NATIVE TOWNSHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 893, 12 August 1910, Page 2

NATIVE TOWNSHIPS.

IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS. Under the Native Townships Bill, which it is intended should come into operation at the beginning of next year, all Native land situated iti a Native township under the. Native Townships Act, 1895. and vested in the Crown in trust for the owners, shall becomo vested for a legal estate in fee-simple', without grant or other assurance, in the Maori Land Board,of the district. All Native land situated in a Native township vested in a Maori Land Board at the commencement of this Act shall continue to be so vested in trust for tno owners thereof, and shall bo administered by tlie board.

All public roads which at the commencement of this Act arc situated within any Native township shall be vested in tile Crown or (in the case of any township which is comprised within the boundaries of a borough) in the body corporate 'of that borough. All reserves (other than Native allotments) which belore the 'commencement of this Act have been luiide in any Native township either under the Native Townships Act,'lS9s, or under the Native and Maori Land Laws Amendment Act. l'JOi, are to ,be vested V, 1 ,• ~r olvu ns P"^ lic reserves under tho 1 üblic Reserves and Domains Act, 1903 In respect of any land situated within a Aative township and vested in a Maori Land Board by virtue of this Act ,the board shall be a leasing authority within i 1 n !™S inK of the Pul]lio Bodies' Leases Act, 1908, In tho exorcise of its powers 01 .leasing a Maori Land Board may comprise in tho samu leafo two or more parcels of land held by it in trust for dilferent owners, and in any such caso the rent and other moneys receivable by the board in respect of that lease shall bo from time to fame apportioned by .the board between those owners in such manner as it deems just and equitable. , , of a Native allotment under the Native townships Act, ]595 l shall bo granted by a board under this 'Act, except in, pursuance of the precedent consent in writing of the beneficial owners "•r 'trustees in the case of owners under disability) or m pursuance of a resolution of the assembled owners. 'No land situated.in a Native township shall in respect ol the acquisition of any estate or interest therein be or become subject to the provisions of the Nqtive Land Act relating to limitation of area.. -.-oVi 10 P ur t losc , ot exercising tho powor. ? ther disposition conferred upon a Maori Land Board, the board may from time to time subdivide W?n™"t d VCS C - d "V 4 aiul a Nahve township into such allotments as

,™,i h!! 6 " £a ?A^ n, , ma y %or suchifilfntal ■ ils fit upou aU J' situated in a Native township, and vested m the board under this Act, and not subject to any lease or other encumbrance. When any land is proclaimed as a road the board shall, out of the revenues ut;- auy < other land situated in the township aud vested in the board and benefited or likely to be benefited by Proclamation of that road, pay to the onneis of the land so proclaimed 'as a road such compensation (if any) therefor as the board thinks just.and' equitable, and the decision of the board shall be final and conclusive as between all. persons interested in the payment or receipt oi such compensation. A Maori Land Board may with the precedent consent in writing of the beneficial owners, or of their trustees in the case of owners under- disability, sell to nis Majesty, but to no other person, any lane. situated in a 'Native township and vested m (lie board, or any undivided share or interest in any suili lund, aud . Provisions of the Native Laud Act, 1909, relating to. the purchases of .Native land by the Crown .shall apply, accordingly. The Crown may, in pursuance of a resolution of the assembled owners, acquire' by way of purchase, but not by way of exchange, any ,land sitn- . 1 r 1 1 . 1 a Native township and vested in a Maori Land Board. All of the provisions of this Act witli respect to Native land shall extend and apply to nny land which is included lu a' Native township, and which,'if it had not been so included, would , have been customary land within, the ..meaning of the Native Land ;Act, : 1909: The Native Land Court and Native Appellate Court may exercise in respect' of land the- same powers, and jurisdiction as if that land was'customary , land, and may make freehold orders in respect thereof accordingly. Every such freehold order shall have the same effect as a freehold order made in respect Of customary, land, save > that the estate thereby vested in the owners of the land shall be an eqiiitible estate only, and the legal estate shall remain vested in the Maori Land Board subject to the provisions of this Act. . The Native Land Court shall not partition any land situated in a Native township .without the precedent consent '.of the Maori' Land Board in which that land is vested. . • The Native Townships Act,. 1595, the amendment of 1899, and the amendment of 1903 are repealed, besides sections of other Native Land Acts.