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1913, No. 54: The Rating Amendment Act, 1913: Sections 9 to 19 make better provision for the collection of rates payable in respect of Native lands. The other sections are amendments of the principal Act. 1913, No. 55. The Harbours Amendment Act, 1913: This Act makes provision for the filling of casual vacancies in the office of non-elective members of Harbour Boards. 1913, No. 56. The Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Act, 1913 : This Act amends in various particulars the provisions of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1909. 1913, No. 57. The Water-supply Amendment Act, 1913 : Section 2 provides for the compulsory classification of land for the purposes of special rates levied pursuant to the principal Act, and further provides that the said rates shall be levied according to such classification. Section 6 provides for the sale of certain Crown land situated in the County of Vincent (Otago) to any company having for its objects the irrigation of such land and its subsequent subdivision and sale for the purposes of closer settlement. 1913, No. 58. The Native Land Amendment Act, 1913 : Sections 3 to 13 provide for the constitution of Native Land Court districts, and for the appointment of Judges, Registrars, and Commissioners of the Native Land Court to exercise jurisdiction within the district for which they are respectively appointed. Section 13 provides for the compilation of a register of the owners of all Native freehold land, and of their respective interests therein. Sections 15 to 52 relate to the constitution and functions of Maori Land Boards. By section 23 it is provided that the Judge and the Registrar of each Native Land Court district are to constitute the Maori Land Board of the district. The Judge is the President of the Board, and may appoint any Native or European assessor or assessors to act in respect of any matter before the Board for its determination. Sections 44 to 62 deal with the partition among the Native owners of their several interests in land held by them in common. By section 44 the Judge of the Native Land Court is required from time to time to report to the Native Minister as to the Native lands within his district that are suitable for settlement and are not used by their Native owners, and thereupon the Minister may apply to the Native Land Court to investigate the title, and to partition the said land among the several owners. In making such partition the Court is required, so far as possible, having regard to the interests of the owners, to subdivide the said land into such allotments as may be conveniently disposed of by the Native owners to an individual purchaser or an individual lessee. Sections 48 to 53 make provision for the adequate roading of lands heretofore or hereafter partitioned. Section 55 permits of two or more adjoining blocks being treated as one for the purpose of partition of interests, and subsequent subdivision for settlement. Sections 64 to 68 provide for succession to the interests of a deceased owner of Native land: If application for a succession order is not made within six months after the death of a Native owner, the Judge of the Native Land Court in the district in which the land is situated may proceed to inquire as to the successors of the deceased owner, and may thereupon make such orders as he thinks fit. Section 67 provides for the disposal by sale or lease (with the consent of a majority of the owners affected) of land held by Native owners in common in cases where* the relative interests are so small that, in the opinion of the Court, partition is not justifiable. Sections 70 to 80 make provision for the limitation of the area of Native land to be beneficially held by one person. Sections 82 to 93 relate to the alienation of Native freehold land by the owners thereof and to the confirmation by the Maori Land Board or Native Land Court of instruments of alienation. Section 90 provides for the removal into the Supreme Court of applications for confirmation in cases involving questions of difficulty. Section 92 authorizes the payment to the Public Trustee or a Maori Land Board in trust for the Native entitled thereto of any unpaid purchase-money payable in respect of the alienation of any Native land. By section 93 provision is made, in the case of land held under lease, for the protection of the tenant's interest in improvements where application is made for the confirmation of an instrument of alienation. Section 94 authorizes Maori Land Boards to delegate to Land Boards under the Land Act, 1908, the powers conferred on the first-mentioned Boards by Part XIV of the Native Land Act, 1909 (relating to the administration of Native land vested in Maori Land Boards for the purposes of settlement by Europeans. Section 96 authorizes the Governor in Council to revest in the Native owners any land held in trust for those owners by a Maori Land Board on application in that behalf being made by a majority of the Native owners beneficially entitled thereto. Section 97 protects the lessee's interest in Native land leased pursuant to the provisions of the Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905, or of the Native Land Act, 1909. Section 99 empowers the Court, on the application of any of the persons interested, to order an investigation and audit of the accounts kept by the Committee of Management appointed by the incorporated owners of any Native land under Part XVIT of the Native Land Act, 1909.

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