Gr.—U.

" The Native Land Act Amendment Act, 1877," and " The Native Land Act 1873 Amendment Act, 1878." These Acts did not contain any special provisions affecting disposition of Native lands. " The Government Native Land-purchase Act, 1877." It was deemed expedient to pass this Act in order to make better provision for the protection of the interests of the Crown in the acquisition of Native lands. Agents had been employed to purchase such lands on commission, and there were a number of such purchases under negotiation ; and it was also deemed expedient that that mode of purchasing Native lands should be forthwith discontinued and other arrangements made for the completion of any such purchase then under negotiation. Section 2 provided for the protection of the interests and rights of the Crown in all cases of incomplete purchases or negotiations whether the same had passed through the Native Land Court or not. " The Government Native Land-purchase Act Amendment Act, 1878." Section 2 gave the Crown the right to expel intruders on lands under negotiation. Section 3 provided that the relinquishment of any rights of the Crown should not operate for two months after the intention of such relinquishment had been notified in the Gazette. Section 4 authorised the Governor to issue Crown grants for any lands agreed to be reserved for Natives out of any blocks to which the title of the Crown had been determined by the Court, vesting such reserves in the persons interested with such restrictions as the Governor should deem fit. "The Native Land Act Amendment Act, 1878 (No. 2)." Section 10 fixed three months as the time for making application for rehearing. Section 11 prescribed that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary thereto in " The Native Land Act, 1873," or any amendments thereof, it should be lawful for the Court in its discretion, on the application of any Native owner or other person interested therein, to hear and determine the value or extent of any estate or interest in any land held by such applicant under memorial of ownership, or Crown grant, or award, or conveyance ; and, if it should deem fit, to make an order vesting any part or portion of such land in such applicant. Section 12 made a fresh rule, relative to the execution of instruments of disposition, as follows : That any instrument might be signed by any Native interested in the same before any Justice of the Peace, Clerk of any Resident Magistrate's Court, or any Inspector of Armed Constabulary, or a Solicitor of the Supreme Court, not professionally concerned or engaged for any of the parties to such transfer, lease, or other instrument, who should have the same powers as are conferred on Judges of the Native Land Court, or Resident Magistrates, under the provisions of section 85 of "The Native Land Act, 1873:" Provided that any such officer holding a license as an interpreter under " The Native Land Act, 1873," should not attest the execution of any deed which had been interpreted by himself : Provided, further, that the attestation by an adult witness, as required by the said Act, should still in all cases be necessary. " The Native Land Court Act, 1880." Section 70 repealed the Act of 1873, in so far as was repugnant to this Act, and provided that a certificate of title issued under this Act should have the same force and effect and might be dealt with as a memorial of ownership under the Act of 1873. The rest of the Act principally related to the procedure of the Native Land Court, but contained no provisions respecting the alienation or disposition of lands. " The Native Lands Frauds Prevention Act, 1881." This repealed and consolidated the Aots of 1870 and 1873, and provided additional machinery for effecting the purposes for which such legislation was necessary.

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