NATIVE LANDS COURT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2927, 20 April 1910, Page 11

NATIVE LANDS COURT.

NEW REGULATIONS. WELLINGTON, April 12

In consequence of the passing of the new Native Land Act, a consolidation of 70 statutes which formerly contained the involved law upon the subject, revised rules of procedure were rendered necessary in the courts, .and these have now been approved by Cabinet. There are 200 rules simplifying the whole procedure, and they provide for an important change in the system of court sittings. The North Island is to be divided into four Native land districts, in each of which will be a registrar of the Native Land Court, who will .also act in a similar capacity in respect to the Appellate Court. Auck-

j land, Gisborne, Wanganui, and Welling- ! ton are the names of the new districts, I and th* Wellington area will also include ' the South Island and all islands adjacent --(hereto. When application is made for partition of Native land, it will be for* ! warded to the Chief Surveyor of the parj ticular land district, whose duty it will be to report what roading is required for its settlement, and the cost of the work. Partition may be proceeded with upon a sketch plan approved by the Native Land Court. Leave may be granted to appeal against provisional orders if appli cation is made in open court within two days of the decision sought to be upset. Each year early in April the Chief* Judge of the Native Land Court will submit to the Minister a schedule of proposed court sitings, which will be gazetted. If anv special sittings iare fixed by the Chief Judge, only the special business may i be taken for which the sitting is arranged.