NATIVE LANDS SETTLEMENT.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3972, 4 June 1885, Page 3

NATIVE LANDS SETTLEMENT.

(by tkleorth.) Wellington, June 3.

The Native Land Settlement Bill, to be presentfd to parliament is now completed, and will be distributed shortly. The bill provides means by which native lands can be disposed of either by sale or lease under the land laws of the colony, after they have passed through the native lands court. The owners of a block of land will have power to appoint, from amonz themselves, if they are eighty or more in number, a committee consisting of aeven persons, who will have the right to deal with lands, subject to certain powers of control on the part of the owners. If the number is seven or les?, the owners themselves will have the powers ot •> committee. A board will be constituted for certain defined districts, and will have power upon the recommendation of a committee to take land and use it for settlement purposes in a way similar to the operations of waste lands board*. Commissioners of these boards will have large power* entrusted to thero, but always subject on one hand to the recommendations of the committee of owners, and on the other hand to the regulations ot the governor in council bringing into force lsnd laws under which land will be administered. Expedition ia now being used in putting lands through the native lands courts with a view to bringing them speedily under the operation of the bill when paved.