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and usage, of the aforesaid portion of the bed of the Wanganui River, and that they have by the operation of that section been deprived of their right and title to that portion of the bed of the Wanganui River without their consent, and have suffered loss by reason of that enactment: And whereas the Government in and for Our Dominion of New Zealand desires that inquiry should be made into the claims aforesaid to the end that, if those claims are well-founded and of substance, the General Assembly may be enabled to consider what relief, if any, should be accorded or granted to those so claiming : Now know you that We, reposing trust and confidence in your impartiality, knowledge, and ability, do hereby nominate, constitute, and appoint you the said Sir Harold Featherston Johnston to be a Commission — (a) To inquire and report whether it is established that, but for the provisions of the said section 14 of the Coal-mines Act Amendment Act, 1903, any Maori or any group or class of Maoris would have been the owner or owners, according to Maori custom and usage, of the aforesaid portion of the bed of the Wanganui River : (b) To inquire and report whether it is established that any Maori or any group or class of Maoris has, by reason of the enactment of the said section 14, suffered such loss or deprivation in respect of the aforesaid portion of the bed of the Wanganui River as would, in equity and good conscience, entitle him or them to compensation : (c) If it be reported that there has been any such loss or deprivation as aforesaid, then to recommend what compensation in money or money's worth should now be granted to the Maori claimants : (d) If it be recommended that any such compensation should be so granted, then to report for whose benefit, that is to say, that of any particular Maori, hapu, tribe, or other group or class of Maoris, and in what manner, the amount of such compensation should be appropriated and applied : (e) If it be recommended that any compensation should be so granted, then to report whether any terms or conditions, whether as to the abandonment or surrender of any rights or otherwise, should attach to the grant of such compensation. And for the better enabling you to carry these presents into effect, you are hereby authorized and empowered to make and conduct any inquiry under these presents at such times and places as you deem expedient, with power to adjourn from time to time and place to place as you think fit, and so that these presents shall continue in force, and the inquiry may at any time and place be resumed although not regularly adjourned from time to time or from place to place :

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