I.—sa.

Session II 1912. NEW ZEALAND.

LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE) ON PAPER No. 226 C, "DETAILS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE AND FENCING OF PART OF RUNANGA No. 1a BLOCK"; TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS, EVIDENCE, AND APPENDIX. (Mr. E. NEWMAN, Chairman.)

Report brought up on the 31st October, 1912, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 3rd Day oe July, 1912. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 219 be suspended, and that a Committee be appointed, consisting of eleven members, to whom shall stand referred after the first reading all Bills affecting or in any way relating to the lands of the Crown or educational or other public reserves ; the Committee to have power to make such amendments therein as they think proper, and to report generally when necessary upon the principles and provisions of the Bill; the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Anderson, Hon. Mr. Buddo, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Lang, Mr. E. Newman, Mr. Nosworthy, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. R. W. Smith, Mr. Witty, and the mover."-—(Hon. Mr. T. Mackenzie.) Tuesday, the 13th Day of August, 1912. Ordered, " That the names of Mr. Coates, Mr. MacDonald, Mr. Robertson, Mr. Statharn, and the mover be added to the Lands Committee, and that the name of Mr. Lang be omitted."—(Hon. Mr. Massey.) Tuesday, the 3rd Day of September, 1912. Ordered, " That Paper No. 226 C, ' Details in connection with the purchase and Fencing of Part of Runanga No. 1a Block,' be referred to the Lands Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Massey.) Tuesday, the 15th Day of October, 1912. Ordered, " That leave be granted the Lands Committee to supply the honourable member for Avon with a copy of the evidence taken before that Committee in connection with Parliamentary Paper No. 226 0, 'Purchase and Fencing Part of Runanga No. 1a Block.' "—(Mr. E. Newman.)

REPORT. Report on Paper No. 226 C, " Details in connection with the Purchase and Fencing of Part of Runanga No. Ia Block." The Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above parliamentary paper, have the honour to report that during the course of the inquiry they examined the following witnesses : — J. Strauchon, Under-Secretary for Lands ; H. A. Walshe, Assistant-Surveyor, Lands Department; W. C. Kensington, 1.5.0., late Under-Secretary for Lands; ft. Keene, Land Agent, Wellington ; R. Beere, Solicitor, Wellington ; F. J. Taylor, Settler, Runanga ; T. Ballan, Christchurch ; and A. Patterson, Accountant, Lands Department. Mr. Russell, M.P., attended a meeting of the Lands Committee, read and put in a written statement, but declined to answer questions or give evidence, on the ground that there was no charge against him. The Committee, having given the whole matter their careful consideration, decided to formulate certain questions, and set down their answers thereto. The questions and answers are as follows : — 1. Was it desirable that the Government acquire the property ? — Answer : Yes. 2. Could the land purchased, other than that actually required for roads, be acquired in any other way except by private treaty ? — Answer : Yes ; but it was not advisable to do so. i—l. sa.