A.—o.

Article XXVll. — Ventes et Cessions d'lrnmeubl.es posterieures a Iα Convention. (1.) A partir de la mise en vigueur de la presente Convention, aucune vente on cession d'immeuble ne pourra etre faite valablement par mi indigene a un non-indigene que dans les conditions suivantes : — (2.) La vente ou la cession devra etre constatee par ecrit. Elle aura lieu en presence de quatre temoins, dont deux indigenes, et dun officer ou dun fonctionnaire de l'une dcs deux Puissances Signataires, ou de toute autre personne a cc diiment autorisee, soit par le President dv Tribunal Mixte, soit par les Hauts Commissaires ou leurs Delegues agissant conjointement. (3.) L'officier, le fonctionnaire ou la personne diiment autorisee constatera la presence et la qualite dcs temoins; s'assurera que le vendeur ou le cedant a agi librement, a bien compris la portee de son acte, a recu le prix ou la compensation convenue, et s'en est reconnu satisfait; relatera ces circonstances sur le titre; y mentionnera la situation et les limites de l'immeuble; le datera et le signera, en meme temps que les parties et temoins sachant signer. (4.) L'acheteur ou le cessionnaire devra, dans un delai de six mois a compter de la date de l'acte, introduire devant le Tribunal Mixte une requete a fin d'immatriculation. II sera statue sur cette requete dans les formes et conditions determinees a I'Article XXVI de la presente Convention. (5.) Si le Tribunal estime manifesteinent insuffisant le prix ou la compensation portee a l'acte, eu egard a l'importance de l'immeuble cede ou vendu, il pourra, prealablement a toute immatriculation, ordonner le paiement dun supplement de prix ou une augmentation de la compensation. (6.) Dans le cas ou l'acquereur ne satisferait pas a la decision dv Tribunal dans le delai de six mois a compter de la date de cette decision, la veute serait resiliee de plein droit, et le prix ou la compensation recue par I'indigene, restituee. (7.) Si l'indigene est dans I'impossibility de restituer cc prix, le Tribunal determinera la partie de la propriety qu'il y aura lieu de confirmer eu representation de la somme ou de la compensation recue par l'indigene. (8.) Lorsque les Hauts Commissaires ou leurs Delegues, agissant conjointement, estimeront que les proprietes inimobilieres acquises dcs indigenes dans l'une dcs lies de l'Archipel atteindront ensemble une superficie telle que les terres restant disponibles seront indispensables aux besoms dcs indigenes, ils pourront interdire toute nouvelle vente ou cession de terres dans cette ile a dcs non-indigenes. (9.) Les terres reservees aux indigenes, soit par le Tribunal Mixte, dans les conditions prevues a I'Article XXIV de la presente Convention, soit par les Hauts Commissaires ou leurs Delegues, en vertu dv paragraphe ci-dessus, ne pourront faire l'objet dune vente ou cession a dcs non-indigenes tant que I'autorite ayant constitue la reserve n'aura pas rapporte ou modifie sa decision.

Article XXVll. — Sales and Grants of Land subsequent to the Convention. (1.) From the date when the present Convention comes into operation, no sale or grant of land by a Native to a non-Native shall be valid, except on the following conditions : — (2.) The sale or grant shall be effected by a written document, and shall take place in the presence of four witnesses, two of whom shall t>3 Natives, and of an officer or agent of one of the two Signatory Powers, or some other person duly authorised for the purpose, either by the President of the Joint Court or by the High Commissioners or their delegates acting in concert . (3.) The officer, agent, or person duly authorised shall testify to the presence and qualification of the witnesses; shall ascertain that the vendor or grantor was a free agent, understood the effect of his act, received the price or consideration agreed on, and was satisfied therewith ; shall state these facts on tlie title-deed ; shall mention in it the situation and boundaries of the land; and shall date and sign it, at the same time as the parties and witnesses capable of signing. (4.) The purchaser or grantee shall, within six months from the date of the deed, make an application to the Joint Court for registration. This application shall be dealt with in accordance with Article XXVI of the present Convention. (5.) If the Court considers that the price or consideration mentioned in the deed is manifestly inadequate, having regard to the importance of the land granted or sold, it may, as a preliminary to registration, order the payment of a larger sum or a further consideration. (6.) In the event of the grantee failing to comply with the decision of the Court within six months from the date of such decision, the sale shall be cancelled in toto, and the sum of money or the consideration received by the Native restored. (7.) If the Native is unable to restore such sum, the Court shall decide how much of the property represents the sum or consideration received by the Native, and shall confirm the grantee in possession of such part. (8.) Whenever the High Commissioners or their delegates jointly consider that the amount of land acquired from the Natives in one of the islands of the Group is so great that the land remaining undisposed-of is indispensable for the needs of the Natives, they may prohibit any new sale or grant of land in such island to non-Natives. (9.) Land reserved for the Natives, either by the Joint Court, in accordance with Article XXIV of this Convention, or by the High Commissioners or their delegates, under the preceding paragraph, may not be sold or granted to non-Natives so long as the authority by whom the reserve was constituted does not cancel or modify its decision.

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