C.—4

2

(4.) Whether the existing tenures under which land in mining districts in the Nelson and Westland Land Districts can be occupied are satisfactory and in the best interests of settlement. (5.) To what extent, if any, it is desirable to amend the said tenures, having due regard to mining and other interests. (6.) To what extent the provisions of and the regulations under the Mining Act, 1908, the Land Act, 1908, or any other enactment of the General Assembly relating to the disposal of timber and occupation of land within such mining districts should be amended. For the purpose of your inquiry you are hereby authorized and empowered to have before you and examine all books, papers, documents, or Writings you deem necessary, and examine on oath or otherwise, as allowed by law, all witnesses or other persons whom you think capable of affording you any information in the premises. The said John Strauchon shall be your Chairman ; and you are hereby empowered or directed to conduct your inquiry in such a manner, and at such times, and with such adjournments as you think fit. And, using all diligence, you are hereby required to report to me under your hand the result of your inquiry, with any recommendations you may think fit to make in the premises, on or before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen. Given under the hand cf His Excellency the Right Honourable Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor and Commander-in-[l.s.] Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies ; and issued under the seal of the said Dominion, at the Government House at Wellington, this twenty-second day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fourteen. W. F. Massey, Approved in Executive Council. Minister of Lands. J. F. Andrews, Clerk of Executive Council.

EXTENSION OF COMMISSION.

Liverpool, Governor. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to John Strauchon, Esq., 1.5.0., of Wellington, Surveyor ; Major Daniel Henderson Lusk, of Auckland, Farmer ; and John Allman Marchant, Esq., of Ruatapu, Sawmill-manager : Greeting. Whereas by a Warrant dated the twenty-second day of May, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, and issued under my hand and the Public Seal of the Dominion, you were appointed a Commission to inspect and report upon the land and forests belonging to the Crown situated within mining districts in the Nelson and Westland Land Districts, and to make recommendations respecting the tenures and method of administration under which the should be sold and the land settled, and whether such administration and tenures should be amended, and, if so, to what extent: And whereas it is expedient to extend the scope of the said Commission in the manner hereafter appearing : Now, therefore, I, Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in that behalf, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby direct that your powers and functions under the said Warrant- are hereby extended to and shall be deemed to include the power to inspect and report in a similar manner on the land and forests belonging to the Crown situated within mining districts in the Marlborough Land District.