ORAKEI MODEL SUBURB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15132, 24 October 1912, Page 8

ORAKEI MODEL SUBURB.

:■■ / : .'-''/- : 'r''''•■'/■ - : v'- ';■: </■<;■ .■ '-.-":■-.-■■'■■ ,:'■■■;■■.-../- >.;,?■* ■V-,'.-/":':.;■'/■■ /.. BILL MATERIALLY AMENDED. :: ; ':::..v , :ri..i::i-:;::.";:':/.;,/■;,.■>,;:'::;::Z 1 ;:,'^ ■>:?.<* .;,.■■ ;v.-;- ;: -:-' [CITY'S POWER TO ACQUIRE LAND. [fIT TELEfm.Vipa-~SPBC3A]rj cbESESPQjnOENT.] ' Weuunotok, Wednesday;/ Tape legislation/proposed to "authorise the acquisition of the Orakoi: Reserve, 1 by the Auckland City ; Council has been very materially amended by the Local Bills/'Committee. It was reported to the House of Representatives this afternoon and referred to th& /Native it Affairs Committee. ' The chairman the Local Bills .Committee (Mr. Pearce) explained that the'parties interested were practically in agreement regarding the Bill in its present form. / A hew procedure to be .followed in acquiring the land has been substituted for the* City Council's proposals. The question whether the reserve is to be acquired is to be determined by a poll of the ratepayers taken at any time, and the acquis;, tion of the land and the laying;/ but and management of it as a model suburb/are/to bo public works within the; meaning of the Public Works Act. A Compensation Ci>urt is to be ccnistitutjed to detennino the vidue of the reserve, including all interests in it, and to determine the amount*; of com]pensation to "be paid to/each of the persons interested. , The Court/is to consist of a judge of the Supreme Court (who isis to be president), and four assessors, repreajnting respectively the City Council, thensitives, the Europeans, and the Minister for Internal Affairs. The Conit is not to enter upon its inquiry till all litigation pending when -the: Act comes into operation; has, been finally detemined, and until reasonable time has been allowed' for the conSjmatioh and registration of transfers and leases. The holders Of such titles will be entitled to share in the compensation to be paid by the City Council. : / The Court is to determine the compensation payable to the/whole of the natives, and the individual shares are to be alio-; : cated by the Native Land Court;; / The - compensation is .to be paid in debentures i; beanng interest at five - per cent.;; with a I currency of 22 years, but/ there is ; a proviso that the Council /may pay the pur:Ohase money in cash; and may also redeem any of the debentures at any time .at' par. [ / There is / another new : provision , -,?;liicK /protects existing leaseholders,,; but the I:] Council will be able to acquire any leasoI hold interest under the provisions of /the ! Public Works Act.

, Several of the amendments made bv the /Local Bills t Committee are designed to .protect the interests of the native owners; The Battery Reserve (containing 11 acres)', /the Islet, . Kohimarama ; (containing 31 /perches), i arid:,; Orakei No. I' (containing nearly 39 acres), are to be absolutely; unalienable, except to the City Council No .| portion of any land which forms part of (any burial ground of the natives is to be [taken: The Committee has struck out the clause proposing; to render null and void proposed alienations of any part of the re- ; serve begun since January 1. It was intended that this clause should operate 'for two years for the purpose of preventing private dealings in Orakei lands. /'