H.—2l

1910. NEW ZEALAND.

NAVAL AND MILITARY CLAIMS.

Laid upon the Table by leave of the House.

Memorandum by the Under-Secretary for Justice for the Guidance of Magistrates. Department of Justice, Wellington, 30th April, 1910. It has been decided that the investigation of claims for grants for naval and military services rendered during the Maori wars shall be made by Stipendiary Magistrates, and I am directed by the Minister of Justice to issue the following memorandum for the guidance of Magistrates in connection therewith :— In order to enable claimants to submit their claims, it will be necessary that the dates and places of the sittings of Magistrates should be made known as widely as possible to the general public. Notices are being printed for exhibition in the principal post-offices, railway-stations, &c. To prevent waste of time it should be made known that no claims will be considered from those persons who have previously received grants of land or money for naval, military, or Volunteer services, or from persons who settled in New Zealand subsequently to the 31st December, 1872, or in cases where the service performed was in the Militia, unless such Militia service was undertaken by any Volunteer by command of his superior officer or the Governor. The persons who are to be considered eligible to make claims are defined as follows : — (1.) All officers, non-commissioned or warrant officers, private soldiers, seamen, and marines formerly of Her late Majesty's naval and military forces, who were engaged in suppressing the insurrection of the Natives in the northern part of the former Province of Auckland, and, having been discharged from the said services, have since then been resident within New Zealand, and claim under the Naval and Military Script Act, 1856. (2.) All persons who retired from Her late Majesty's naval and military service with a good character for the purpose of settling in New Zealand at any time before the 31st December, 1868, and who have so settled in New Zealand as aforesaid. (3.) All persons who served in New Zealand and who retired from Her late Majesty's naval or military service with a good character for the purpose of settling in New Zealand at any time before the 31st December, 1872, and who, prior to such date, have so settled and resided in any part of New Zealand. (4.) All persons who were enrolled in the Forest Bangers under the conditions prescribed in a memorandum of the Hon. Thomas Russell, Minister for Colonial Defence, dated the 6th August, 1863, or in another memorandum of the same Minister dated the 9th November, 1863, respectively. (5.) All officers of Volunteers or efficient Volunteers who were enrolled in any Volunteer corps within the colony on or prior to the 31st October, 1876, and who, either prior to the said 31st October, or, inclusive of any period of service prior as aforesaid, subsequently completed five years' continuous service. (6.) All persons enrolled under the Colonial Defence Force Act, 1862, who served within the Provincial District of Auckland under the late Colonel Nixon or Major Walmsley, and who had, on or before the 10th October, 1867, completed the conditions of their enrolment under such Act before the said date, or, having served under such Act partly before the said date, completed such service after that date. (7.) Every person who at any time heretofore has sent in a claim for land under the Naval and Military Claims Settlement and Extinguishment Act, 1896, or any Act of a similar tenor theretofore in force, and has had the same rejected by any Commissioner.