NATIVE LAND ACT.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 140, 1 April 1873, Page 2

NATIVE LAND ACT.

Tjik following .iro Iho suggestions made by Sir W. Mnrtm and Dr Shetland in refcrcucc to legislation on Native Land transactions :—: — 1. Divido the North Island into districts, and appoint to each district one Commissioner, one Secretary competent to trauslate English into Maori, one Native Assessor. 1. Let evevy application from natives to h lye thoir claims to land investigated be addressed to the Commissioner of the district in which the land is situate, and let it specify the boundaries of said la.«l by native names, and the- name of etery hapu interested therein. 3. Let notice of such application bo given by the Commissioner in a thorough and public" manner through the district. 4 Let a preliminary inquiry be made by the Commissioner and his A wsior, and if tho claim appear to bo bona fide, and not likely to disturb the peace of the countiy, let a survey of tho external boundary be made. 5. Let all surveys of la>.d claimed by natives bo made under the direction of a chief Government Surveyor, and by his assistants. 6 After completion of survoy, let a thorough examination of titles of clamianfs be made, ar aplaeo as near as convenient to the residence of the parties chiefly interested. 7. Let the investigation of title be conducted by tho Commiasioner and Assessor in Maori; no lawyer or other European agent being allowed to take part in the proceedings. 8. Let tho Commissioner obtain from the best obtainable j evidence tho names of all the owners and make a record thereof. 9. Whencrar a native is found to be the solo owner of a piece of land, let a certificate of title, free of any restriction, be given to him on payment of co9t of survey, fees, &c. 10. Whenever more than one native am found to bo owners of a piere of land lot a certified of titlo bo given to them, such certificate to specify the names of all the owners, and the proportionate share of each, and also that the person* named have powei to lease for a term not exceeding twenty-one years. 11. Every certificate of title shall have drawn thereon, or | annexed thereto, a plan of the land referred to therein. - I 12. If all partios interested in a certificate of title desire to sell, the land may be sold either by private contract or public auction. 13. The purchnso money arising from tho sale of native land shall, in every case be paid into Court, and the purchasor shall thereupon \w entitled to a Crown grant for the land, free of additional chanre 14. It shall bo tho duty of the Commissioner to deduct from the purchase money the cost of survey, fees, &c, and then to pay to each of iho native sellers his proportionate share of the net proceeds of the sale, and to obtain the signature of each to a printed form of.jiequittance, in Maori, to be deposited with tho original certificate at n record 15. Lands, tho titlo to which is under investigation, or for which a certificate of title has been i-^ued, may bo subdivided by consent of all parties interested, so as to include a loss number of owners in each subdivision. Certified* of title shall then bo granted to the owner* of each subdivision, on surrender of the former certificate, in case such has been granted. I 16. At anytime during the progress of an inquiry, it shall be competent for tho Cowmissywer, with the consent of the parties intormted, to mnlto sue'i arrangement as to the land under inquiry as shall appear to him to be just, and calculated to *eourc the contentment of all parties and tho peace of the country. Whereupon tho Commissioner may issue certificates of title to the several parties entitled thereto under Hiieh arrangoment. 17- Tho interest of any nativo under a certificate of title shall, in case of death of such native, pass to sueli person or persons ai would by native custom bo entitled thereto. If theienfter such person or persons shall agree to sell or leasp K'lch interest to a person not of the nativo raco, the Co:nI m sooner of the district s'inll, on application of the intending purchaser or lessee, ascertain and certify tho names of the po'sens entitled to tha interest of tho nativo deceased.

Tub Weslky\N3 ksv Un^eot uuvx Education. — The debate in tho Wesleyan Education Committee, in England, on the question of ptmng up the denominational system, resulted iv tho following resolution being carried as a compromise: — "That this committee, while revolving to maintain in full vigour and efficiency onr connexional day schools and training collets, is of opinion that, with duo regard for tho existing interests, fill future legislation for primary education at the public cost should provide for such education only upon tho principle of unseelarian schools under the school boards " The Melbourne Leader concludes an able article on juvenile immorality as follows .—". — " The greater portion of tho evils of larrikiuism ariae from pbiniitting children and youths to congregate in the streets and pullij places. The garden nurt reserves around Melbourne swarm with children already initiated into lmuiornl practices. Boya and ftirls may be beard Constantly iadulging in filthy conversation. The police shpuld have power to prosecute the parents for permitting their children so to outiage deceiicv, and if tUis were done, a more direct lemedy would be applied to juvenile depravity than any pimialwnout of tlic offcudcri tlicin&ehoi vb likely to produce."