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1913. NEW ZEALAND

LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF) ON THE ACQUISITION OF THE FEE-SIMPLE OF RENEWABLE LEASES IN HETANA HAMLET. (Mr. E. NEWMAN, Chairman.)

Report brought up on the 21st October, 1913, and, together with the Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence, brought up on the 15th December, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Thursday, the 3rd Day op July, 1913. Ordered, "That Standing Order No. 219 be suspended, and that a Committee be appointed, consisting of fourteen members, to whom shall stand referred after the first reading all Bills affecting or in any way r lating to the lands of the Crown or educational or other public reserves; the Committee to have power to make such amendments therein as they think proper, and to report generally when necessary upon the principles and provisions of the Bill; the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records; three to be a quorum: the Committee to consist of Mr. Anderson, Hon. Mr. Buddo, Mr. Coates, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Mac Donald, Mr. E. Newman, Mr. Nosworthy, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, Mr. Robertson, Mr. R. W. Smith, Mr. Statham, Mr. Witty, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Massey.) Thursday, the 17th Day of July, 1913. Ordered, "That paper No. 107 C, 'Acquisition of Fee-simple of Renewable Leases in the Hetana Hamlet under the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1912,' be referred to the Lands Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Massey.)

EEPOET. The Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above-mentioned paper, has the honour to report that it has carefully considered the same, and during the course of the inquiry has examined the following witnesses: J. W. Flanagan, Valuer-General; B. Morgan, District Valuer, Auckland; F. G. Ewington, land and estate agent, Auckland; H. M. Skeet, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland ; and J. D. Eitchie, Chairman of Land Purchase Board. That, having heard the evidence of the witnesses above mentioned, the Committee is of opinion that the State has received full value for its interest in the land, as proved by the valuation made by the most competent land-valuers obtainable, and that the statements made by several newspapers to the effect that £30,000 worth of land had been parted with for £3,000 had no foundation in fact. A copy of the minutes of proceedings and evidence is attached hereto. 21st October, 1913. E. Newman, Chairman.

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