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19.11. NEW ZEALAND.

KAIAPOI RESERVE (REPORT AND EVIDENCE OF ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE).

/'resented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of //?'.« Excellency.

0 0 M MISRI ON . Islington, Governor. To .til tii whom these presents shall come, and to Welter Edward Rawson, Esquire. Judge of the Native Land Court of New Zealand : Greeting. Whereas the block of land, containing two thousand six hundred and forty acres, situated in the Provincial District of Canterbury, and known as the Kaiapoi Reserve, was in and after the year eighteen hundred and sixty-two, pursuant to the Acts in that behalf enabling, apportioned and granted to the aboriginal Natives entitled thereto : And whereas the Crown grants issued to such aboriginal Natives provided, inter alia, that no disposition of the land included in the grant by way of sale, mortgage, lease, or otherwise should be made without the consent in writing indorsed thereon of the Governor or of some person duly appointed by him or otherwise duly authorized by law in that behalf : And whereas the Native owners under such grants and their successors in title have at various times since the issue of such Crown grants as aforesaid made dispositions by will of the land so granted as aforesaid without such consent being indorsed thereon : And whereas the Supreme Court has decided that such dispositions by will are prohibited by the terms of the grants aforesaid, and are invalid in law ; and by reason of such decision the validity of the titles of persons now in possession of such lands has been questioned, and actions have been commenced in the Supreme Court in respect thereof : And whereas it is expedient to appoint a Commission under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, to inquire into and report upon the circumstances connected with the dispositions by will of any such land and the expediency of validating all or any of such dispositions, iind in the meantime to stay all actions and proceedings now commenced or threatened in respect thereof: Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in that behalf, I, John Poynder Dieksonl'oynder, Baron Islington, the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, acting by and with the advice and consent nf the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby appoint you. the said Walter Edward Rawson, in lie a Commission to inquire into and report upon the circumstances connected with the dispositions by will of any of the lands hereinbefore described and subsequent dealings therewith, and the expediency of validating all or any of such wills and all or any of the dispositions made thereby; 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 reaped to the necessity i>l legislation in the premises. And for the better enabling you. the said Commission, to carry these presents into effect, you are hereby authorized 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

I—G. 5.