LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. E. NEWMAN, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1915 Session I, I-05

I. -5,

1915. NEW ZEALAND

LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. E. NEWMAN, Chairman.)

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

ORDER OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representative*. Thursday, the Ist Day of July, 1915. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 219 bo suspended, and that a Committee bo appointed, consisting of fourteen members, to whom shall stand referred after the first reading all Bills affecting or in any way relating to the lands of tho Crown, or educational or other public reserves; the Committee to have power to make such amendments therein as they think proper, and to report generally when necessary upon tho principles and provisions of the Bill; the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records ; three to bo a quorum : tho Committee to consist of Mr. Anderson, Hon. Mr. Buddo, Mr. Coatos, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. McCombs, Mr. Mac Donald, Mr. E. Newman, Mr. Nosworthy, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. Smith, Mr. Statham, Mr. Witty, and the mover."—(Right Hon. Mr. Massey.)

INDEX.

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" i i. r No. Petition or Bill. Page. . 1 No. No. I Petition or Bill. Page. 314 Bath, W., and 12 others .. .. 3 350 Bond, William, and 3 others .. .. 4 . 2 Burn, Elizabeth E., and 11 others .. 3 314 350 2 431/14 Papakura Beach Vesting Bill Pirie, George, and 2 others 2 2 93 de Lautour, C. A. .. .. .. 2 Devonport Borough Vesting Bill .. 5 Discharged Soldiers Settlement Bill .. 4 93 94/14 Reserves and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill Rowntroo, John C 3 Education Reserves Amendment Bill .. i 5 Final Report .. .. .. b' 274 Fisher, Thomas, and 62 others .. .. 4 274 367 17 i " Smith, E., and 5 others Smith, George, and II others Special report (re Chairman) Special report (re Clerk of Committee) .. Springs County Council Reclamation and Empowering Bill Stretton, W., and 43 others Swamp Drainage Bill 5 2 5 6 5 90 Gordon-Jones, W. G., and 31 others .. 2 90 53 2 2 19 Hanna, Jane, and another .. .. 3 165 Henry, Matthew .. .. .. 4 Inglewood Borough Endowment Disposal 5 Bill 19 165 Tauranga Foreshore Vesting and Endowment Bill Tokomaru Bay Harbour Bill 4 3 _ . -._.-. 29 Wellington Industrial Development Company (Limited) Wellington City Basin Reserve Bill (First Report) Wellingti n City Basin Reserve Bill (Second Report) Wells, Herbert, and 13 others Wyndham Recreation "Reserve Amendment Bill 3 ! Kauri-gum Industry Amondment Bill . . 4 I j Land Laws Amendment Bill .. .. 4 i Lyttelton Borough Extension Amendment 5 'Bill 5 6 108/14 Mayor, Councillors, and Citizens of Wol- 2 lington Military Manoeuvres Bill .. .. 4 ;. 324 Morgan, Thomas .. .. .. 5 !' 267 279 3 3 Ziman, Maurice 4

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BEPOUTS.

No. 53.—Petition of Walter Stbetton and 43 Others. Pkayinu that the Waitakaruru Stream be deepened and straightened so as to prevent the Hooding of their lands. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 29th July, 1915.

No. 93.—Petition of C. A. de Lautoub. Praying for compensation for improvements to Whakaangiaugi Nos. 5a and 5b Blocks. I am directed to report that this Committee recommends that the Government give favourable consideration to the claim of the petitioner for some compensation for improvements effected by him after the interviews between the petitioner's son and the then Government in 1903. (Vide Appendix 1.-5 a.) 26th August, 1915.

No. 431 (1914).—-Petition of Geobge Pibib and 2 Others. Praying for titles to certain land in Percival Street, Wellington. I am directed to report that, seeing the petitioners have not exhausted their legal remedies, this Committee has no recommendation to make. 26tp August, 1915.

No. 608 (1914). —Petition of the Mayor, Councillors, and Citizens of Wellington. Praying for the rejection of prayer of petitioners George Pirie and 2 others relative to titles to land in Percival Street, Wellington. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make in regard to this petition. 26th August, 1915.

Papakura Beach Vesting Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 26th August, 1915.

No. 17.—Petition of George Smith and 11 Others. Pbaying for the right to convert their leaseholds into freehold. I am directed to report that, as a question of policy is involved, this Committee has no recommendation to make. 3rd September, 1915.

No. 90.—Petition of W. G. Gordon-Jones and 31 Others. Praying for reinstatement as Crown tenants of land in the Punakitcre Survey District, Hokianga County. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make with regard to this petition. 3rd September, 1915.

Swamp Drainage Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment, 3rd September, 1915.

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Tokomabu Bay Harbour Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it. be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 3rd September, 1915.

Wyndham Recreation Reskkvk AMENDMENT Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it Ims carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 3rd September. 1915.

