I.—sa

8

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Consideration of the Land Bill was resumed at clause 12. Subclause (1). On the motion, " That the subclause stand part of the Bill," Mr. Fraser objected, and a division was called, when there voted— For the motion. —Hon. Mr. McNab, Messrs. Bennet, Duncan, Ell, Flatman, Greenslade, Hall, Laurenson, Lawry, Malcolm, Mills, and Witty.—12. Against. —Mr. Fraser.—1. The motion was therefore carried, and the subclause agreed to. Subclause (2). Mr. Witty moved, That the following proviso be added: "Provided that the Minister and the owner shall agree as to the portion to be sold. If they fail to agree, then the question shall be decided by arbitration under section 79 of the principal Act." This being opposed, a division was called, and there voted— For the amendment. —Messrs. Bennet, Duncan, Flatman, Fraser, Kirkbride, Malcolm, Mills, and Witty.—B. Against. —Hon. Mr. McNab, Messrs. Ell, Greenslade, Hall, Laurenson, and Lawry.—6. On the question, " That the subclause as amended stand part of the Bill," a division was called, and there voted— For the motion. —Messrs. Bennet, Duncan, Flatman, Fraser, Malcolm, Mills, and Witty.—7. Against. —Hon. Mr. McNab, Messrs. Ell, Greenslade, Hall, Jennings, Laurenson, and Lawry.—7. The Chairman then gave his "casting-vote for the motion, which was consequently carried by 8 to 7. Subclauses (3), (4), and (5) agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. The Hon. Mr. McNab moved the insertion of the following words, after the word " be " in line 46 : " paid to the Minister whose receipt shall be a sufficient discharge for the same, and shall be by him "—Agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 14. Subclause (1). On the motion of the Hon. Mr. McNab, the word "thereby " was struck out and the word "by" inserted instead. Subclause (1) as amended agreed to. Subclause (2) agreed to. Subclause (3). The Hon. Mr. McNab moved that the words " other than the portion sold by the Minister " be inserted after the word " estate " in the 11th line.—Agreed to. Subclause (4) agreed to. Clause as amended agreed to. Clause 15. Subclause (1). The Hon. Mr. McNab moved, That the words "the owner of " be omitted from line 21; the word " held " inserted ofter the word " land " in the same line ; the words "or by a lessee is " after the word " simple " in line 22 ; the letter " d " substituted for the letter " s " in the following word; the striking-out of " the same or any part thereof " after the word " of," and the insertion of the word " gift " after the word " sale " in the same line; the striking-out of the word " disposition " and the insertion of the words " conveyance, gift, or lease " in line 23 ; the insertion of the word "donee" after the word "purchaser" in line 24; the insertion of the words "or lessee " after the word " owner "in line 26; the striking-out of the words " tenant or occupier " in the same line; the insertion of the word " rural " before the word " lands " in line 27; the striking-out of all the words after " New Zealand " in the same and following lines, and the following words substituted therefor—"the unimproved value ascertained as aforesaid of the unencumbered fee-simple of the whole of which exceeds fifteen thousand pounds."—All agreed to. Subclause as amended agreed to. The Hon. Mr. McNab moved the following new subclause as subclause (2): — "Where a mortgagee becomes the purchaser of mortgaged rural lands at a sale under the direction of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, the instrument of conveyance may be registered without any such declaration as aforesaid; but unless the purchaser shall have absolutely conveyed away such lands within two years from the date of such registration, or shall have made such declaration, the registration shall become void of all purposes, and shall be cancelled by the Registrar." Agreed to. The Hon. Mr. McNab also moved that the number of the old subclause (2) be changed to (3). —Agreed to. The Committee then adjourned.

Friday, 28th September, 1906. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m. pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. McNab, Messrs. Bennet, Duncan, Ell, Flatman, Fraser, Greenslade, Hall, Jennings, Laurenson, Lawry, Malcolm, Mills, and Witty. Mr. Martin, solicitor, was also present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.