REPORTS OF LANDS COMMITTEE. (Mr. HOGG, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1905 Session I, I-05

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1905. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORTS OF LANDS COMMITTEE. (Mr. HOGG, Chairman.)

Presented to the Bouse of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

ORDER OP REFERENCE.

Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 28th Day of June, 1905. Ordered "That Standing Order No. 218 be suspended, and that a Committee, consisting of eighteen members be appointed to consider all BUl,.and pet.tions that may be introduced into this House affecting thekndT of the C own

INDEX.

No. Name. Page. No. Page. Name. 417 Bates, Francis 551 Buchanan, H. D., and others .. 382 Bull, C. F., and others 385 Bull, C. F, and others 243 ! Button, E. H., and others 2 2 2 2 2 294 , Phillips, William, and others 202 j Rhodes, Sarah A., and another 384 j Ruddell, G. K., and others 387 | Ruddell, G. K., and others .. '.'. j 3 3 2 2 187 j Gee, W. J., and others 188 i Gilchrist, T., and others 2 2 75 | Tapanui, Mayor, Councillors, and Burgesses of 153 , Thomson, Fairfield .. .. 3 3 383 I Kernohan, R. Y., and others .. 386 Kernohan, R. Y., and others .. 2 2 128a Ussher, Augusta S. .. 128 | Ussher, Thomas .. ..' .'.' 3 355 : Morris, J. M., and others 262 McDonald, Peter, and others .. 3 2 80 Walsh, John .. .. I 3 28 | O'Shea, M. A., and another 3 ■' . ■ ■ 1

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KEPOETS.

Nos. 385, 386, and 387. —Petitions of C. F. Bull and 8 Others; R. Y. Kernohan and 23 Others; and G. R. Ruddkll and 15 Others, of Mangakahia. Petitioners pray that the loading on the Mangakahia and Tutamoe lands be expended on roading those lands. I am directed to report that the Committee urges the Government to proceed with the roading of the settled country, in accordance with the prayer of the petitions, as speedily as possible. 4th October, 1905.

No. 417. —Petition of Francis Bates, Matawhero, Poverty Bay. Petitioner prays that a revaluation for rental purposes be made of Section 14, Willows Settlement,, Turanganui. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make as regards rent.. With reference to the complaint about the drainage, it considers this must be adjusted between the petitioner and the local authority. 4th October, 1905.

No. 551.—Petition of H. D. Buchanan and 130 Others, Little River. Petitioners pray that the Government acquire from the Natives at Little River land of sufficient nrea for the establishment of a village settlement, at the same time setting apart a few acres for a recreati on reserve. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, and that, with a view to the individualisation of the Native titles, a sitting of the Native Land Court be arranged at an early date. 24th October, 1905.

Nos. 382, 383, and 384.—Petitions of C. F. Bull and 10 Others, Upper Mangakahia; R. Y. Kernohan and 24 Others, Mangakahia; and G. K. Ruddell and 17 Others, Mangakahia. Petitioners pray that the Oue Forest Reserve be thrown open for settlement. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 24th October, 1905.

No. 243.—Petition of E. H. Button and 20 Others, Matamata, Auckland. Petitioners pray for refund of rent charged to Matamata settlers for the period preceding the date they were allowed to occupy their land. I am directed to report that your Committee considers that, even if warned that immediatepossession could not be given, the petitioners should not be called upon to pay rent before the date they were placed in possession. Your Committee therefore recommends that the petition be referred to Government for favourable consideration. sth September, 1905.

No. 187.—Petition of W. J. Gee and 21 Others, Cheviot. Petitioners pray for legislation giving them the same tenure as holders of grazing-runs under the Land Act. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to Government for favourable consideration. sth September, 1905.

Nos. 188 and 262. —Petitions of T. Gilchrist and 389 Others, and Peter McDonald and 12!)' Others, of Roughridge and Poolburn, Central Otago. Petitioners pray that the Blackstone Hill, Home Hills, Idaburn, and Lauder Runs be resumed and cut up for closer settlement. I am directed to report that your Committee is of opinion that owing to the probable cost of resumption it would be unwise to interfere with the runs referred to in the petition until the 'listing leases expire, when the properties can, if considered advisable, be dealt with as a whole 3rd October, 1905.

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No. 355.—Petition of J. M. Morris and 45 Others, Haunui, Alfredton. Petitioners pray that the Tiraumea Estate at Alfredton be acquired for closer settlement. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 3rd October, 1905.

Nos. 28 and 80.—Petitions of M. A. O'Shea and Another, of Rawhitiroa; and John Walsh, of Eltham. Petitioners pray for amendment of " The Rotokare Domain Act Repeal Act, 1903," and compensation for loss through the pas-sing thereof. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petitions be referred to Government for consideration. 11th August, 1905.

No. 294. —Petition of William Phillips and 147 Others, Whakatane. Petitioners pray that the Waimana Estate be compulsorily acquired and made available for settlement in dairy-farm areas at an early date. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that it is most undesirable that land suitable for close settlement, and for which the Land Purchase Board is prepared to give a fair price, should be systematically held locked up against settlement by the Assets Realisation Board, and strongly recommends that the land be at once acquired under the provisions of the Land for Settlements Act 3rd October, 1905.

No. 202.—Petition of Sarah Anne Rhodes and Another, Wellington. Petitioners pray that a Crown grant be issued for certain lands. I am directed to report that your Committee, having carefully considered the petition and also the evidence submitted, considers that, as the question at issue deals with the relative rights of a municipal body and certain property-owners, the proper course has been followed in bringing it before a judicial tribunal; it is also of opinion that, in view of the fact that a missing document has been discovered in one of the Government offices since the case was first tried, facilities should be afforded the petitioners to again bring their case before the Courts. [Vide Appendix 1.-sa.] 4th October, 1905.

No. 75.—Petition of the Mayor, Councillors, and Burgesses of Tapanui. Petitioners pray that the title to certain lands in Tapanui be vested in the borough. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. Bth August, 1905.

No. 153. —Petition of Fairpield Thompson, Aorangi, Wellington. Petitioner prays for payment of costs in connection with his lease in perpetuity. I am directed to report that, in view of the fact that on appeal the Chief Justice and a jury found that the petitioner had been wrongfully deprived of his leasehold and had reinstated him in possession, the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration as regards the actual costs incurred by the petitioner in maintaining what the Supreme Court decided to be his legal rights. sth September, 1905.

Nos. 128 and 128a.—Petitions of Thomas Ussher and Augusta S. Ussher (his wife), Karangahape, Auckland. Petitioners pray for compensation for shortage of land in certain sections in Karangahape Parish. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that petitioners be allowed compensation for the deficiency in their Crown grants, either in land, or, if they prefer it, in cash. 7th September, 1905.

Approximate Cost ol Papfr.—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,425 copies), £2.

Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9os.

P;i*»3d.]