PETITION OF THE NEW ZEALAND NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT COMPANY (LIMITED) FOR A PRIVATE BILL, AND REPORTS THEREON.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1883 Session I, J-03

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1883. NEW ZEALAND.

PETITION OF THE NEW ZEALAND NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT COMPANY (LIMITED) FOR A PRIVATE BILL, AND REPORTS THEREON.

Ordered to be printed by the House of Representatives, sth July, 1883.

In Parliament. —In the House of Representatives.—ln the matter of a Bill intituled "The New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company (Limited) Empowering Act, 1883." To the Honourable the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled. The humble Petition op the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company (Limited) showeth, — 1. That your petitioners are a company incorporated under "The Companies Act, 1882." 2. That, by their articles of association, the sphere of their business is confined to a limited portion of the colony, and it would be beneficial to the said company and to the public if they were authorized to carry on their undertaking in any part of the North Island of New Zealand. 3. That they also desire to have power to remove their place of business from Gisborne to Auckland, and to amalgamate with any other company or companies. 4. That it would be for the benefit of the aboriginal landowners of the colony if they were empowered to appoint representatives for each block of land passing through the Native Land Court, so as to avoid the great expense and delay incurred in dealing with their lands under the existing system. 5. That many improvements may be made in the existing law by simplifying the mode of dealing with Native lands, which would facilitate the operations of the company, expedite the settlement of Native lands, and cause the Native owners thereof to receive much greater and more permanent benefits therefrom than they now receive. 6. That these provisions, and others of a similar character, are comprised in the Bill called the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company (Limited) Empowering Bill, a copy whereof is hereunto annexed. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that leave may be given for the introduction of such a> Bill into your honourable House, and that it may pass into law; and that your petitioners may be heard before the Committee to which the same shall be referred, by themselves, their counsel, agent, witnesses. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. Daniel Pollen, \ John Buchanan, I Directors. C. A. De LautoueJ (1.5.) Standing Orders not complied with.—(See report attached hereto.) E. Brandon, 3rd July, 1883. Examiner of Standing Orders on Private Bills. Declaration. In the matter of a Bill intituled " The New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company (Limited) Empowering Act, 1883." I, the Hon. Daniel Pollen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company (Limited), in conformity with Standing Order No. 31, do solemnly and sincerely declare as follows : That the proposed Bill gives power to effect the following objects enumerated in such Standing Order: Power to amalgate with any company, and such power is contained in clause 5 thereof; and such Bill does not give power to effect any of the objects enumerated in the said order other than that above stated; and such Bill does not give any powers other than those included in the notices for the Bill. And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the provisions of an Act of the General Assembly of New Zealand intituled " The Justices of the Peace Act, 1882\" Daniel Pollen, Chairman of Board of Directors. Declared this twenty-sixth day of June, 1883, before me—J. M. Dargaville, a Justice of the Peace in and for the Colony of New Zealand.

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In the matter of a Bill to empower the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company (Limited) to acquire and hold land from Native owners in trust and as agents, and to deal with the same, and for other purposes. In accordance with Standing Order No. 52 of the Standing Orders relative to private Bills, I have the honour to report that I have examined the petition for the above Bill, and have indorsed thereon that the Standing Orders have not been complied with, inasmuch as the published notices for the Bill do not sufficiently set forth the powers actually sought. The notices state that land is to be acquired and held by the company as " trustees or agents," whereas, by clause 6 of the proposed Bill, power is proposed to be given to the company to acquire land " by way of absolute purchase." The declaration required by Standing Order No. 31 is incorrect, powers being sought for in the Bill that are not mentioned in the declaration. Standing Order No. 32 has not been complied with, as no copy of the Bill has been lodged in the Colonial Secretary's Office. E. Brandon, 3rd July, 1883. Examiner of Standing Orders on Private Bills. The New Zealand Native Land Settlement (Company) Limited Empowering Bill, 1883. The Joint Committee on Standing Orders have the honour to report that they have considered the report of the Examiner hereon, and find the same correct. They have, however, heard the promoters by their agent, and beg to recommend that Standin;.; Orders Nos. 31, 32, and 16 be dispensed with, and that the parties be allowed to proceed with their Bill, on condition that clause 6 of the proposed Bill be expunged. W. D. H. Baillie, Chairman of Joint Committee on Standing Orders on Private Bills. sth July, 1883.

By Authority : George Didseuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB3.

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