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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 76, 6 December 1887, Page 2

Major Porter arrived from Wallington on Monday. Daring his visit he, together with Mr Graham, M.H.R., saw Ministers with reference to land mutters. It will be seen, elsewhere, that a bill to amend the Native Land Administration Act and the Land Act will ba introduced to-day. Provision is to be made to allow any one who has obtained the signatures of some ot the grantees in a block of land to obtain a title to the land they (the natives) are entitled to* This is a most important provision as at present no one i* able to obtain a title until the whole of the grantees have signed the deed, thus entailing great lose upon those who had partially completed their deeds. Another valuable provision whioh is likely to pass-is that the stamp duty may ba paid in instalments instead of in a lump. At the present time the Government claim that the stamp duty should ba paid at once on a lease being granted, but the alteration will probably mean that the oharge will extend over the terms in equal instalments. The Government will briug in a measure of a temporary nature to allow of free trade in native land. Next session the question will be permanently dealt with. Taking al things into consideration we will have much to be thankful for, should even a portion of the Government promises be accorded us. A liberal Act dealing with Crown lands, free trade in native land, facilities to procure clear titles I We should indeed have a future to look forward to. So mote it be 1