THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 17, 1874

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1728, 17 February 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 17, 1874

Owing to the late hour at which the meeting of the leaseholders of the Maori Reserve concluded last evening, we are only able to give our readers the bare results, but we Bhall publish a full report to-morrow. In the absence of the Mayor, ifcrWylde was called to the chair. Mr Ifewton, who had undertaken to inquire if a feasible scheme could be proposed likely to receive the consideration of the Government, said that he was of opinion that there were only two bases upon which itiwas likely effective results were likely to accrue— one was the extinguishing of the Native title and sale, and the other the extension of the existing leases. He did !nk ttirok the first condition was likely td be 'practicable, but he had drafted roughly two or three schemes that might one or other of them meet the. case. Th^se 1 were to the following effect •— First scheme : 'Assuming the probability 6f| sale, which he deemed unlikely— " That persons interested should have a pre-emptive right, at the upset price, in the following order of priority :•— The person entitled to rack rent, or the person holding the largest interest to have the first right. The'person holding the next reversion, or the second largest interest the next right, and so on. — All parties who have pre-emptive rights to give notice before a day to be fixed, or to forfeit their rights ; and those who give notice, the person having a prior preemptive right, to obtain a Crown grant on payment of the upset price. "Sales to be subjected to all existing rights and interests. " If no notice be givfin the sale to be by auction. , . " If the sub- tenant purchases he must either buy out existing interests, or allow them to exist until they expire by effluxion of time. " Lessors may object to .this, because they thus lose lose their right of renewal, existing by understanding only. " SECOND SCHEME. " -The original lessee to have the first rightj bf purchase. The second lessee the next right, and so on. The purchaser to^ay the upset price, add also a sum to be fixed by impartial assessment for all improvements made by subtenants previous to sale, deducting therefrom the value of the original lessee's im-provementsafterex^iratiohofsub-tenapt's feastfi : Sdch' additional sum to be paid to the sub-tenants in proportion to the improvements made. . ' -..;; .;: :" THIRD: SCHEME. 'fLet properties be sold publicly, reserving no pre-emptive rights, at an upset : price equal to the value of the reversion now held by the Commissioner, and also of allimprovemenU made by tenants and sub-tenants, , r:: ... .:■..:•. .•

" Of the amonnt realised let the Commissioner retain the sum fixed as the value of the reversion now held by him. " The balance to be divided equally amongst tenants and sub-tenants, in proportion to the vajiie of their respective interests, ''-.'/ ■'■' -'.''' " Sale to be subject to all existing rights. "Assuming the renewal of existing leases :— Such renewed leases to contain a condition that they shall be liable to forfeiture unless an application within a reasonable time (say two months) be made, and that the lessee will grant to his sub-teuant a renewal for a term and at a rent bearing the same proportion to the existing term and rent of such sub-tenant as the renewed term and the rent in the renewed lease of the original lessee bear to his existing term and rent. Each such renewed lease to contain a similar condition as to sub-tenants under the lease renewed thereby."

A resolution in conformity with the ideas contained in the above was proposed and met with a considerable amount of approval, but the discussion which ensued raised so many fresh issues that it became difficult to guide the meeting to a definite expression of opinion. Ultimately a resolution was carried based upon Mr Newton's original motion, and amended by him with the consent of the meeting, to the following effect — "That the deputation appointed to wait upon the Ministry be requested to urge upon them to sell the land upon the following conditions : namely, by public auction at an upset price, comprising the value of the reversion held by the Governor on behalf of the Natives, and the value of all improvements made by tenants and sub-tenants. Out of the proceeds the Governor to retain the value of the reversion, the balance to be divided amongst tenants and sub-tenants in proportion to the value of their respective interests in improvements. The sale, of course, to be subject to all existing leases. And failing this :— the deputation to take the necessary steps to enable a renewal of all existing leases for a term of 60 years to be granted, subject to a condition that the lessee shall on application within reasonable time grant to his sub- tenants a renewed lease for a proportionately increased term, and at a recent increased by the amount of the increased rent of the original lease." After the principles embodied in the foregoing resolution were accepted as sufficient to meet the cases of all concerned, the question arose as to who should proceed to Wellington as the deputation. The names of several : gentlemen were proposed, but as some declined *o go, and others could not say ! whether they could go or not, this question was left over the time, and a resolution was carried that the members for the district in the General Assembly should jtelegraph at once to the General Governjment;informingthero that a deputation was i about to proceed to Wellington, and aßkling that the new Native Reserves Act should not be brought into operation in Greymouth until the deputation should have the opportunity of communicating with the Government. It was further agreed that the selection of the members of the deputation should be left to the Progress Committee.