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G. —lH

2

1. What areas of Native lands there are which are unoccupied or not profitably occupied, the owners thereof, and, if in your opinion necessary, the nature of such owners' titles and the interest affecting the same. 2. How such lands can best be utilised and settled in the interests of the Native owners and the public good. 3. What areas (if any) of such lands could or should be set apart — (a.) For the individual occupation of the Native owners, and for purposes of cultivation and farming ; (b.) As communal lands for the purposes of the Native owners as a body, tribe, or village ; (c.) For future occupation by the descendants or successors of the Native owners, and how such land can in the meantime .be properly and profitably used ; (d.) For settlement by other Natives than the Native owners, and on what terms and. conditions, and by what modes of disposition; (c.) For settlement by Europeans, on what terms and conditions, by what modes of disposition, in what areas, and with what safeguards to prevent the subsequent aggregation of such areas in European hands. 4. How the existing institutions established amongst Natives and the existing systems of dealing with Native lands can best be utilised or adapted for the purposes aforesaid, and to what extent or in what manner they should be modified. For all the purposes aforesaid you are hereby empowered to continue and complete the inquiries commenced by the aforesaid Commissioners. And yon are hereby enjoined to make such suggestions and recommendations as you may consider desirable or necessary with respect to the foregoing matters, and generally with respect to the necessity of legislation in the premises, including the preparation of a draft Bill, embodying your suggested legislation, and consolidating the existing enactments relating to Native lands and the affairs of Natives. In the preparation of the said Bill you are directed to proceed on the lines indicated in " The Beprint of Statutes Act, 1895," with such modifications as you deem necessary. And, with the like advice and consent, I do further appoint you, the said Sir Robert Stout, to be Chairman of the said Commission. And for the better enabling you, the said Commission, to carry these presents into effect you are hereby authorised and empowered to make and conduct any inquiry under these presents at such times and' places in New Zealand as you deem expedient, with power to adjourn from time to time and from place to place as you think fit, and to call before you and examine on oath or otherwise, as may be allowed by law, such person or persons as you think capable of affording you information in the premises; and you are also hereby empowered to call for and examine all such books, documents, papers, plans, maps, or records as you deem likely to afford you the fullest information on the subject-matter of this inquiry, and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all lawful ways and means whatsoever. And, using all diligence, you are required to transmit to me, under your hands and seals, your reports and recommendations from time to time after the inquiries aforesaid have been made in respect of any considerable blocks or areas of Native land; and to transmit to me your first report not later than the twenty-eighth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and nine, or such extended date as may hereafter be named by me in that behalf, and your final report not later than the seventh day of March, one thousand nine hundred and nine, or such extended date as may hereafter be named by me. And you are directed to so frame your reports as to facilitate prompt action being taken thereon, and in particular to furnish in such reports such detail as to the lands available for European settlement as will enable Parliament, if it deem fit, to give immediate legislative effect to such parts of your reports. And it is hereby declared that these presents shall

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