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The Waste Lands Committee have the honour to report that they are of opinion that this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration ; and the Committee recommend that an arrangement. should be made with the Native owners and the Whangarei County Council for the acquisition of the land necessary to construct a road through the districts named in the petition. 19th August, 1890.
No. 101.—Petition of Eussell Bates. The petitioner states that in June, 1888, he applied for a section in the Kai-iwi Block, Opunake; that in October of the same year he received verbal permission from Mr. Baber, surveyor, to occupy his selection at an upset price of ss. per acre ; that, relying on Mr. Baber's statement, he effected a number of improvements on the section ; that in 1889 the section was advertised at an upset price of 7s. 6d. per acre ; that, owing to the large amount he (petitioner) had already spent on the section, he was compelled to take it at the latter price. The Waste Lands Committee have the honour to report that they are of opinion that petitioner has no claim upon the colony. 19th August, 1890.
Interim Eepoet.—Dummyism. The Waste Lands Committee have the honour to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the present provisions of the Land Act have led to evasions, and that therefore some amendments are urgently required. 22nd August, 1890. _____
No. 93.—Petition of Petek Mubbay. (Second Report.) The petitioner states that in the year 1882 he purchased Section 37, Block 111, Otago Peninsula district, believing that the boundary-lines thereof, as shown on the Crown grant and title-deeds, were correct; that on subsequent survey the section boundary has been found to be overlapped by the boundary of Sections Nos. 35, 36, 38, and 39 of the same block. He prays for compensation. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom this petition was referred back for reconsideration by order of the House dated the 31st July, 1890, have the honour to report that they are of opinion that the sum of £150 should be paid to the petitioner as compensation for his loss, and in full settlement of all demands. 29th August, 1890.
Dummyism. The Waste Lands Committee have the honour to report that, the evidence adduced before them during the dummyism inquiry having shown conclusively that the Land Acts have been in a number of instances evaded by false declarations, made with a view to dummying, the Committee is of opinion that it is the duty of the Government to take steps to enforce the law; and recommend that offenders, against whom a charge will lie, be prosecuted with a view to the putting a stop to the like practices in future. 2nd September, 1890.
No. 157. —Petition of John Cbowe. The petitioner states that in June, 1882, he purchased on deferred payment a section of land in the Taringatura district at £3 6s. per acre, the upset price being £1 55.; that up to January, 1886, he had paid up on account of purchase the sum of £91 25.; that on that date, he being in arrear with his payments, the section was declared forfeited; that his improvements have been valued by the Land Board at £268 55.; that the land was regazetted in 1888 at an upset price of 15s. per acre, which would amount to a total purchase of £138 ; that the land is still vacant. Petitioner prays that he may be reinstated in his section, and allowed to receive the benefit of " The Selectors' Lands Revaluation Act, 1889." The W T aste Lands Committee have the honour to report that they consider the case of the petitioner a very hard one, and recommend the petition to the most favourable consideration of the Government. 3rd September, 1890.
No. 153. —Petition of David Anderson. The petitioner states that in 1879 he purchased on deferred payment two sections of land in the Taringatura district at the upset price of £3 per acre ; that up to August, 1888, he had paid up on account of purchase-money £250 45., with interest £60 6s. Bα. ; that on the latter date, petitioner being in arrear with his payments, the lands were forfeited ; that the Land Board has valued his improvements at £293 175.; that in January, 1889, the sections were regazetted at an upset price of £1 per acre, which would amount to a total purchase of £277 6s. Petitioner prays that he may be reinstated in his sections, and allowed to come under the benefit of " The Selectors' Lands Revaluation Act, 1889." The Waste Lands Committee have the honour to report that they consider the case of the petitioner a very hard one, and recommend the petition to the most favourable consideration of the Government.