C.-4

1884. NEW ZEALAND,

LEASING OF GUM-FIELDS IN AUCKLAND (PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE).

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr. Bolleston, with leave of the House.

BESOLUTIONS OP THE AUCKLAND LAND BOAED AS TO LEASING GUM-FIELDS, AND EEPOET BY MESSRS. TOLE AND SMITH ON THE SUBJECT.

The Chaieman, Auckland Land Board, to the Undee-Seceetaey for Ceown Lands, Wellington. (Memorandum No. 910.) Sic, — Crown Lands Office, Auckland, 7th June, 1884. I have the honour, at the instance of the Land Board, to forward, for the urgent consideration of the Hon. the Minister of Lands, the accompanying copies of two resolutions passed at recent meetings of the Land Board on the question of leasing gum-fields in this district; also, copy of a report on the same subject by the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Assistant SurveyorGeneral, and I am to respectfully request that immediate action be taken in the direction of giving effect to the recommendation therein contained. D. A. Tole, Chairman, Auckland Land Board. The Under-Secretary for Crown Lands, Wellington.

Bxteact from Minutes of Meeting of Land Boaed. Besolved, " That the Commissioner of Crown Lands and the Assistant Surveyor-General be requested to communicate their opinion to this Board as to the probable effect on the kauri-gum industry should this Board not be able to grant gum-digging leases for areas beyond two hundred acres. " As this Board cannot, according to existing law, lease an area beyond two hundred acres, it is highly necessary that application be made to Government to amend existing Act so as to extend the area, should the report now asked for recommend such extension." D. A. Tole, Commissioner, Crown Lands.

Extbact from Minutes of Meeting of Land Boaed. Besolved, " That the report of the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Assistant SurveyorGeneral, now brought up, be forthwith forwarded to the Minister of Lands, with an urgent request that immediate action be taken to carry out the recommendation therein contained, in order that the kauri-gum industry may be placed on a basis which will secure its continuance in due legal form. Furthermore, that the Government take such action as may be necessary to indemnify against all legal proceedings the lessors and lessees of the various gum-fields, including and since date of first gum-field lease granted by the Superintendent of Auckland in June, 1876." D. A. Tole, Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Messrs. D. A. Tole and S. Peecy Smith to the Auckland Land Boaed. Be Gum-fields. Gentlemen,— Crown Lands Office, Auckland, 6th June, 1884. We have the honour, in reference to the resolution of your Board, directed to us on the above subject, to report, for your information, that the probable effect on the kauri-gum industry of granting gum-digging leases for areas of eighty acres, or even for two hundred acres (as, in the exercise of a discretionary power, may be granted), would, in our opinion, be highly injurious, whilst en the ground of impracticability any attempt to so deal with lands of this character would, we are convinced, be simply futile and inoperative, and for the following reasons :—. 1. That in dealing with areas of this extent it is obvious that their boundaries would require to be defined on the ground, and carefully-selected roads to them provided, otherwise the annoyance