'Hara Smith left for Taranaki at the end of last week to institute proceedings against a number of persons, and he is at New Plymouth to-day in connection with them, There are quite a number of cases, involving inany individuals, and the charges .include dummyism, making false declarations, conspiracy »o evade tho Act, and perjury, for which tho penalties range ftom forfeiture of tho land by ibo Land Board (which will shortly have tho cases before it) to forfeiture and heavy penalties, and to penalties of £SOO and long terms of imprisonment in cases which will bo brought undor tho criminal law 88 woll as under tho penal clauses' of tho Act itself. Should tho allegations be proven to the satisfaction of the Courts the matter will be very serious, so many are the offences involved, and so serious tbo penalties, In every case it fa individuals and not members ofaaAticus who arc involved. Mr Salvias boen retained to act for some of tho probable defendants,—Post.