LAND CLAIMS AMENDMENT ORDINANCE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 103, 24 February 1844, Page 410

LAND CLAIMS AMENDMENT ORDINANCE.

Whereas by an ordinance enacted by the Governor of New Zealand, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council, Session 1., No. 2, intituled " An Act to repeal within the said colony of New Zealand a certain act of the Governor and Legislative Council of New South Wales, made and passed in the fourth year of the reign of her present Majesty, and adopted under an ordinance of the Governor and Legislative Council of New Zealand, for extending the laws of New South Wales to the said colony of New Zealand, and which said act of the Governor and Council of New South Wales is intituled 'An act to empower the Governor of New South Wales to appoint Commissioners, with certain powers, to examine and report on Claims to Grants of Land in New Zealand,' and also to terminate any commission issued under the same, and to authorize the Governor of the colony of New Zealand to appoint commissioners, with certain powers, to examine and report on claims to grants of land therein, and to declare all other titles, except those allowed by the Crown, null and void," the Governor of New Zealand is authorized and empowered to appoint commissioners with power and authority to hear, examine, and report upon all claims to grants of land within the colony of New Zealand ; and the said commissioners so to be appointed, or any two of them, on being satisfied of the validity of any claims, are authorized and required to report the same, and the grounds thereof, to the Governor, in manner in the said ordinance mentioned : and whereas it is expedient that all the powers and authorities vested by the said ordinance in any two of such commissioners should be vested in any single commissioner, Be it therefore enacted by his Excellency the Governor of New Zealand, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council, as follows : —

1. Power to examine into and report upon Claims to Land given to a single Commissioner. — All the powers of hearing, examining; and reporting on claims to land, and all the other powers and authorities given by the said recited ordinance to any two commissioners, may be exercised as fully and effectually by any single commissioner as the same have hitherto been exercised by two commissioners.

2. — All acts heretofore done by One Commissioner to be as valid as if done by Two. — All acts done by a single commissioner before the passing of this ordinance which might have been lawfully done by any two commissioners under the authority of the said recited ordinance, shall be as valid and effectual to all intents and purposes as if the same had been done by two commissioners.