HOUSE OF COMMON'S.—SIR GEORGE GREY'S LANT) REGULATIONS

Otago Witness, Issue 137, 31 December 1853, Page 3

HOUSE OF COMMON'S. — SIR GEORGE GREY'S LANT) REGULATIONS

From the Sydney Empire we take the following extract, which will be read with particular interest, as it clears away all doubts as to the legality of Sir George Grey's Land Regulations, and the matter is now set at rest : —

" In the House of Commons, Aug. 5, Mr. Adderley asked whether her Majesty had delegated to the Governor of New Zealand such power respecting the sale of land as authorised his proclamation of 4th March, 1853, whereby the scale of land prices guaranteed by the 14th and 15th Viet., c. 86, was set aside, and the power given by the 15th and 16th Viet., c. 72, to the new Legislature, v/ere anticipated by the Governor alone, and an unlimited extent of territory was set up to public auction at ss. an acre ? Mr. Peel stated that no information had reached the Colonial Office of any proclamation having been issued by Sir George Grey as to the price of land. The act of last year conferred on the General Assembly of New Zealand the power of regulating the sale of lands ; and till the General Assembly mnde other provisions, the Governor was to regulate the sale of land. Soon after tnat Act passed, instructions were sent to Sir George Grey to issue such Regulations as he might think requisite with reference to the sale of land. That, it might, be presumed, was the authority for any proclamation . issued by Sir George Grey."