H.—2l.

of £300, on Lis signing, and depositing with the Commissioner of Crown Lands, a memorandum that by the acceptance of such certificate he holds himself to have come under an honourable engagement, and does accordingly engage, to reside within the Province of Nelson for the space of two years from the issue of such certificate. " 35. Non-commissioned officers and privates in Her Majesty's army or the Royal Marine, who, being on service in New Zealand, shall obtain their discharge there (such privates being discharged with good-conduct certificates), shall, after a residence within the province of one ■ year after discharge, be entitled to receive a money certificate to the following amount: Noncommissioned officers, or equivalent to that rank in the sea service, £60; privates, marines, and seamen, £30. " 36. Every such money certificate shall at any time be received instead of money in payment, or part-payment, as the case may be, of the purchase-money of Crown land purchased within the province." The following general statutes and enactments were passed by the Legislature dealing with the granting of lands to those who had taken part in the warfare in New Zealand, viz. : — The Naval and Military Settlers Act, 1860. The Taranaki Settlers' Relief Act, 1860. The Hawke's Bay Naval and Military Settlers Act, 1861. The Naval and Military Settlers (Marlborough) Act, 1861. The Auckland Waste Lands Act Amendment Act, 1862 (sections v. vi, and xii). The Colonial Defence Force Act, 1862. The Colonial Defence Force Act Amendment Act, 1863. The Wellington and Hawke's Bay Naval and Military Settlers Act, 1863. The Taranaki Naval and Military Settlers Act, 1865. The Volunteers' Land Act, 1865. The Volunteers' Land Act Amendment Act, 1867. The Taranaki Naval and Military Settlers Act, 1867. The Naval and Military Settlers Act, 1869. The Volunteers' Land Act Amendment Act, 1873. The Volunteers and Others' Land Act, 1877. The above-named Acts and regulations indicate the legislation passed to provide for military settlers, and those who took part in the several campaigns necessary to overcome the different rebellions that arose. It is therefore now necessary to state what has been done in the past in the way of giving effect to these provisions, and to what extent the Government has issued land-giants and payments in accordance with the intentions of the Legislature. Returns have accordingly been compiled of the Crown grants issued under the above Acts, which may be summarized in the following manner : — Auckland Province. —Crown grants were issued to 4,272 persons for .">,%3 rural sections and 3,451 town sections containing 217,105 acres and 15 perches and 2,911 acres 1 rood 31 perches respectively. Taranaki Province. —Crown grants were issued to 1,190 persons for 1,227 rural sections and 116 town sections containing 84,596 acres 3 roods 10 perches and 113 acres 3 roods respectively. Hawke's Bay Province. —Crown, grants were issued to 108 persons for 121 rural sections and 100 town sections containing an area of 7,489 acres 1 rood 13 perches and 25 acres respectively. Wellington Province. —Crown grants were issued to 466 persons for 475 rural sections and 116 town sections containing 36,871 acres and 2 perches. Nelson Province. —Money certificates were issued to 38 persons representing a total sum of .£. r ),370, and Crown grants for land were issued for these certificates either to the persons who received them or to the persons to whom they sold such scrip. There was a special Commission appointed in 1872 by His Honour the Superintendent of Taranaki to inquire into and decide upon claims made under the Volunteer Land Act, 1865, and the Volunteer Land Act Amendment Act, 1867. This Commission reported in due course, and the names of the persons who were favourably recommended, together with the amount awarded, were published in the Taranaki Provincial Gazette. The reports show that 700 persons were admitted, and were awarded compensation to the extent of £13,645. There have been several inquiries or Commissions under the General Government —viz., in 1882. Commission consisting of Colonel Haultain and Messrs. Fulton and Bunny; in 1887, a Commission consisting of Colonel Gudgeon and Mr. "A. Crowe; 1889 to 1892, an inquiry by the several Commissioners of Crown Lands; 1896, Commission by Mr. J. C. McKerrow. These Commissions and inquiries may be summarized as follows : — £ 1872... ... ... Claimants admitted. 700, Amount awarded, 13,645 1882... ... ... ~ I Li) .. .-5,630 1887... ... ... ~ 234 ~ 7.440 1889 to 1892 ... ... ~ 921 ~ 42,567 1896... ... ... ~ 110 ~ 3,485 2,084 £70,7fi7 Making a total of 7,692 persons compensated with £70,767 ; scrip for £5,730 used in purehasp of land aiul Crown grants for 349,1 12 acres.

4