NATIVE LAND MATTERS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4772, 25 January 1887, Page 2

NATIVE LAND MATTERS.

FURTHER INTIMATIONS. In the Native Land Court this morning Mr Watson and Mr DoLautonr asked tho Court what course it intended to pursue with respect to the provisions contained in sections 24 and 25 of the Native Land Administration Act. These clauses relate to the carrying on of negotiations entered into prior to Ist July last. Regarding the transmission of notices to the Chief Judge and the Commissioner in Wellington, required to bo sent in conformity with the Act, the Court intimated that the production of the Post-office receipt of the registration of the letters would be sufficient evidence that the notices had been forwarded. As to the deods themselves, if they have the Trust Commissioner's certificate endorsed upon them, that in itself will be sufficient evidence of the boua fides of the transaction. In cases where no certificate has yet been obtained, the production of the usual declaration, " Form C," and viva voce evidence of some of the parties will suffice. It should be borne in mind that all applications must be sent in before the Ist of 4|..ril next. It 13 to the advantage of parties interested in the acquisition of Native lands to send in their applications as speedily as possible, as the sooner they receive the sanction of the Court the longer will be the time allowed for completing their title. In granting certificates under section 24 the Court is willing at the same time to grant certificates under section 25. Altogether the Judges appear to be desirous of affording all the facilities they are legally capable of in administering what many deem to be the most wretched piece of legislation that has ever found its way on to the Statute book of the colony. The Native Land Court sits to hear applications on Saturday, notification to that effect having been posted up on the Court door and on the black board at the Government buildings. Mr Brassey has brought under our notice the fact that Mr Seymour sent the proper notice to the Commissioner at Wellington under Sec. 24, as prescribed by the forms supplied by the Department, and on the same day as it reached Wellington, it was returned endorsed " not in the Wellington district." The same date is shown by the postmarks. Whether this endorsement means that the Commissioner was absent at the time or that the land was outside the Wellington Land district seeina doubtful, but apparently the people in the Native Office at Wellington do not understand their ■ own Act. This will not surprise anyone, however. The matter is of importance to those concerned, as putting it in doubt to whom the notices are to be sent. Perhaps all danger would be avoided by sending notices both to Auckland and Wellington. VVe have to thank Mr Brassey for bringing the subject under notice.