THE NEW NATIVE LAMBS LEGISLATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2302, 14 April 1898, Page 9

THE NEW NATIVE LAMBS LEGISLATION.

(From Oub Own Correspondent. )

Wellingios, April 4. The following is a translation of a precis ot the new Native Lands Protf ction and Administration Ac!}' circulated by the Prtmier at the large Native gathering at Waihi, near Hantly, on the Waikato rivtr ; —

1. The colony for the purposa of this act to be divided into districts.

2. Eor each di&trict there shall be a Native land board consisting of the commissioner of Grown lands and two"Europeans to be appointed by the Governor, and two Natives to be elected for a term of three years by the owners of Native laeds within each such district respectively.

3. The members of ihe board (European!! and Natives) shall be paid such salaries and allowances as may from time to time be appropriated by Parliament.

4. The commissioner of Grown lands shall by virtue of his office be chairman of the board, and shall have a casting vote only. In his absence be may appoint one of the European members as deputy chairman.

5. A deputy chairman shall have a deliberative as well as a casting vote.

6. Three members, including at least one Maori, shall be a quorum. 7. ''The Disqualification Act, 1878," bhall not apply to Maori members of the board.

8. The adoption of this act in any district is permiasive. .It may be brought into force by the Governor on the petition of any 20 or more of the Native owners.

9. On receint of the petition the Governor shall publish it in the Gazette and Kahiti, and call for objections.

10. If 20 or more of the other Native owners object to the petition, the matter shall be decided by a poll of all the Native owners.

11. On the adoption of the act in any district all Native lands which means Papatupu, and all other lands owned by Natives shall rest in the Native Land Board, except lands purchased by Natives from the Crown or from pakehas, or lands which the Governor-in-Council exempts from the acb in cases where he is satisfied that the Native owners are themselves competent to admiuister the same, or land 3 subject to "The Thermal Springs 13i3tricts Act, 1881," "The Weslland and Nelson Native Eeserves Act, 1887," " The West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1893," and "The Native Townships Act, 3895." 12. The board shall have power to dispose of Native lands by lease afc such rentals for such periods and .subject to such conditions as arc prescribed by regulations under the act. 13. No Native lands in any district where the act is adopted may hereafter be disposed of by way of sale except for the completion of dealings lawfully commenced before the passing of the same or where the lands are exempted as hereinbefore provided.

The board is empowered to reserve land for, as far as practicable, the individual use and occupation of Native owners on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit, and also to reserve land for burial places, schools, churches, and other purposes of public convenience or utility. 15. When disposing of Native lands by lease the board may give priority to applications of Natives who are landless or who may be owners of the lands thrown open for leasing. 16. The board may agree with her Majesty for Native lands to be available for mining purposes under "The Mining Act, 1591," the revenue from all such lauds in respect of mining being paid by the warden to the board for the benefit of the Native owners.

17. The board may expend money on the formation and maintenance of roads, streets, surveys, and opening up land for settlement, or any other purpose authorised by the act or regulations. 18. The board shall have such further powers as may be conferred upon it by regulations, and all regulations shall be laid upon the table of both Houses within 14 days after the coaimencsment of a first ensuing session thereof. 19. The board shall, with respect to Native lands vested in it, have all the powers of the Native Land Court as to partition, succession, definition of relative interests, and appointment of trustees for Native owners under disability. 20 The income of the board in respect of Native lands shall be anplied : (1) To defray cost of administration ; (2) paying off mortgages, charges, and liens that are due; (3) paying the, balance to Native owners according to their relative interest. . 21. No Native owner may dispose of nis interest in any Native land in any district in which the act has been adopted, except by will in favour of another Native. 22. No Native laud within any such district may be seized or sold for debt. 23. The board may borrow from the Government upwards of £50CO in aDy year for the purpo&ft of roa cling, surveying, and opening lands for settlement.

24. At the request of the Native owners concerned the hoard may borrow from the Government in any year upwards of £5000 for the pur-

brances to ?.'t;ieh the lands are subject at the time of the adoption of the act ; and upwards of £1000 for the purpose of paying the then existing unsecxireel debts of the Native owners.

25. The moneys so borrowed from the Government shall be repayable, with interest at 5 per cent, per annum., by equal annual instalments extending over upwards of 48 yeais, and the instalments shall be deducted from the income of the Native owners for whose benefit the money was borrowed, 26. Uncompleted purchases by the Crown, and all uncompleted private dealings lawfully commenced, and which could have been lawfully completed but for the passing of the act. may, in the districts where the act is adopted, be completed through the board. 27. The Governor-in-Council may make all such regulations as are necessary ior the carrying out of the provisions of the act. 28. The Governor-in-Council may exempt any Native land from the operation of the act in cases where be is satisfied that the Native owner is himself fully competent to adniiuiater the same.

A mounted Salvation Army Corpa is the latest thing at Pahiatua.