No. 94 (1914). —Petition of John Rountbee, Praying for compensation for loss of standing timber through fire on Section 7, Block IT, Purua Survey District, Whangarei County. I am directed to report that, owing to the special circumstances surrounding the case, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 10th September, 1915.

No. 19. —Petition of .Tank Hanna and Another. Praying for compensation fur treatment meted out to them under the Ohinemuri and Waihou Rivers Improvement Act. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 10th September. 1915.

No. 2. —Petition of Elizabeth E. Burn and 11 Others. Praying for the enactment of legislation prohibiting the continuance of a dam and obstructions in the Waiwetu Stream, Belmont Survey District. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make, as the petitioners have not exhausted their legal remedy. 16th September, 1915.

No. 29..—Petition of Wellington Industrial Development Company (Limited). Praying for titles to certain lands in the County of Taupo. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, this Committee being of opinion that the Government should take such steps as will ensure that all records, including Native Land Court Judges' minutes, be open for search. 16th September, 1915.

No. 267.—Petition of Herbert Wells and 13 Others. Praying that land suitable for dairying purposes be secured at Pukearuhe, Taranaki. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make in regard to this petition. 23rd September, 1915.

No. 311.—Petition of W. Bath and 12 Others. Praying that their Thames High School endowment leases be taken over by the Crown, and that the renewal leases give the right of acquiring the freehold. I am directed to report that, as the leases referred to in the petition are issued for endowment land under control of the Thames High School Board of Governors, the Committee has no recommendation to make, but in the opinion of the Committee, as educational leases throughout Dominion are not considered satisfactory, the Government should consider the desirability of laying down a uniform system of lease for all such endowments. 23rd September, 1915.

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Military Manoeuvres Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 23rd September, 1915.

Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 23rd September, 1915.

No. 165. —Petition of Matthew Henry. Praying for compensation for loss through wrongful valuation of property known as Balachraggan Settlement. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that this petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, and is of opinion that petitioner should receive a portion of the profits, if any, made by the Government on the sale of the petitioner's land, owing to the special circumstances surrounding the case. 29th September, 1915.

No. 274.—Petition of Thomas Fisher and 62 Others. Praying that Lot 83, Section 2, Town of Opotiki, be restored to the parish. 1 am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 30th September, 1915.

No. 279.—Petition of M. Ziman. Praying for relief in connection with a section of land at Normandale Settlement. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 30th September, 1915.

No. 350.—Petition of William Bond and 3 Others. Praying that legislation be passed to restore to holders of perpetual leases the right they formerly had to exchange same for leases in perpetuity. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make, but in its opinion, as educational leases throughout the Dominion are not considered satisfactory, the Government should consider the desirability of laying down a uniform system of lease for all such endowments. 30th September, 1915.

Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. 30th September, 1915.

Land Laws Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended. 30th September, 1915.

Tauranga Foreshore Vesting and Endowment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. 30th September, 1915.

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Devonport Borough Vesting Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that, it be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. Ist October, 1915.

Education Reserves Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. Ist October, 1915.

Inglewood Borough Endowment Disposal Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. Ist October, 1915.

Lyttelton Borough Extension Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended. Ist October, 1915.

Springs County Council Reclamation and Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended by the Local Bills Committee. Ist October, 1915.

Wellington City Basin Reserve Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended. Ist October, 1915.

No. 367-.—Petition of Edward Smith and 5 Others. Praying for a Commission of inquiry re damage done to their land by the erosion of the Waitaki River. I am directed to report that in the opinion of- the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. sth October, 1915.

No. 324.—Petition of Thomas Morgan. Praying that he be awarded as compensation the sum of £495 for loss of land at Akaroa caused by a mistake of the Government surveyor. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. sth October, 1915.

Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill. The Lands Committee, to which was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed as amended. sth October, 1915.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee desires to place on record its high appre ciation of the capable and impartial manner in which the Chairman (Mr. E. Newman) has presided over its deliberations during the session. 7th October, 1915.

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Wellington City Basin Resebve Bill. (Second Report.) 1 am directed to report that, in view of the late period of the session, this Committee is of opinion that the time for taking further evidence is insufficient, and recommends that consideration of the above Bill be deferred till next session. 7th October, 1915.

Special Report. I am directed to report that the Lands Committee desires to place on record its appreciation of the good service rendered by the Clerk (Mr. S. T. Patterson), who has discharged his duties with diligence and tact; and recommends to the Government that his services as a Committee Clerk be permanently retained. 7th October, 1915.

Final Report. 1 have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has during the session held fifteen meetings. the average attendance being nine members at each meeting. The number of petitions referred to the Committee was eighteen, all of which have been reported to the House. Thirteen Bills were referred to the Committee, all of which have been reported to the House. 7th October, 1915.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (050 copies), £3 IBs.

Authority : John MAOKAy, (iovernment Printer, Wellington.—-1915.

Price fid.}